Legislature(2021 - 2022)SENATE FINANCE 532

03/01/2021 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

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Audio Topic
09:04:30 AM Start
09:06:17 AM Aidea – Update on Projects, Investments and Cash Flow
10:46:48 AM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ - Alaska Industrial Development & Export TELECONFERENCED
Authority(AIDEA) - Update on Projects,
Investments & Cash Flow
+ - Alaska Energy Authority - Update on Assets, TELECONFERENCED
Projects, Grants & Loans
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
                 SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                       March 1, 2021                                                                                            
                         9:04 a.m.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:04:30 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop called the Senate Finance Committee meeting                                                                     
to order at 9:04 a.m.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Click Bishop, Co-Chair                                                                                                  
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair                                                                                                  
Senator Lyman Hoffman                                                                                                           
Senator Donny Olson (via teleconference)                                                                                        
Senator Bill Wielechowski (via teleconference)                                                                                  
Senator David Wilson                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Natasha von Imhof                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Alan Weitzner, Executive Director, Alaska Industrial                                                                            
Development and Export Authority, Department of Commerce,                                                                       
Community and Economic Development.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
AIDEA  UPDATE ON PROJECTS, INVESTMENTS AND CASH FLOW                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
ALASKA ENERGY AUTHORITY      UPDATE ON ASSETS, PROJECTS,                                                                        
GRANTS & LOANS                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop thanked Co-Chair Stedman for filling in                                                                         
while he was absent the previous week.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:06:17 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:06:27 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
^AIDEA  UPDATE ON PROJECTS, INVESTMENTS and CASH FLOW                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:06:38 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ALAN   WEITZNER,  EXECUTIVE   DIRECTOR,  ALASKA   INDUSTRIAL                                                                    
DEVELOPMENT  AND EXPORT  AUTHORITY, DEPARTMENT  OF COMMERCE,                                                                    
COMMUNITY  AND  ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT  (via  teleconference),                                                                    
discussed the presentation  "AIDEA PROJECTS, INVESTMENTS and                                                                    
CASH FLOW UPDATE"  (copy on file). He  thanked the committee                                                                    
and  noted  that  the  presentation was  in  response  to  a                                                                    
request  from   committee  staff   to  address   updates  to                                                                    
projects,  investments,  and  cash  flow as  well  as  three                                                                    
natural resource  development projects. He  highlighted that                                                                    
the presentation  worked in coordination  with a  letter the                                                                    
Alaska Industrial  Development and Export  Authority (AIDEA)                                                                    
provided to the  legislature dated January 8,  2021 (copy on                                                                    
file),  which was  a statutorily  required annual  review of                                                                    
assets of the organization.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:08:26 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner spoke to slide 1, "AIDEA'S MISSION":                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     To promote, develop, and advance economic growth and                                                                       
     diversification in Alaska by providing various means                                                                       
     of financing and investment.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     AIDEA OVERVIEW                                                                                                             
         Investing in Alaskans since 1967                                                                                    
         Alaska's Development Finance Authority                                                                              
         Financially Self-Sustaining Public Corporation                                                                      
          (no GF by statute AS 44.88.190(b))                                                                                    
         $439.7 million in Dividends to Alaska since 1997                                                                    
         Directed over    $3   billion    into   economic                                                                    
          development in Alaska                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner   highlighted  that  AIDEA  was   tasked  with                                                                    
encouraging the  diversification of the state's  economy and                                                                    
promoting the  creation and retention of  jobs. He recounted                                                                    
that  AIDEA  was initially  created  to  provide tax  exempt                                                                    
financing through  the Conduit Revenue Bond  Program (CRBP).                                                                    
The  initial capitalization  of  AIDEA started  with a  loan                                                                    
program through the Department of  Revenue (DOR) and a total                                                                    
appropriation  $309  million.  Since that  time,  AIDEA  had                                                                    
provided  more back  to the  general fund  than its  initial                                                                    
capitalization.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner showed slide 2, "AIDEA AS 44.88":                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     WITHIN AS 44.88.010(a)(10)                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     It is in the public  interest to promote the prosperity                                                                    
