An $8 billion oil project in northwest Alaska that President Joe Biden just authorized is running into his promise to block new drilling on public lands.
The Interior Department’s authorization will allow ConocoPhillips to drill from three locations across its Willow site in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. The project is set to become one of the largest oil-and-gas-extraction projects on public land—drawing criticism from environmental groups.
“We are too late in the climate crisis to approve massive oil and gas projects,” said Abigail Dillen, head of the advocacy group Earthjustice. “We know President Biden understands the existential threat of climate, ...