Willow Approval is Sensible Energy and Environmental Strategy
Willow Approval is Sensible Energy and Environmental Strategy By Kyle Isakower On March 13, the administration approved plans for oil production at the Willow site on the North Slope of Alaska. The area is part of the National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska (NPR-A), which was established a century ago by President Harding as a reserve of petroleum for potential use by the US Navy. In 1976, oversight of the area was transferred to the Bureau of Land Management, under the Department of the Interior and renamed NPR-A. The move was lauded by Alaskan elected officials and native tribes, who see the project as a huge boost to the local economy as well as a source of much-needed jobs. Sen. Lisa Murkowski stated that “we are now on the cusp of creating thousands of new jobs, generating billions of dollars in new revenues, improving quality of life on the North Slope and across our state, and adding vital energy to TAPS [Trans-Alaska Pipeline System] to fuel the nation and the world.” Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan said that “[t]his decision is also crucial for our national security and environment. Producing much-needed American energy in Alaska with the world’s highest environmental standards and lowest emissions enhances the global environment.“ But the decision…
