The oil and gas industry and Alaska have long had a mutually-beneficial relationship. The industry has provided approximately 90% of all business revenue to the State most years, and still – even after the restructuring of how Permanent Fund allocations are made to cover state costs – account for nearly 66% of all non-Fund sources.  Since 2014, the industry has paid $19.1 billion in taxes and royalties to the State. Approximately one-quarter of all private-sector employment is directly or indirectly tied to and supported by the industry.  Including all direct, indirect, and induced employment and wages, oil and gas industry…

When news broke of ConocoPhillips’ purchase of Permian independent Concho, one of the first things that went through Alaska State Director Rick Whitbeck’s head was, “How will this affect their long-term strategy in Alaska?” With hundreds of oilfield jobs already lost this year from geopolitical events, including COVID-19, any reduction of ConocoPhillips’ 1,000 Alaska employees would be continued bad news for the energy community in our great state. With Concho a major player in Permian Basin production – holding 550,000 net acres split between the Delaware and Midland sub-basins – the $9.7 billion deal is a clear indication that ConocoPhillips…

Alaska’s energy community could see a very different future if Joe Biden wins the Presidential election on November 3rd.  Under his direction, the US would be sure to move to a more renewable-energy solution and away from fossil fuels.  That would imperil millions of energy jobs across the nation, including thousands of Alaskans working in Alaska’s cornerstone oil-and-gas sector. But the average Alaskan residents would also be impacted, and business owners would as well, as Biden’s energy plans go well beyond the “just transition” evangelized by green-agenda radicals. For starters, “green” energy is more expensive.  Don’t believe me?  If you’re…

Race: Alaska’s At-Large Congressional Seat Key Cities: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau Matchup: Republican/Incumbent/”Dean of the House” Don Young vs. “Independ-ocrat” Alyse Galvin  The Race: If you were born on or after March 14, 1973 in Alaska, Congressman Don Young has been the only representative in the US House you’ve had.  The “Congressman for all Alaska” is 87 years young, with an ‘Energizer Bunny’-level of vigor that belies his age.  His tenure in the House currently makes him the “Dean of the House”, a title he plans on continuing as long as he can serve. Congressman Young is an outspoken and consistent…

Alaska has a deep and rich history of mining in our state.  Our vast mineral deposit veins – stretching from north to south and east to west – gives us a plethora of opportunities to responsibly develop those and create both jobs and government revenues for decades. According to a story in Metal Tech News, one of those opportunities is being brought to fruition by Ucore Rare Metals.  They have called their plans “Alaska2023”, and it would build a commercial-grade rare earths separation/purification plant (they call it a “Strategic Minerals Complex” or SMC) in Southeast Alaska, by 2023.  This would…

Power The Future Energy Hour Recap: Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy and State Senate Candidate Roger Holland On last night’s Power The Future Energy Hour, Alaska State Director Rick Whitbeck caught up with Alaska’s Governor, Mike Dunleavy, as well as state senate candidate, Roger Holland. Governor Dunleavy penned an op-ed to the people of Washington – run through the Seattle Times this past weekend – taking a strong stance on Washington state, and 14 others, who have chosen to sue the federal government to stop responsible development in the 10-02 area of ANWR.  He opened the segment talking about Alaska’s rights…

When it comes to Alaska-based (but Outside-funded) environmental groups, The Alaska Center is the alpha organization in the Great Land. (A quick side-bar: This group was formerly known as the “Alaska Center for the Environment”, before their board re-named them in 2016, when they realized they couldn’t keep that name and still have any credibility with the majority of Alaskans.) The Center has spent the last four years since its “rebranding” establishing itself as the voice of opposition to each and every resource development project in the state.  Open ANWR?  Not on the Center’s watch.  Pebble?  The most evil mine…

On numerous occasions, Power The Future has written about the proposed A2A Railway, connecting Alberta to Alaska.  The railway will allow for Canada’s natural resources to be exported, bypassing eco-extremist barriers and misplaced government mandates.  It will also add hundreds of jobs along the route, and increase the Alaska Railroad’s reach and workforce in the Great Land. The A2A received a major approval this past Friday, when President Trump announced via Twitter: “Based on the strong recommendation of @SenDanSullivan and @repdonyoung of the Great State of Alaska, it is my honor to inform you that I will be issuing a…

When President Trump gave his speech to the United Nations today, he didn’t mince words on China, emphasizing it isn’t a friend to the US. Trump used his UN speech to attack China and claim that the U.S. is leading on environmental causes pic.twitter.com/mrleU2iOsp — NowThis Impact (@nowthisimpact) September 22, 2020 Trump blasted China for unleashing COVID-19 on the world, as well as its environmental record, its willful disdain for international law, its illegal fishing techniques and more. For Alaskans working in resource development industries, strong remarks like these should help continue to advance the President’s “America First” mission.  American…

Sometimes, a tweet is nuanced.  Sometimes, a tweet is a declaration.  President Trump’s tweet late Wednesday evening was a direct shot across the bow of those so-called conservatives who have joined the eco-Left in a last-ditch assault on Alaska’s Pebble Project. Don’t worry, wonderful & beautiful Alaska, there will be NO POLITICS in the Pebble Mine Review Process. I will do what is right for Alaska and our great Country!!! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 17, 2020 The President left zero doubt that the NEPA process – and not political pressure – would be the deciding factor on the…