The ConocoPhillips Alaska oil project, planned to boost oil production in the Alaska Oil Reserve, after a $6 billion investment from the company; was thrown down by a federal judge this Wednesday after environmental concerns.
Firstly, as Reuters reports, the company failed to properly assess and present the environmental footprint of the project; the decision comes as a severe blow for Alaskan officials, who hoped that the project would succeed and help offset oil declines in the state.
Secondly, ConocoPhillips spokesperson Dennis Nuss said the company would review the decision and evaluate its options for the project; while Alaska District Court Judge Sharon Gleason said she was vacating the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s approval of the development.
Thirdly, the reasons behind the federal judge’s decision was that the company failed to include greenhouse gas emissions from foreign oil consumption in its environmental analysis. It also “failed to adequately analyze a reasonable range of alternatives for the project.” she wrote, according to Reuters.
Moreover, Gleason also remarked that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service did not outline specific measures to mitigate the project’s impact on polar bears.
Also recommended for you: Lava Ridge Wind project in Idaho will double state’s generation capacity. Click here to read.
ConocoPhillips expected to bring online the project by 2027
On the other hand, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said the order was a severe blow to the state; specially to job creation, as the project intended to create thousands of jobs. “This is a horrible decision. We are giving America over to our enemies piece by piece.” He said in a statement.
Furthermore, the Trump administration approved the Willow Oil development last year, planned for the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. It was part of his exit strategy to boost oil developments in federal lands.
Additionally, lawsuits from environmental groups followed the decision; groups argued in part that the government had failed to take into account the impact that drilling would have on wildlife. According to Reuters, those groups have harshly criticized the administration of President Joe Biden for defending the project’s approval in court, saying it was at odds with his climate change agenda.
Finally, ConocoPhillips said in June that the Willow development could begin producing oil in 2027. Willow holds about 600 million barrels of recoverable oil and could produce up to 180,000 barrels per day.
