Recently, America has made its most anticipated move on the world stage- approving The Willow Project. President Biden approved the project on March 13th, ’23, and received mixed emotions from the world.
You see, America has long held onto oil reserves in Alaska (initiating only small oil projects in the region), and while countries with similar reserves, such as Russia, were drilling up oil to boost economy and dominance, America’s only reserves remained almost dormant, perhaps sensing the even higher power the country would achieve in unlocking these reserves when the others run out. The Russia-Ukraine war has served as the best possible scenario in this case, causing a pause in Russia’s oil trade and giving America the perfect chance to enter the market.
These oil reserves are to be built by ConocoPhillips, an energy company that seeked approval for the project back in President Trump’s office, and earned the green light to build 5 drill pads. Joe Biden used this approval in his election campaign, explaining the adverse effects the project would have on the environment and vowing to end and not approve any such projects, which he now seems to be going back upon.
The Biden administration is using the argument of new jobs, lessening dependence on other countries for oil and boosting America’s economy, which is supported by the natives residing in the area of the project’s construction, who say that it would be a much needed source of revenue for them.
However, while the project may create jobs for the immediate natives, it will destroy wildlife habitats and is likely to cause treacherous gas leaks during and after its construction. The project’s large scale means that the emissions created by it are likely to cause a dent in the recent reduction of global emissions.
The project is going to surely face a series of legal actions by climate activists over the due course of the year, as the construction of the project, which can only take place during winter months, will come to a halt by April.
In the end, it boils down to a choice to be made between short-term economical benefits sure to be reaped by the American economy, or the long-term ecological benefits that will help prevent another disaster like the Texan snow storm and protect American citizens.
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