Oil Change International Condemns Biden Approval of Willow Oil Project

Today, the Biden Administration issued a Record of Decision on the Willow oil project that approved three new drilling pads off the North Slope of Alaska. In response, Allie Rosenbluth, United States Program Manager at Oil Change International, said:

“Approving ConocoPhillips’ dirty and dangerous Willow Project is a tremendous strike against President Biden’s legacy on both climate and environmental justice. Biden has again broken his campaign promise to stop oil and gas drilling on federal lands and is approving new drilling at a faster rate than the Trump administration. The Willow project would be a colossal source of climate pollution, emitting a whopping 278 million metric tons over the next three decades — equivalent to the annual emissions of one-third of all remaining U.S. coal plants. The United States has no claim to international climate leadership if it’s approving deadly new fossil fuel projects that could operate for decades.

“The Willow Project would disproportionately harm the Alaska Native Village of Nuiqsut, already grappling with extreme pollution from existing oil projects. In the wake of last year’s North Slope gas leak, the Nuiqsut community suffered from headaches, breathing problems, and nausea.

“Environmental and climate justice advocates, including Sovereign Iñupiat for a Living Arctic and Alaska Wilderness League, have been vocal in their opposition to the project, while millions of people have urged President Biden to deny the proposal. It’s time for the Biden administration to stop investing in disaster and instead invest in a just transition to reliable, affordable, and renewable energy for all.”

Read Sovereign Iñupiat for a Living Arctic’s response to the decision here.