“That lawsuit will be heard by the 9th Circuit.” Rational Alaskans have bemoaned those words for decades, as the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has handed down numerous decisions against Alaska’s best interests, especially as they relate to responsible resource development, states’ rights, equal access to Alaska’s lands and so much more. The recent Supreme Court decision found in John Sturgeon’s favor overturned the 9th Circuit’s original decision.  While we doubt that had a long-term impact on the Court’s liberal, anti-development tendencies, we were pleased to see them decide against eco-extremist activities last week. In Juliana vs United States, juvenile…

As the Alaska Legislature gaveled its 2020 session underway on Tuesday, the bodies faced a budget out-of-balance by over a billion dollars, constituencies upset over the organization delays and budget fights from last year, as well as pending campaigns for – at least on paper – 51 of its 60 members. Those in the legislature looking to perform a ‘cut-and-run’ move could look to pass a budget with modest cuts and a further drain on savings accounts.  Others may choose additional revenue measures such as an income or sales tax.  Others may look to further modify the allocation of Permanent…

When Alaska’s Governor Michael Dunleavy announced “Alaska is open for business” at his first public appearance following his election, the hundreds of attendees at the 2019 Alaska Miners Association convention gave him a rousing ovation. Working in conjunction with state, local and federal officials and agencies, Dunleavy spent his first year helping to streamline regulatory environments, advocate for new business in technology, resource development and service industries and engage leaders in Alaska’s key existing business lines. The response from Alaska’s resource development producers has generally been positive to the Governor’s efforts, as exploration and investment activities – from NPR-A leasing…

Alaska is blessed with abundance in many ways.  Sunlight in the summer.  Lakes, ponds, rivers and streams.  Mountains – including North America’s highest peak in Denali. And extractable resources that drive the state’s economy and power over one-third of Alaska’s private sector jobs. The balance between environmental stewardship and responsible development has led to Alaska’s emergence over the past fifty years as a major energy supplier for the US.  It has allowed Alaska to modernize, grow and prosper.  But the radicalized environmentalists – funded mostly by non-Alaskans who consider our state their snow globe, their private utopia, and who want…

The announcement by President Trump that his administration would be looking at ways to modernize the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) – the overarching set of federal regulations that serve as a template for resource development projects across the US – was met with unusually vicious gnashing of teeth by radical environmentalist groups throughout Alaska. The eco-Left has used the combination of onerous lawsuits and the bureaucratic largesse of NEPA to their advantage for years, tying up projects that deserve to be permitted, and causing extra work for responsible producers.  Today’s announcement – that included a revised timeline of two…

Santa’s journey for 2019 came to a glorious conclusion yesterday, as men, women, boys and girls all over the globe woke to the sounds, smells and sights of Christmas. Whether rich or poor monetarily, families celebrating Christmas were warmed by being with one another.  They were also most likely warmed by power generated by energy workers.  Here in America, Power The Future is working hard to advocate for those bringing the US into what we hope is a permanent status of energy independence and world energy dominance. In part one of a two-part series, we’d like to focus on a…

Alaskans and outsiders looking for future work in the oilfields of the North Slope and Cook Inlet should be thrilled by several activities that have taken place over the past 10 days in Alaska. On December 11th, the annual lease sale in the National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska (NPR-A) was successful, with the most acreage bid on since 2004.  A single company, North Slope Exploration, LLC, bid on leases covering land larger than Rhode Island in size, with ConocoPhillips and Emerald House also submitting winning bids on lease tracts.  Although production from these areas may be a decade or more…