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Willow oil drilling project in Alaska is approved : NPR


This 2019 aerial shot provided by ConocoPhillips shows an exploratory drilling camp at the proposed site of the Willow oil project on Alaska’s North Slope.

ConocoPhillips via AP


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ConocoPhillips via AP


This 2019 aerial shot provided by ConocoPhillips shows an exploratory drilling camp at the proposed site of the Willow oil project on Alaska’s North Slope.

ConocoPhillips via AP

The Biden administration has approval of a new major oil drilling project in Alaska, in the face of opposition from environmental advocates, who said giving the green light to the plan would violate the president’s climate goals.

It came a day after the authorities said it was block or restrict drilling elsewhere in the state.

The government on Monday approved a scaled-down version of the so-called willow project, which means that energy company ConocoPhillips can move ahead with drilling plans at the National Petroleum Reserve, located on the state’s North Slope. The company said the project has the potential to produce 180,000 barrels of oil per day.

Proponents have suggested that the Willow project would lower oil prices and bolster national security, but Monday’s announcement drew outrage from environmental advocates, who called the proposal is a “carbon bomb” and says it could exacerbate climate change, harm biodiversity and slow the transition to cleaner fuels.

“We are too late in the climate crisis to approve major oil and gas projects that directly undermine the clean new economy the Biden Administration is committed to promoting,” said Abigail Dillen, Earthjustice group president. know. said in a statement.

The controversial project that became a pressing issue for young climate activistsand millions of people have sent letters to the White House arguing that the decision goes against the climate commitments of the Democrats during the first term.

“We know President Biden understands the existential threat of climate, but he is approving a project that deflects his own climate goals,” Dillen added.

In Alaska, the Willow project has received broad support from federal and state legislators, labor unions, and Alaska Native leaders — many of whom have touted the potential to create new jobs and increased revenue.

“We made it, Alaska!” speak Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, who supported the project. “What a huge and necessary victory for the whole of Alaska. This project will provide long-term economic and security benefits to our state and nation.”

The project will include more than 200 wells spread across three rigs and miles of pipelines and roads.

Ryan Lance, president and chief executive officer of ConocoPhillips, welcome the approval of the Biden administration.

“Willow aligns with the Biden Administration’s priorities for social and environmental justice, facilitating the energy transition and enhancing our energy security, and creating create good jobs for the union and benefit Alaskan Native communities.”

ConocoPhillips says the project could generate up to $17 billion in new revenue for federal, state and local governments. The company also said it will create 2,500 construction jobs and about 300 permanent jobs.

The government announcement on Sunday blocked drilling in about 3 million acres in the Beaufort Sea and restricted drilling to another 13 million acres in the Alaska National Petroleum Reserve.

Environmental advocates said over the weekend that the trade-off – allowing the massive Willow oil project to move forward while protecting up to 16 million acres of land in the Arctic – was not worth it.

Sierra Club’s land protection program manager, Athan Manuel, said: “These amazing protections for the Alaskan landscape and waters are the right decision at the right time and we feel Thank you to the Biden Administration for taking this important step.” said in a statement on Sunday.

“However, the benefits of these protections can be quickly canceled by the approval of oil and gas projects on public land, and right now, none of the proposals pose a greater threat to the public.” with our land, wildlife, communities and climate than ConocoPhillips’ Willow project,” added Manuel.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.

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