     and general welfare of all citizens of the state by:                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     (A)  stimulating commercial  and industrial  growth and                                                                    
     expansion  by   encouraging  an  increase   of  private                                                                    
     investment  by  banks,   investment  houses,  insurance                                                                    
     companies, and other  financial institutions, including                                                                    
     pension and retirement funds, to  help satisfy the need                                                                    
     for economic expansion;                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     (B)  encouraging the  production of  raw materials  and                                                                    
     goods  for export,  the expansion  of  exports and  raw                                                                    
     materials and goods?;                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     (C)  creating  the  Alaska Industrial  Development  and                                                                    
     Export   Authority  with   the   powers  necessary   to                                                                    
     accomplish  the objectives  stated  in this  paragraph,                                                                    
     including  the power  to issue  taxable and  tax-exempt                                                                    
     bonds, to acquire ownership  interests in projects, and                                                                    
     to provide development project financing?                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner thought  a review  of the  associated statutes                                                                    
might  illustrate  how  and  why  AIDEA  was  organized.  He                                                                    
summarized   that  AIDEA's   principal   role  in   economic                                                                    
development  was to  specifically work  with private  sector                                                                    
investment to  coordinate and  be a  partner to  deliver job                                                                    
growth and economic benefits for Alaskans.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:12:35 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner looked at slide 3, "PROGRAMS + PROJECTS":                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
      Conduit Revenue Bond Program                                                                                           
      Loan Participation Program                                                                                             
      Development Project Finance                                                                                            
      Sustainable Energy Transmission and Supply (SETS)                                                                      
      Arctic Infrastructure Development Fund (AIDF)                                                                          
      Small Business Economic Development  Revolving Loan                                                                    
        Fund                                                                                                                    
      Rural Development Initiative Loan Fund                                                                                 
      Business Export Assistance Program                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Development Project Finance:                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
      Delong Mountain Transportation System                                                                                  
      Skagway Ore Terminal                                                                                                   
      FedEx Aircraft MRO Hangar                                                                                              
      Snettisham Hydroelectric Facility                                                                                      
      Alaska Ship & Drydock, Ketchikan                                                                                       
      Camp Denali Readiness Center (JBER)                                                                                    
      Mustang Holdings LLC                                                                                                   
      Interior Energy Project                                                                                                
      Blue Crest Energy Drilling Rig Loan                                                                                    
      AK SHIP Vessel Repair Finance Program                                                                                  
      Duck Point Development II (Icy Strait Point)                                                                           
      HEX Cook Inlet, LLC                                                                                                    
      Ambler Access Project                                                                                                  
      West Susitna Access Road Project                                                                                       
      Section 1002 Area Leases                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner  noted that  the slide  gave detail  on AIDEA's                                                                    
programs and projects. He noted  that AIDEA had been helping                                                                    
with economic  development in the healthcare  sector through                                                                    
CRBP, which  had been  helped with  rural and  Alaska Native                                                                    
healthcare  access  in  the state.  He  specified  that  the                                                                    
previous year AIDEA had issued  over $200 million in conduit                                                                    
revenue  bonds  that were  directly  tied  to health  sector                                                                    
investments.  He generalized  that all  of AIDEA's  programs                                                                    
had been  impacted in some  form by the  COVID-19 emergency.                                                                    
He thought Alaska  had been more broadly  impacted than some                                                                    
other states.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner   pointed  out  that  AIDEA   had  implemented                                                                    
emergency programs  to address impacts of  the pandemic that                                                                    
were not  shown on the  slide. The programs were  to address                                                                    
economic  impacts. He  asserted the  AIDEA had  been on  the                                                                    
front of  the statewide response  to the pandemic  since the                                                                    
governor's  declaration of  emergency. The  AIDEA Board  had                                                                    
