In the past few weeks, there has been controversy surrounding the oil drilling project in Alaska that Biden just passed on March 13th, 2023. This topic is so hot right now because of the environmental and climate impacts that it will have on earth. Here is what you need to know… 

The Willow Project is a mass oil drilling operation over 16 acres of land that will eventually collect 600 million barrels of oil. Also according to an article on CNN written by Ella Nilsen, it states that “the project would generate enough oil to release 9.2 million metric tons of planet-warming carbon pollution a year — equivalent to adding 2 million gas-powered cars to the roads.” That is an absurd amount of carbon that will create irreversible damage to planet earth. Though Alaska lawmakers say that it will produce fossil fuels in a cleaner way, which we as people don’t know if this is entirely true or not. 

It is also affecting the animals and wildlife in Alaska: animals like polar bears, caribou, birds, and more. In an article called “Stop Oil and Gas from Pushing Polar Bears to the Edge of Extinction” by Jamie Clark, it states that, “heavy equipment used in seismic exploration and drilling activities can crush polar bears in their dens or potentially scare mothers and cubs out too early, leaving them vulnerable to death from of exposure or starvation.” Knowing that, it won’t just affect polar bears in their natural habitat, it will also affect every animal in Alaska. It is truly devastating knowing how many animals are going to be in danger throughout this project. 

The state lawmakers are in support of this project because they claim that it will create jobs and boost energy production and also lessen reliance on foreign oil. These lawmakers are not taking into consideration the opposing side of the health and environmental side developing oil will have on the world.

Also, Biden broke a campaign promise which was, “no more drilling on federal lands. No more drilling, including offshore. No ability for the oil industry to continue to drill, period, ends, number one,” as stated back in 2020 at the presidential debate. So the question is what side is Biden on here? He claims one thing but then moves forward with the complete opposite three years later.  

If you want to help stop The Willow Project sign this petition on change.org, the link will be posted here: https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-willow-project-90614d72-92eb-414f-a9cd-c608cf247bbe