House Majority Opinion - Editorials

Arctic Planning and Infrastructure Investment in Alaska

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:21:43 -0800

Contact : Christine Hess, 465-4833

In our last Arctic policy commentary, we discussed the importance of Arctic governance in preparing for the challenges and opportunities facing Alaska in regards to the changing Arctic. Today, we will focus on Arctic Planning & Infrastructure Investment.

Due to ever-increasing activity related to shipping, oil and gas development, commercial fishing, and tourism, immediate investment in Arctic infrastructure is a foremost priority for Alaska and the entire United States. Action is needed to enable the responsible development of resources; facilitate, secure, and benefit from new global transportation routes; and safeguard Arctic residents and ecosystems. As international interest and activity in the Arctic continues to rise, America's preparedness in the region is of national security importance.

The four main Alaska Northern Waters Task Force recommendations on Arctic Planning and Infrastructure Investment are:

Alaska's Comprehensive Arctic Policy, Challenge and Opportunity

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:21:36 -0800

Contact : Christine Hess, 465-4833

In 2010, the state Legislature formed the Alaska Northern Waters Task Force (ANWTF), consisting of state legislators, leaders from Alaska communities, and representatives of key state and federal agencies. These Alaskans were tasked with examining and reporting the issues surrounding the anticipated increase in shipping, resource exploration and extraction, commercial fisheries and tourism activities in Alaska's Arctic region.

How will Alaska confidently confront the challenges and benefits from the opportunities of the Arctic that await Alaskans, while at the same time providing sustainable communities for our families and future generations?

The January 30, 2012, ANWTF report to the 27th Alaska Legislature detailed six categories of opportunity: Oil & Gas Development, Marine Transportation, Fisheries, Infrastructure, Research, and Arctic Governance.

Fiscal Year 2013 Statewide Operations Budget Floor Speech - Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Haines (as prepared)

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:21:46 -0800

Mr. Speaker, we have before us the FY13 operating budget, CS for HB 284(FIN), and the mental health operating budget, CS for HB 285(FIN).

Building a budget is hard work. Constraining spending is even harder, but critical. We all know that oil production is declining, while at the same time entitlement programs, and retirement costs continue to drive the growth in state spending.

The price of oil needed to balance our budget was $64 dollars a barrel just three years ago. Depending on the eventual size of capital and operating budgets, it is going to take somewhere around $100 barrel oil to balance this year. That should cause all Alaskans to pause and think about what they really expect from their government in the way of services.

For Alaska House majority, in-state natural gas top priority

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:56:28 -0800

Encouraging development of Alaska's energy resources to benefit Alaskans is one of our highest priorities as legislators. To that end, we couldn't be more pleased with the recent announcement of a major natural gas find in Cook Inlet.

Confirmation of this discovery could significantly improve Southcentral Alaska's energy security. For now, we are cautiously optimistic and wish Escopeta Oil Company the greatest success proving up this potentially spectacular prospect.

As we celebrate their success, our greater goal must remain a secure, long-term, reasonably priced, clean energy supply for as much of Alaska as possible - energy that allows our communities to thrive.

Would the Last One to Leave Alaska Please Turn Out the Lights?

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 04:01:11 -0800

This week's news that ConocoPhillips and Marathon will be shutting down LNG exports from Cook Inlet is a staggering blow for the Peninsula and for Alaska -- and raises crucial questions for our future.

I can only imagine what this is doing for the workers and their families. I've gone to school with, know and represent some of the families affected by today's decision. Those were high-paying, family-supporting wages. Gone. It's adding insult to injury for my district, having lost the Agrium fertilizer plant three years ago. It's a terrible day for the Peninsula and Alaska

I fear the consequences this decision will have over the next days, weeks and months, on our Kenai communities, the Railbelt energy grid, Southcentral gas supply and Inlet exploration and development. It's a sad day for the Inlet and our outlook. The problem now comes in the winter when cold, dark days hit Southcentral and we won't have gas that the plant supplied as a back-stop.