implemented  emergency  regulations  and  programs,  one  of                                                                    
which  was  adapted  into  the AK  Cares  Program  with  the                                                                    
Department of Commerce,  Community and Economic Development,                                                                    
which had provided  over $282 million in grant  funding to a                                                                    
little over 5700 small businesses throughout the state.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner  detailed that AIDEA  had adapted  the Business                                                                    
Export  Assistance Program  provide  guarantees to  Alaska's                                                                    
banks  and credit  unions for  extended  credit to  existing                                                                    
borrowers.  He  continued  that   AIDEA  also  had  provided                                                                    
support to  businesses impacted  by the  pandemic in  a loan                                                                    
participation program. He  recounted that AIDEA accomplished                                                                    
its mission  by acting as  a secondary market  for financial                                                                    
institutions by  purchasing loan participation  by providing                                                                    
guarantees on  bank-originated loans. Since 1992,  AIDEA had                                                                    
funded  over  $1.2  billion  under  the  loan  participation                                                                    
program  which had  supported over  9,600 construction  jobs                                                                    
and  over  9,800  permanent jobs  within  Alaska's  economy,                                                                    
principally   supporting   the    commercial   real   estate                                                                    
development  sector. He  specified that  the loan  portfolio                                                                    
was  currently $451.6  million at  the  close of  FY 20.  He                                                                    
cited  that AIDEA  had received  over  80 loan  modification                                                                    
requests  on  loans that  amounted  to  about $193  million,                                                                    
which  was  approximately  44 percent  of  the  entire  loan                                                                    
portfolio.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner  continued to  address slide  3. He  noted that                                                                    
the  Arctic  Infrastructure   Development  Fund  (AIDF)  was                                                                    
recently  funded  with   the  improvements  for  development                                                                    
funding  on  the Ambler  Access  Project  as well  as  funds                                                                    
dedicated to  signing oil and  gas leases. He  discussed the                                                                    
Sustainable Energy Transmission  and Supply Fund, originally                                                                    
capitalized  by the  legislature for  $145 million  in 2013.                                                                    
The funds  had been  principally invested into  the Interior                                                                    
Gas Utility.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Bishop asked  if Mr.  Weitzner had  indicated that                                                                    
AIDEA had done 80 loan modifications.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner affirmed  that  AIDEA had  done  over 80  loan                                                                    
modifications under the Loan Participation Program.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop asked if the  total dollar amount was around                                                                    
$193 million for the loan modifications.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner  affirmed that  the modifications  affected the                                                                    
principal balance of loans totaling $193 million.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:18:10 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman   asked  for  more  detail   on  the  loan                                                                    
modifications. He wondered how many  might be in arrears. He                                                                    
asked about the  significance of any arrears  and the status                                                                    
of loans that were current or not.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Mr.   Weitzner   relayed   that  there   were   modification                                                                    
agreements  with the  underlying financial  institutions for                                                                    
the  majority of  loans with  modification.  In most  cases,                                                                    
loans were not  in arrears and parties  were paying interest                                                                    
on a  current basis.  The parties had  received modification                                                                    
or  relief on  principal payments,  which had  been extended                                                                    
toward  the  end  of  the  loan. He  noted  there  were  two                                                                    
modifications   that   were   in   arrears   and   currently                                                                    
outstanding.  The two  proposed modifications  were awaiting                                                                    
review. The total amount of the  two loans was less than $10                                                                    
million.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  asked for updates on  the Mustang Holdings                                                                    
LLC and the  Blue Crest Energy drilling, which  were both in                                                                    
a sector that had been challenged from multiple directions.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr.   Weitzner  affirmed   that   the   projects  had   been                                                                    
challenged.  He   addressed  BlueCrest  Energy,   which  had                                                                    
received  a modification  for principal  deferment in  March                                                                    
2020. The  company had been  performing and  paying interest                                                                    
each month  as required and  was current. He  continued that                                                                    
AIDEA  was considering  a request  to extend  the deferment,                                                                    
