Why the Willow Project is instrumental to the US

A Conocophillips owned exploratory drilling camp at the proposed site of the Willow Project. Photo courtesy of ConocoPhillips

Colin Peters, Staff Writer
April 7, 2023

 On Tuesday, March 13th. US President Joe Biden approved a highly controversial Willow Project. The Project and its approval have created a lot of controversy due to opposition from those advocating against it due to environmental concerns. The project was proposed by ConocoPhillips, a Houston-based Alaskan oil company that owned roughly 1.6 Million acres of land at the end of 2021. The project itself is planned to be built on the Northern Slope of Alaska with five proposed major drilling sites, so far three have been approved. They plan on targeting a petroleum reserve that was set aside for drilling about a century ago. 

 The first Alaskan native in Congress and an advocate for the project, Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola expressed how important to the Alaskan people and natives this project is. Native Groups in Alaska have also given support with the understanding that it would open up many job opportunities in a failing market that is still recovering from a spike in unemployment from the COVID-19 pandemic. The estimated job openings would be 2,500 jobs during the construction process and 300 permanent jobs after the construction process is completed. Not only will the Willow Project produce jobs but it will also help stabilize the US’s troubled economy. The project’s proposed daily output is estimated to be around 180,000 barrels a day. According to Macrotrends, at year open, the price per barrel of Oil was $80.26 with 2022s average being $94.53 with hopes that in the project’s estimated 30-year lifespan it can lower these numbers while also lowering the prices of gas and plastics. 

Protesters present a flag infront of the White House in protest of the Willow Project. Photo Courtesy of Paul Morigi

 A Change.org petition aimed towards the White House opposing the project has reached 3.7 million signatures out of the 4.5 million goal. These signatures come from those who oppose the project in the name of protecting the environment. Many of these people are also now turning towards President Biden’s Administration which seems to come into direct contridiciton with the administration’s goal of reducing the number of approved drilling sites in the US.