Biden angers climate activists by approving controversial oil, gas project in Alaska
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Joe Biden, a vocal champion of combating climate change, is angering environmental allies by approving a controversial oil and gas project in Alaska.
The Willow project, as it’s known, will allow energy giant ConocoPhillips to develop three drill sites in Alaska’s petroleum-rich North Slope region.
The Department of the Interior is framing today’s announcement as “substantially” reducing the scope of the project, which originally called for five well sites.
The decision also requires ConocoPhillips to relinquish drilling rights on roughly 275 square kilometres of land in the region, known as the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.