The Halcyonite

By Felix

’25

In the lead up to Earth day this Saturday, it’s important for us to be aware of the impacts on our climate, and the events that are happening right now to affect it, both positively and negatively.

ConocoPhillips, a US-based energy company, has recently announced its Willow project, which involves drilling for oil in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve. The project has been in the works for several years, but the company has now secured the necessary permits and funding to move forward.

The Willow project is expected to produce up to 590,000 barrels of oil per day at peak production. The drilling site is located in the northeastern part of the National Petroleum Reserve and covers approximately 23,000 acres.

The company has stated the Willow project will provide significant economic benefits to the local community, including creating jobs and generating revenue for the state of Alaska. The project is expected to employ up to 1,000 people during the construction phase and around 400 people during the operational phase.

However, the Willow project has faced criticism from environmental groups and indigenous communities who are concerned about the impact of oil drilling on the local ecosystem and wildlife. The area where the drilling will take place is home to several endangered species, including polar bears, caribou, and migratory birds. The project is also expected to release the equivalent of 277 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, an amount that would take 70 million lifetimes for the average person to come close to producing.

Despite these assurances, the Willow project has faced legal challenges, with environmental groups filing lawsuits to block the project. The lawsuits argue that the drilling would violate federal environmental laws and could have a significant impact on the local ecosystem.

The Willow project is one of several new oil drilling projects planned in Alaska, as the state seeks to boost its oil production and economy. However, the projects have faced opposition from environmental groups and indigenous communities who are concerned about the impact of oil drilling on the environment and their way of life.

The future of the Willow project remains uncertain, as the legal challenges are still ongoing. However, ConocoPhillips remains committed to the project and believes that it will bring significant economic benefits to the state of Alaska and the local community.