9th Circuit to Extremists: Willow Moves Forward, and You Lose Again!

December 20, 2023

We write about the Willow oil development in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) frequently.  This opportunity on Alaska’s North Slope is near-unanimously supported by Alaskans across the state and political spectrum. 

Alaska’s Legislature unanimously passed a resolution in support of the project.  Labor unions, Native Alaska organizations, Alaska’s entire Congressional delegation, the Governor and everyday Alaskans know the benefits Willow will bring: 180,000 barrels a day, 2500 jobs, $8 billion in construction spending and billions in revenues to local, state and federal governments.

The eco-extremist organizations continuing to fight Willow, including a ghost group calling themselves “Sovereign Inupiat for a Living Arctic”, the National Resources Defense Council, Earthjustice and the Center for Biological Diversity, continue to fight – and lose badly – in court.

This week’s smackdown came from the 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals, which denied the plaintiff’s request for an injunction, hoping to stop Willow’s winter construction season.  This followed U.S. District Court judge Sharon Gleason’s ruling against the injunction request and the Biden Administration’s re-authorization of the project this past fall, after it was originally approved during the Trump years.

We’re certain the lawsuits will continue, as the extremists don’t know when to take defeats and walk away.  Their ideologue funders will continue to fund the losses, and their ‘save the planet’ insanity will push them forward.

And Willow will move forward as well.  It is a winning project and all it does – in the court of public opinion and in the courts of law – is win…and win…and win some more.