which  would   be  considered  at  AIDEA's   upcoming  board                                                                    
meeting. He  identified that  BlueCrest had  been challenged                                                                    
by the low price of oil.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner  addressed Mustang  Holdings LLC.  He recounted                                                                    
that in  November 2019,  AIDEA had  accelerated the  loan to                                                                    
Brooks  Range  Petroleum  Corporation  and  had  been  in  a                                                                    
negotiating  phase  with  the  originally  working  interest                                                                    
owners  on  the  loan.  In  the  early  part  of  2020,  the                                                                    
approvals for extending  the loan did not get  closed due to                                                                    
a  decline  in  investment  of  necessary  capital  for  the                                                                    
development of the project. Since  that time, AIDEA had been                                                                    
working  with several  other major  creditors in  looking to                                                                    
reorganize  the underlying  exposure and  get to  a plan  of                                                                    
development for  the field. Ultimately AIDEA  concluded that                                                                    
it  needed   to  expedite  ownership  and   control  of  the                                                                    
underlying  lease  assets  and   surface  assets  to  better                                                                    
restructure the loan. In May,  AIDEA had entered into a non-                                                                    
judicial  foreclosure   process,  which  was   concluded  in                                                                    
September.  Since the  conclusion,  AIDEA  had been  working                                                                    
with  creditors under  AIDEA's ownership  of  the lease  and                                                                    
surface assets  through Mustang  Holdings LLC.  He concluded                                                                    
that  AIDEA  was  looking  at   a  plan  of  development  to                                                                    
restructure the $70 million of investment with creditors.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:23:09 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman   thought  Mr.  Weitzner   indicated  that                                                                    
BlueCrest Energy  was paying only  interest on its  loan. He                                                                    
asked about payments on  previous expenditures applicable to                                                                    
the particular loan.  He recalled that the  state owed about                                                                    
$730  million in  credits. He  thought there  was about  $60                                                                    
million in  the budget  for the  current year's  payment. He                                                                    
asked  about   the  significant  relationship   between  the                                                                    
credits and the asset held by AIDEA.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner offered  to  provide  further information  via                                                                    
AIDEA  Board memos  issued regarding  the modifications.  He                                                                    
detailed  that  the original  loan  was  structured in  2015                                                                    
based on a capital structure  which included $150 million in                                                                    
assumed  oil tax  credit  reimbursements  to the  investors.                                                                    
When  the  oil  tax  credit   program  was  halted,  it  had                                                                    
dramatically changed  the investment profile. He  noted that                                                                    
BlueCrest Energy  had provided during testimony  that it had                                                                    
continued  to   develop  the  Cosmopolitan  Field   and  had                                                                    
continued  to use  the rig  which AIDEA  financed for  field                                                                    
development.   Further,  BlueCrest   Energy  was   currently                                                                    
looking at  how the  oil and natural  gas recovery  from the                                                                    
well development was  able to repay AIDEA and  continue on a                                                                    
plan of further development for the Cosmopolitan Field.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner  summarized that there  had been  a significant                                                                    
impact the original plan of  development of the Cosmopolitan                                                                    
Field, as  well as the  ability to  repay AIDEA for  what it                                                                    
financed on  the drill rig  itself. He added that  AIDEA was                                                                    
working  with the  company on  how the  plan of  development                                                                    
could advance.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator Hoffman  asked if both projects  being discussed had                                                                    
always been loans or if in  the past they were considered as                                                                    
investments.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner relayed  that the  BlueCrest  Energy loan  had                                                                    
always been  a loan, with direct  financing and construction                                                                    
of the  drill rig  used for  field development.  The Mustang                                                                    
Holdings LLC investment by AIDEA  had gone through different                                                                    
phases. The  investment was originally for  road development                                                                    
in 2012  with direct investment  by AIDEA. The  project also                                                                    
focused on  an early production facility  under an ownership                                                                    
model  by AIDEA.  The investment  had  been restructured  in                                                                    
2018.   The  road   and  early   production  facility   were                                                                    
restructured  in 2018,  also following  a  reduction in  the                                                                    
amount of  oil tax credits  that the industrial  group would                                                                    
