Vice President Kamala Harris was put on the hot seat over whether President Joe Biden broke a campaign promise by allowing the approval of the Willow Project.
When pressed, Harris sidestepped questions about whether Biden breached a campaign pledge by highlighting the administration’s work to bolster green energy investments aimed at reducing energy dependency on fossil fuels during an appearance on The Late Show.
SEN. ED MARKEY BLASTS BIDEN FOR APPROVAL OF GIANT ALASKA OIL PROJECT
“I understand the concerns that have been made. But here’s the thing, when you look at what our administration has done, it’s historic in terms of an investment in a clean energy economy,” she replied. “We are putting America back on the map globally, recognizing that we must live up to our role, in terms of our ability to invest in the future, create jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
Earlier this week, the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management revealed it gave the go-ahead to the proposal from ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc. for three drilling pads out of the five that had been sought. The large-scale oil drilling venture will take place on a federal oil reserve close to the size of Indiana.
The project initially sought to produce 180,000 barrels of oil per day and 500 million barrels over its lifetime on the five pads requested. It could unleash 9.2 million metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere, which is roughly equal to 2 million gas-powered cars, CNN reported.
During a debate in the 2020 election cycle, Biden committed to not approving “new oil and gas permitting on public lands and waters.”
“Number one, no more subsidies for the fossil fuel industry, no more drilling on federal lands, no more drilling, including offshore, no ability for the oil industry to continue to drill, period, ends, number one,” he said at the time.
Approval of the Willow Project has stoked ire from environmentalist groups and progressives such as Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) but was applauded by some Democrats such as Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV).
“This decision not only leaves an oil stain on the administration’s climate accomplishments and the President’s commitment not to permit new oil and gas drilling on federal land, but slows our progress in the fight for a more livable future and puts into harm’s way the neighboring Native Village of Nuiqsut and the Arctic landscape,” Markey said in a statement.
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When pressed by Colbert if the White House mulled political blowback from approving the project, Harris was coy.
“I think that the concerns are based on what we should all be concerned about. But the solutions have to be, and include, what we are doing in terms of going forward, in terms of investments,” she said.
