Federal judge approves ConocoPhillips’ Willow oil project in Alaska

A US federal judge has upheld the Biden administration’s approval of ConocoPhillips’ Willow oil project located in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A), paving the way for the controversial drilling project in the Western Arctic.

Court Ruling Amid Environmental Concerns

US District Judge Sharon Gleason’s ruling responded to a lawsuit filed by Earthjustice, representing various environmental groups including Defenders of Wildlife, Friends of the Earth, and Greenpeace USA. These organizations argued that the Department of Interior’s approval failed to meet federal legal requirements. However, Judge Gleason found the federal environmental analysis robust, allowing ConocoPhillips to proceed with construction this winter on Alaska’s North Slope.

Environmentalists Plan to Appeal

Despite the court’s decision, the environmental groups expressed their intention to challenge the ruling by filing an appeal in the Ninth Circuit. They have been vocal about their concerns that the Willow oil project will lead to significant carbon emissions, negatively impacting the Arctic environment, its wildlife, and local communities.

Project Details and Impact

The Willow oil project, which has been scaled down to three drill site pads, aims to produce 180,000 barrels of oil per day at its peak. Earthjustice highlighted the project’s potential contribution to climate change, estimating nearly 260 million metric tons of carbon emissions over the next 30 years.

Statements from Earthjustice

Erik Grafe, Deputy Managing Attorney at Earthjustice’s Alaska regional office, expressed disappointment in the ruling but remained confident in their claims. He emphasized that the project’s approval contradicts national climate goals amidst the escalating climate crisis.