The Willow Project
By Kelly Barros ('23)
Have you ever pondered about what’s going on with the world around us? Some individuals may stay up to date on information regarding our environment, economy, and things such as the crazy inflation rates. But others, including myself, don’t know much about certain policies and news happening around the world. On March 13, 2023, President Joe Biden and his administration approved the Willow Project located in Alaska. This has been a hot topic of discussion sparking a lot of controversy between economists, environmentalists, etc.
Photo courtesy of NPR
Now, you may ask yourself, what is the Willow Project and why is there so much debate going on over it? According to CNN, the Willow Project is a massive and decadeslong oil drilling venture on Alaska's North Slope in the National Petroleum Reserve, which is owned by the federal government. The Washington Post claims that the area in which the oil drilling will take place is expected to produce 576 million barrels of oil over 30 years.
The oil gained from this is said to ensure the United States with a reliable domestic supply of energy. Apart from having a good supply of energy, the Willow Project can help different economies. The economy in Alaska needs help and many say that the Willow Project will be beneficial to Alaska. The Washington Post says the oil is estimated to produce billions of dollars of economic activity and tax revenue in Alaska.
I recently went on a trip to Missouri and I met a girl from Alaska. Being that I was planning on writing an article on the Willow Project, I decided to ask her opinion on it with no judgment. Malia, a senior in high school, said to me that she agrees with the Willow Project because “Alaska’s economy needs it.” She made excellent points in our conversation and acknowledged the negative environmental effects. After all, this is her personal opinion and no side is 100% right. Now, creating a better economy and having more oil sounds great, but there are many different things affected by this large-scale drilling project.
Many activists and environmentalists opposed the Willow Project and started petitions to get it banned. According to the Washington Post, there are many people angry at the Biden administration because they made big promises to prioritize environmental protections, climate change, and an end to drilling on public land. I can see why these people are so upset since Biden is essentially contradicting himself. According to the New York Times, the amount of carbon emission that would be released into the air, which is 280 million, is equivalent to adding nearly two million cars to the road. Yes. You read that right, two million cars! Many locals of Alaska are concerned the project may harm local animal populations that are key to the community, degrade the region’s air quality, and lead to spills, leaks, and blowouts (The Washington Post).
Photo courtesy of World-Energy
In the end, both sides of the argument make clear important points and it comes down to each person’s priorities and personal opinions on the topic. You can’t shut out any side completely, and although this will remain a controversial topic, being completely opposed to something could be too harsh. The Willow Project has been approved and will most definitely happen sooner than later.
Cover photo courtesy of Center of American Progress
Banner courtesy of KEYT