Shortly after the Willow project announcement, the White House approved limits on oil drilling in the Arctic Ocean and Alaska’s North Slope, in an apparent effort to appease environmental groups.
Biden will leave nearly 3 million acres of the Beaufort Sea in the Arctic Ocean “indefinitely off limits” for oil and gas, building on an Obama-era ban and effectively closing off US Arctic waters to exploration.
However, these restrictions will only affect future projects and not those that have already been approved, the White House details in a memorandum made public on Monday. Therefore, it will have no impact on the Willow project.
What risks do environmental groups warn?
Environmental groups, however, criticized the Biden administration, saying it was trying to “play both sides” when it came to climate change.
Environmental groups oppose the “Willow” project, saying it will pollute Alaska’s water and air and impact the migratory patterns of animals.
In addition, it will end up releasing some 239 million metric tons of greenhouse gases into the air during the project’s 30-year lifespan, two dozen organizations, including the Alaska Wilderness League, say in a joint statement.