Alaska legislature signals unanimous support for Willow Project

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - As the Willow Project continues to make headlines, the Alaska legislature made a show of support over the last week.

The proposed oil and natural gas drilling project, located at the National Petroleum Reserve on Alaska’s North Slope, was approved by the Trump administration before being re-examined starting in 2021.

The Alaska House and Senate voted unanimously in support of the project on February 20 and 27, respectively, urging the Biden administration to give its final approval.

There are five drill sites proposed at the project. The joint resolution asks that three of the sites be approved so the project can be economically viable.

Biden’s Department of the Interior has voiced concerns over the three-site plan, and the president campaigned on combating climate change.

Senator Bill Wielechowski, Democrat representing Anchorage, said, “There are many who would like to see us go to 100 percent renewable energy right away, and some would suggest that the Willow Project not go forward. The problem is that it is impossible to get to 100 percent renewable energy any time soon. According to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, 11.2 percent of the energy that’s consumed globally for heating, power and transportation comes from modern renewables.”

According to a press release, Alaska’s congressional delegation received a commitment from the Biden administration to have a record of decision by the end of this month.

The delegation, consisting of Republican Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski and Democrat Representative Mary Peltola, have already indicated their support for the project.

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