In this episode, President Bartlet gives a keynote speech to the Global Defense Council promoting the Clean Air Rehabilitation Effort. This is something that pleases the environmentalist block that votes for him. However, to make “a clear and public demonstration that the President's not beholden to them”, the President makes a “drop in” (an unplanned addition to the original speech) admonishing the group for not denouncing eco-terrorists. This drew scrutiny, particularly from Sam, who is very passionate about the environment and was purposefully blindsided by the drop in. He later describes to Toby the move as the “cynicism of attacking your friends for political protection”. 

Recently, President Biden has been criticized for his approval of the Willow Project, an about $7 Billion oil drilling project in Alaska’s petroleum reserve, which is federal land. The project will create jobs in the state, as about 400 miles of ice roads and 200 miles of pipelines will need to be built. It will also create longer-term jobs to run the whole operation. However many environmentalists are against this, as it will damage the massive amounts of ecological diversity and native residents’ way of life near the project. The short-term effects that drilling will bring are not the only things that have people worried. In what environmentalists claim to be the largest such project on federal lands, tens of billions of barrels of oil are projected to be produced each year, or about 40% of Alaska’s current crude production. This oil being brought to the marketplace will have long-term effects, as its use will contribute to greenhouse gasses, the largest contributor to climate change.

Yet many point out that we have a global economy built on fossil fuels, and that if the US isn’t the one bringing more oil to the global marketplace, another group will. They also claim that this step is necessary to help the US secure its energy independence, pointing to the war in Ukraine and rising gas prices as proof that this is something our country needs. Lowering gas prices has been a message of the Biden Administration since the midterm campaigns. Supporters say that this move will help the American people who are hurting because of high gas prices. Yet this may in reality be a shallow political talking point, as the project probably won’t produce any gas for 6 years.

The President came to this agreement in large part because Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski(R) who, in what could be called a quid pro quo, voted for his nominees and backed his legislative agenda all the while pushing for the Willow project. The project will be good for the President because it will help him appeal to moderates. For example, the right-leaning Fox News covered the President’s approval as a good thing (although they thought that he could further).

But much of President Biden’s base sees his actions as a betrayal. In his campaign, he promised to not drill in the arctic reserve or on federal lands. The Willow Project does both. It also seems to run counter to the movement to implement more clean, renewable energy. Although the transition from fossil fuels to better energy alternatives will be slow, many think it could be rapidly sped up if not for lack of political will. This seeming lack of political will may cause the President to lose some support from the environmentalists of his base. And while it is unlikely that they will go vote for the other guy, it is possible that his supporters in the previous election may feel less inclined to go vote at all.

Although the Biden Administration scaled down the size of the project and announced new protections against future drilling in the arctic, that may not be enough to motivate young voters. Polling suggests that 84% of teens agree with the statements “Climate change will impact everyone in my generation through global political instability” and “If we don't address climate change today, it will be too late for future generations, making some parts of the planet unlivable.” The Willow Project is a 30-year drilling project. That means that today’s teens will be in their 40s by the time it's completed. It's difficult for a generation that holds such strong environmental values to not become disillusioned with politicians who seem to continue compromising on the future we will have to live with.