President Joe Biden is changing his tune on environmental policy as the election heats up. Biden made a pledge to cut greenhouse gas by 50% before the decade’s through when he was running for office. Today, however, he approved a massive oil pipeline in Alaska. The area, situated in Alaska’s deep north, has no roads and is the nation’s largest area of pristine land. The $8 billion Willow project, From ConocoPhlips, will produce 600 million barrels of crude oil over 30 years, placing it at direct odds with Biden’s Green New Deal initiative. Environmental activists are sounding the alarm:
Caribou around the pipeline is the main concern, with environmental activists citing a likely disruption and decline in its population. But Arctic Today notes that the caribou population has dramatically increased since the first pipeline around them was built in the 1970’s.
However, labor unions have hailed the project, noting it should create 2,500 well paying, American jobs. Hour salaries for this type of work typically rises about $30. And in a rare turn of events, even Alaska’s Democratic congresswoman, Mary Peltola, expressed her support. That comes as the Native Village corporation for Nuiqsut, where the pipeline is based, also expressed their approval. Nagruk Harcharek, who heads Voice of the Arctic Inupiat, the biggest advocacy group the biggest tribe in that land, also is on board.
This is a rare change of events, as typically communities express opposition to pipelines being built. But the economic benefit is undeniable. This is one of the first pipelines not to attract strong community opposition. As research has continued, and the negative effects have not been nearly dramatic as initially projected, it reflects a changing tide of viewpoint for these types of projects. Expect Biden to run away more from greenhouse gas control and amplify his support of pipeline projects as he searches for support in his re-election. The proof is in the pudding.
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