In a blow to President Biden’s misguided efforts to unilaterally lock up federal lands from oil and gas exploration and development, a federal judge on Tuesday ordered that leasing programs must go forward. “The omission of any rational explanation in cancelling the lease sales, and in enacting the Pause, results in this Court ruling that Plaintiff States also have a substantial likelihood of success on the merits of this claim,” wrote Louisiana-based, US District Judge Terry Doughty. Thirteen states, including Louisiana and Alaska, had sued the Administration to overturn the Department of Interior’s actions, which had scuttled leasing sales already…

Alaskans hoping the Biden Administration would back off its attacks on our state’s economy were once again disappointed last Friday.  In what can be described as another salvo promoted by the eco-Left, whose talons run deep in Bidenville, the Administration showed little courage in rolling back progress toward reopening responsible timber management in the Tongass National Forest. The announcement that Biden’s Department of Agriculture would reinstate the “Roadless Rule” in the Tongass means that logging will once again be off-limits throughout its 9.3 million acres. Aside from the opportunity to soundly manage the forest, reinstatement also shutters hundreds of potential…

On Tuesday night’s Power The Future Energy Hour, which airs on KVNT (92.5 FM – 1020 AM and online at 1020KVNT.com) from 5:00-6:00 PM every week (with replays on Saturday nights at the same time), one of the guests was Haley Paine with the State of Alaska.  In her role as Deputy Director of the Oil and Gas Division within the Department of Natural Resources, she was able to discuss the next-day revealing of the spring lease sale of Cook Inlet tracts used for oil and gas development. Noting the bids were due to be opened Wednesday, June 9th at…

In April, we wrote about a proposed three-part initiative in Juneau, Alaska, meant to stifle the cruise industry, one of the city’s most successful economic engines.  In a typical (pre-COVID) year, more than one million visitors arrive into Alaska’s capital city between May and September, and inject hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy. The group pushing the initiative, Juneau Cruise Control, was backed by many of Juneau’s environmental radicals and eco-Left organizations.  The group formed because they were opposed to the influx of people, as well as the (apparent) pollution the cruise lines and passengers (supposedly) inflicted…

A recent message from a local environmental group’s executive director showed up via email, and laid out series of emotions she is feeling as Anchorage begins to transition to Mayor-elect Dave Bronson.  In it, the author said, “I felt increasingly anxious in the days since May 11, as municipal ballots were tallied, and…I shifted to despair as I thought about the lives that could be truly harmed by this outcome…” But the author has it wrong.  It isn’t a mayoral election that creates despair.  It isn’t a new local leader who will harm people. Lives are changed forever when organizations…

A recent headline in the Anchorage Daily News’ opinion section caught Alaska State Director Rick Whitbeck’s eye.  “Prioritizing Outside political donors over Alaska’s families is wrong,” it read, before devolving into a near hit-piece against Alaska’s Governor, Mike Dunleavy, whose ‘Alaska-first’ decisions have earned him plaudits from our organization multiple times in the past. As off-base as the opinion piece was, the headline couldn’t be truer.  Alaskans by and large recognize and embrace the role responsible resource development plays in our state.  We realize that the direct and indirect jobs, state and local revenues and secondary economies driven by development…

Alaskans working in the energy community – whether oil, gas, mining or production – have seen the Biden Administration take actions that should concern them.  From ceasing oil and gas leasing and permitting progress on federal lands, to showing disdain for pipelines and other necessary infrastructure, it has been a frustrating start to 2021 from the federal government. Thankfully, Alaska has a governor who has the energy community’s back.  The difference between federal actions and those of Governor Dunleavy and his administration is stark and striking.  Whereas the Biden Administration has nearly-incompetent, highly politicized agency leadership in Deb Haaland (Interior),…

The fight against traditional energy sources and for more “green” energy has evolved recently in Alaska. Instead of fighting for legislative or local government mandates, local movements have sprung up to overhaul electric co-ops and utility associations with “green” energy zealots. The Anchorage-based eco organization, The Alaska Center, held a webinar under their “Climate, Care and Community” series last week, titled “You Have the Power”.  Its stated goal was to “learn about your opportunities to make a change as a cooperative member-owner, and how you can use that power to ensure an energy future that works for all of us.”…

Anyone paying attention to the Biden administration’s hell-bent push toward “green” energy and away from traditional sources of coal, oil and gas might be a bit frustrated by now. After all, “going green” is a long-term process that this administration somehow thinks can be done in less than 15 years.  “Going green” doesn’t – or shouldn’t – mean abruptly ending jobs for hundreds of thousands of families across our great nation.  When people talk about “going green”, most don’t envision policies that damage the United States’ standing in the world. All of those scenarios are playing out with the ‘leadership…