The Willow Project is a massive oil drilling project located on Alaska’s North slope that was  proposed by ConocoPhillips, a Houston based energy company. According to Ella Nilsen from CNN, “the area where the project is planned holds up to 600 million barrels of oil.”

President Biden approved this project on March 13, 2023 and it has created an uprising of angered climate advocates and activists.  According to Ella Nilsen from CNN Politics, “By the administration’s own estimates, the project would generate enough oil to release 9.2 million metric tons of planet-warming carbon pollution a year – equivalent to adding two million gas-powered cars to the roads.”  The project is also predicted to add 2,000 jobs with 300 permanent jobs. The project is projected to add $1.3 billion to the American economy from Alaska. 

“Personally I understand our current dependence on oil and it makes it hard to keep up with our lifestyle, however, for the protection of the undisturbed area and in hopes to move away from our dependence on fossil fuels, we need to protect the biodiversity we still have,” said Keri Feehan, a Life Sciences teacher at PHS. Feehan was displeased when she saw the Willow Project had been approved in March. 

When it comes to the pro and con effects of the Willow Project, Feehan believes that short term gain of money and more access to fossil fuels and employment was weighed as a heavier and more important issue by the decision makers, than the long term negative effects of this project. 

“I would rather go through the hard stuff now,” said Feehan. Feehan recognizes that there are sacrifices to be made with big decisions/projects such as the Willow Project. There is understanding from Feehan on the United State’s demand for oil, and without it, people across the country would be deprived of jobs. 

“There will only be more projects like this to come especially when this was just  approved,” said PHS Sophomore, Amyah White. She first heard about this project on the social media app, Tik-Tok. She believes that the ecosystem’s wellbeing is a higher priority than the economy. 

White’s first reaction to the Willow Project being approved was frustration, as she signed many online petitions and knows the impact it will have on the Earth’s environment will be detrimental. 

Penny Freidlin, a PHS sophomore said she “was in disbelief when the project was approved.” Additionally, finding out about the Willow Project on Tik-Tok, she recognizes the amount of damage Alaska is planned to endure. 

“We are destroying our earth every day and it’s depressing,” Freidlin said. With positive and negative effects involved with this project, Freidlin believes that the negative effects weigh as a much larger issue than the benefits. She personally cares about the effects this project will have on the Earth, as she said “I do care about it because where else are we supposed to go.” 

According to Noah Gordon, from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, “Restricting fossil fuel supply is difficult because various actors want to either make money from selling oil or enjoy low prices when they buy it.” He also states that “adding new sources of energy does not automatically displace the old.” 

There are plausible reasons and there will always be temptation to approve more projects like Willow, according to Gordon. However he said “perhaps it’s time for politicians to be more open about the negative emissions or solar geoengineering they are counting on to close the gap between the oil they intend to produce and the level of warming they are prepared to accept.” 

If you are interested in sustainability and the well being of the environment, PHS offers ECO Club which works to better the environment.