For the past quarter, I’ve been on call with thirteen colleagues – none of whom I knew before this – empaneled as a grand juror. Before this honor – and to sit as part of a system of peer review is an honor – I’d only seen Hollywood’s depiction of a grand jury proceeding.  I’ve sat on four jury trials – and have been the jury foreman for all four – but never had been a grand juror. For those unfamiliar with grand jury proceedings, it is a process where the prosecutor brings forth evidence to the grand jury, at…

Alaska’s Governor Dunleavy and President Trump have a close relationship.  Dunleavy is a regular guest on Air Force One when the President’s travels have him refueling in Anchorage, and Dunleavy spoke at a Rose Garden event earlier this summer at the President’s request. But Dunleavy didn’t mince words when he recently spoke out against the politics surrounding Alaska’s Pebble project, noting the President and his son have “slightly different ideas on development.” The Washington Examiner’s story on the politics surrounding Pebble stated Dunleavy has been surprised by the vigorous opposition from prominent conservatives such as Trump Jr. to the project,…

First, it was a decision against the NRDC, in its fight against “climate change” and the Department of the Interior.  That decision by the infamously-left-leaning Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals back in July floored many responsible-development advocates. Now, the Palmer Project, a copper-zinc-silver-gold-barite mine located outside of Haines, Alaska, has emerged victorious – at least by proxy – as the Ninth Circuit rejected the arguments made by the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council (SEACC) against the federal Bureau of Land Management. The decision allows the project – operated by Constantine North, Inc (CNI) – to continue with its exploration and scientific…

Every Tuesday night from 5:00-6:00 PM local time, Alaska State Director Rick Whitbeck hosts the “Power The Future Energy Hour” on KNVT (92.5 FM, 1020 AM and online at 1020KVNT.com).  The show (also replayed during the same hour on Saturday night) is heard throughout Southcentral Alaska communities, and acts as a recap of Power The Future activities in Alaska, as well as an opportunity to hear from various members of Alaska’s energy community. Since the show’s inception in January 2018, its guests have included members of Congress, Alaska’s Governor, Lt. Governor, State Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners, members of the Governor’s…

Lost among the COVID-19 announcements, the finalized primary election results and the end of the last full month of an amazing Alaska summer was a Tweet that may have been missed by most Alaskans. On August 29th, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced her full support for Democratic Independent House candidate Alyse Galvin, who is seeking to unseat the Dean of the House, Don Young, Tweeting: Astute and alert Alaskans wondered why Pelosi would call Alyse a member of the #RedtoBlue crowd, since Galvin has maintained her down-the-middle political ideology during campaign season. We wonder, too: Alyse’s endorsement means at what…

Alaska State Director Rick Whitbeck recently took a COVID-19 test, after contact tracing identified him as at risk for the virus. Here are some of his thoughts: It isn’t ever fun to hear that you may be exposed to COVID. In fact, given the minimal number of positive cases in Alaska to-date, being told you may have contracted the virus is almost comical in some ways.  You start thinking about your community contacts from the past week or two; where you’ve been and who you’ve been around.  You start to wonder who might have given it to the person who…

Every Tuesday night from 5:00-6:00 PM local time, Alaska State Director Rick Whitbeck hosts the “Power The Future Energy Hour” on KNVT (92.5 FM, 1020 AM and online at 1020KVNT.com).  The show (also replayed during the same hour on Saturday night) is heard throughout Southcentral Alaska communities, and acts as a recap of Power The Future activities in Alaska, as well as an opportunity to hear from various members of Alaska’s energy community. Since the show’s inception in January 2018, it has had dozens of guests, including members of Congress, Alaska’s Governor, Lt. Governor, State Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners, members…

As we talk with energy workers across the US on a daily basis, we hear stories of men and women who love their jobs, are proud of the work they are doing and look forward to earning a day’s wage for a day’s labor.  We also hear how many are afraid; scared for their jobs and others around them, due to factors including COVID-19, supply and demand imbalances and political shenanigans at local, state and federal levels. At least in Alaska, though, one thing has been clear as we have our conversations: No one is dissatisfied with how President Trump…