Alaska House Unanimously Approves Pro-Willow Joint Resolution

February 22, 2023

With anti-development ideologues barraging the Department of Interior and the Biden Administration to deny final approval on Alaska’s Willow development project, the Alaska Legislature has begun to return fire.

Meeting on President’s Day, the Alaska House passed House Joint Resolution 6, titled “Supporting oil and gas leasing and development within the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska; and urging President Biden and the United States Department of the Interior to approve the Willow Master Development Plan”.  All 36 members present that day approved the resolution, sponsored by Rep. Josiah Patkotak of Utqiagvik.

The resolution is scheduled to be heard in the state Senate by the end of this week, where it is expected to pass with little opposition.

Once HJR6 completes its legislative process, it’ll be signed by Alaska Governor Dunleavy and sent to Biden and other key Washington, D.C. leaders.  They are the final decision-makers on Willow’s future; a key energy play for Alaska and the nation. 

Willow holds an estimated 600 million barrels of oil, with 180,000 barrels a day of production expected during peak production.  After 2,500 mostly union hands build its infrastructure, it will employ 300 people full-time, adding to ConocoPhillips Alaska’s sizable statewide workforce.