The Willow Project: Biden Administration's Newest Energy Policy

This past Monday, the United States government gave the green light for the , a controversial oil and gas development proposal in Alaska. The project, spearheaded by ConocoPhillips, barrels of oil and 3.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas from the (NPR-A), a 23 million-acre area on the North Slope of Alaska.

After the proposal in 2017, a series of drilling pads, pipelines, and processing facilities that would allow for the extraction of up to 160,000 barrels of oil per day. The Willow Project may also involve several Big Oil companies that already have a stake in Alaska’s oil and natural gas reserves, including , , and , which own roughly 16%, 60%, and 50%, respectively, across various oilfields in the North Slope. 

Though this venture is expected to in the region, it has been met with from environmental groups who argue that it will have devastating effects on local wildlife and ecosystems, particularly in an area that is . The new project is forecasted to release 260 million tons of carbon dioxide over its three-decade lifespan, add nearly 500 acres of gravel fill, and create hundreds of miles of roads and pipelines to one of the country’s most wild areas. about the project's impact on their way of life and their ability to hunt and fish in the region.

The project’s exacerbation of climate change has raised contention around the Biden administration’s green agenda and prioritization of renewable energy sources. A coalition of - including the Sierra Club, Wilderness Society, and Trustees for Alaska- , claiming that the approval is in violation of federal laws. In fact, in 2020, the , but a 2021 court decision sent it back to the Bureau of Land Management due to its projected environmental impacts.

Despite these concerns, that the decision will help the United States achieve energy independence and reduce its from Saudi Arabia and Venezuela; this comes after the for gasoline price spikes following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which also increased the United States’ reliance on domestic oil production. 

The Willow Project also holds implications for international business. Several international companies are involved, including Italy-based oil and gas giant of the Oooguruk oil field in the North Slope region. Furthermore, to develop oil exploration in the North Norwegian Sea for $1.1 billion. Like Alaska’s North Slope, this region of Norway is part of its own oil and gas project: the , covering one of the largest oil fields in the North Sea, which due to environmental and economic concerns. 

The approval of the Willow Project is likely to have far-reaching implications for international business and politics. It remains to be seen how the project will impact the environment and local communities, but its approval marks a significant step in global ongoing reliance on fossil fuels. As the world grapples with the effects of climate change, the Willow Project serves as a stark reminder of the complex and interconnected nature of global energy systems.