receive from  the Mustang Field development.  The term sheet                                                                    
was put into place when  the loan agreements were signed May                                                                    
2019.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Senator Hoffman  asked about the board's  involvement in the                                                                    
developments Mr. Weitzner had described.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner informed  that the board had  approved the form                                                                    
of   investment  either   in   direct   investment  or   its                                                                    
restructuring to a  loan. In each case the  board had passed                                                                    
resolutions for the form of the investment.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:28:43 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Hoffman  asked if the  administration had  taken any                                                                    
action on the matter without the board's direction.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner did  not know if he could  fully answer Senator                                                                    
Hoffman's  question. He  affirmed  that for  any action  for                                                                    
AIDEA to  undertake would require the  resolution of AIDEA's                                                                    
Board of Directors.  He could not address  whether there had                                                                    
been other involvement prior to 2018.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  thought due  to  the  sensitivity of  the                                                                    
response, the information should be in writing.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner  relayed  that there  were  memos  that  could                                                                    
highlight  the  process,  and  he was  happy  to  share  the                                                                    
information with the committee.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner  discussed slide 4, "PROJECTS  + ASSETS," which                                                                    
showed a state map  depicting the loan program participation                                                                    
and  project financing.  He  thought  the slide  highlighted                                                                    
that AIDEA's  projects impact broadly  across the  state and                                                                    
that AIDEA  was fulfilling  its mission of  economic growth.                                                                    
He asserted that  much of the economic  development and jobs                                                                    
supported  by AIDEA's  programs  and  project financing  had                                                                    
resulted  from   the  responsible  development   of  natural                                                                    
resources  and economic  diversification.  He asserted  that                                                                    
AIDEA acted  as a catalyst  for the economic  development in                                                                    
Alaska's communities. He furthered  that public funding from                                                                    
taxes    on    commercial     real    estate    development,                                                                    
infrastructure,   and  natural   resource  development   had                                                                    
significantly contributed to  communities' economic security                                                                    
and  provided ongoing  revenue for  local  services such  as                                                                    
schools, health clinics, and utilities.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner addressed slide 5, "PROJECT INVESTMENTS":                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Facilitate Investment in Alaska's Industrial Sectors                                                                       
     Partnership with Public + Private Capital                                                                                  
     Patient, Long-Term Capital                                                                                                 
     Direct Investment as Owner/Partner/Lender                                                                                  
     Feasible Economic Structures, No Subsidies                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     * Total amount invested or committed in development                                                                        
     projects held by AIDEA as of FYE 2020, includes only                                                                       
     AIDEA funds and AIDEA proceeds from bonds issued.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner  referenced a modified  pie chart on  the slide                                                                    
that showed  the historical investment of  $612.4 million in                                                                    
Alaska.  He highlighted  that  through  AIDEA's mission  and                                                                    
reinvestment of capital, the authority  did not structure or                                                                    
provide  subsidies for  the projects.  Rather, the  projects                                                                    
were  based upon  economic pro  forma  and effective  viable                                                                    
business plans.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:32:45 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner reviewed slide 6, "FINANCIAL SUMMARY FY2020":                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     STATEMENT OF NET POSITION ($000S)                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Cash Balance (incl. Restricted) $90,516                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Programs:                                                                                                                  
     COVID-19 Emergency Programs 168,910                                                                                        
     Enterprise Development Account 456,889                                                                                     
     Development Project Finance:                                                                                               
          Revolving Fund - Projects 194,223                                                                                     
          Revolving Fund - Capital Assets 141,531                                                                               
          SETS 143,760                                                                                                          
          AIDF 35,000                                                                                                           
     Other Assets 16,399                                                                                                        
