Biden approves controversial Alaskan oil drilling project, sparks criticism from environmentalists
The President of the United States, Joe Biden, has approved on Monday a controversial bill of oil extraction in the state of Alaskaknown as “Willow“in a decision that has been strongly criticized by environmental groups.
The approval appears in a report made public Monday on the website of the. Department of the Interior and giving details of the project, which will be led by the oil giant ConocoPhillips.
The project will be located within the Alaska National Petroleum Reserve.on public lands owned by the federal government, and about 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, in what is considered to be a some of the richest places in biodiversity and one of the least explored in the United States.
For now, the Biden administration will only allow ConocoPhillips to begin drilling for oil in three areas. The company had asked to start drilling in two other spots, but the Executive has postponed its decision on the matter.as stated in the aforementioned report.
According to ConocoPhillips, the project could produce. 180,000 barrels of oil per day when at full capacity, will create 250,000 jobs during its construction phase and other 300 jobs on a permanent basis when operational.
In addition, the “Willow” project will create. between $8 billion and $17 billion. in revenue through taxes for the federal government, the state of Alaska and local governments in the area, ConocoPhillips states on its website.
An environmental risk
Dozens of environmental advocacy groupssuch as the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), criticized Biden’s decision on Monday, saying that it reneges on pledges he made to reduce greenhouse gases and promote clean energy.
Environmental groups oppose the “Willow” project on the grounds that. Will pollute Alaska’s water and air and impact animal migration patterns. In addition, it will eventually release into the air some 239 million metric tons of greenhouse gases. over the 30-year life of the project, two dozen organizations, including the Alaska Wilderness League, say in a joint statement.
The announcement on the “Willow” project comes a day after local media advanced that the Biden Administration will place limits on oil drilling in the Arctic Ocean and on Alaska’s North Slope, in an apparent effort to please environmental groups.
