Willow project petition

The Willow Project, proposed by ConocoPhillips, is a massive and decadeslong oil drilling venture on Alaska's North Slope that the state's lawmakers say will ...

A final decision on the project is expected next week. “When you talk about environmental justice and protecting the environment, us Alaska natives are part of that environment,” Alaska state Rep. Murkowski told CNN that if that happens after a Willow decision is released, “That’s pretty rude, I think.” “We’re asking the president, his Cabinet, all those involved in the decision-making process to keep that in mind.” The Willow project has been under consideration since the Trump administration, which initially planned on approving it with a larger scope. Climate advocates say that as Biden gears up for the 2024 election, a decision to approve Willow could risk alienating a base of young voters. “I do not see one new voter for the Biden administration for approving the largest American oil extraction on public lands.” “Such significant swaths of the coalition that supports him are deeply opposed, and we’re seeing that this is incredibly galvanizing for young people.” Environmental legal group Earthjustice has been preparing a lawsuit against the project if it is approved. Young voters have rallied on social media against the proposal with the hashtag #StopWillow in posts that have amassed tens of millions of views. But environmental groups have remained staunchly opposed to it, fearing the effect of the planet-warming carbon pollution from the hundreds of millions of barrels of oil it would produce. Its supporters say Willow could be a much-needed new source of revenue for the region.