
Debate
On March 13, the U.S Bureau of Land Management officially
On April 13, 33 House Democrats signed a letter
The disconnect between Biden's previous environment rhetoric
Abner Hardy, BYU Geography major and climate activist, believes the decision comes from the continual pressure of high gas prices.
'He seems to be doing everything he can to lower gas prices, even though it's very pro big business, and not in line with his stated environmental goals,' Hardy said.
However, despite the backlash, native populations of the Arctic Slope have expressed support
Nagruk Harcharek, president of Voice of the Arctic Iñupiat, feels it is important for people to understand how much indigenous communities rely on the industry.
Harcharek said the North Slope Borough
'Any development that happens on the North Slope Borough, the Borough is able to tax that infrastructure as a form of revenue and reinvest those dollars back into those communities.'
This taxation provides 95% of the Boroughs budget and, according to Harcharek, that money has provided running water, police and fire protection, and other first world infrastructure for communities.
'The boroughs have invested hundreds of millions of dollars into housing across the north slope, into road development. Without that economic opportunity, a lot of those services that are currently provided would begin to degrade,' Harcharek said.
Harcharek also countered claims the project will hurt subsistence living wildlife, saying Iñupiat communities have been involved and 'coexisting' with resource development for fifty years.
'If there was any sort of concern a project like Willow would have a significant negative impact on our way of life ... we would not be in support of it,' Harcharek said.
The decision also comes with support
First announced in January 2017, the wells are estimated
A petition for the president to deny Conoco Phillips drilling permission has reached over 5 million signatures
Minister of Interior Deb Haaland released a video via Twitter
Haaland stated the administration made a 40% reduction in ConocoPhillips original proposition, and the company had agreed to relinquish and not develop 70,000 acres of land.
The Biden administration has made past efforts to cut down on the country's emissions. In 2021 Biden signed an executive order
Professor of BYU's Chemical Engineering Department, John Hedengren, weighed in on the tension between the Alaskan communities and the goals of tackling climate change.
'It’s not an easy place to live so most of the people in Alaska are somehow tied to the energy industry,' Hedengren said. 'Oil and gas will remain a big portion of the energy mix going forward as we transition to renewable and low emission sources.'