     Capital Reserves  Securities 398,895                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Total Assets $1,646,123                                                                                                    
     Less: Liabilities & Deferred ($226,650)                                                                                    
     Net Position$1,419,473                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner  noted that the  slide was a  financial summary                                                                    
for AIDEA  that summarized the balance  sheet, net operating                                                                    
position and statutory  net income that was  provided at the                                                                    
request of  the chair.  He continued that  AIDEA's financial                                                                    
statement  was  also  provided   via  AS  44.88.205  and  AS                                                                    
44.88.210. He  had summarized  the financial  information to                                                                    
identify  AIDEA's  principal   programs  and  the  program's                                                                    
current capitalization.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner  explained that  AIDEA's capital  reserves were                                                                    
the accumulated  returns from  previous investments  and was                                                                    
what was  kept available for future  investments in economic                                                                    
development projects  in the state.  The reserves  were also                                                                    
available to support any bonding  program and supported cash                                                                    
flows for  the organization. He highlighted  that within the                                                                    
revolving  fund and  the capital  assets,  there was  $141.5                                                                    
million,  principally made  of managed  assets that  did not                                                                    
principally  produce cash  flow.  He  listed the  Snettisham                                                                    
Hydro Project and  the Alaska Ship and Dry  Dock, which were                                                                    
important  for  economic  development  but  did  not  return                                                                    
capital. He noted that in  the projects, $70 million was for                                                                    
Mustang  Holdings   LLC,  which   also  was   not  currently                                                                    
returning cash flow to AIDEA.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner  addressed  the  table  on  slide  6  entitled                                                                    
"STATEMENT OF  REVENUES, EXPENSES & CHANGES  IN NET POSITION                                                                    
($000S)." He  discussed operating revenues and  expenses. He                                                                    
recounted that  he had looked  to remove some of  the impact                                                                    
from  emergency  programs,  which were  principally  funding                                                                    
from  funding  through  the  Coronavirus  Aid,  Relief,  and                                                                    
Economic Security  (CARES) Act.  He pointed  out differences                                                                    
between 2018,  2019, and 2020;  and made note  of unrealized                                                                    
gains  and  losses from  capital  reserves  included in  the                                                                    
operating  revenues. Because  of recent  interest there  was                                                                    
unrealized gains.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner continued  to address  slide 6,  and explained                                                                    
that  operating  income  represented the  net  effect  after                                                                    
expenses  and also  included  unrealized  capital gains.  He                                                                    
explained  that  the  numbers showed  that  AIDEA  had  been                                                                    
consistent in producing between  $33 million and $35 million                                                                    
in  statutory net  income each  year, from  which the  AIDEA                                                                    
dividend  was declared.  Under existing  statute, the  board                                                                    
was required  to declare  a dividend from  25 percent  to 50                                                                    
percent of the year's statutory  net income, and was payable                                                                    
in two  years following the  production of the  income. With                                                                    
$34.6 million recognized in the  current year, AIDEA's board                                                                    
had declared  a $17.3 million  dividend to the  general fund                                                                    
for the FY 22 budget.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:38:33 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Bishop noted  that Senator  Wielechowski had  been                                                                    
trying to  get in the  queue for  a question, but  there had                                                                    
been technical difficulties.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wielechowski  asked for a list  of AIDEA investments                                                                    
from  2011  to  2021,   including  loan  amounts,  duration,                                                                    
location, purpose, and return.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner stated  that the  information was  possible to                                                                    
get.  He referenced  AIDEA's  provided financial  statements                                                                    
and relayed  that he  could also provide  a list  of AIDEA's                                                                    
current  portfolio  under  the Loan  Participation  Program,                                                                    
which  was  not  specifically delineated  in  the  financial                                                                    
statements.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wielechowski   reiterated  his  request   for  loan                                                                    
amounts and  investments. He  asked if  AIDEA had  adopted a                                                                    
policy and procedure for public involvement.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner  asked if Senator Wielechowski  was referencing                                                                    
public involvement regarding individual projects.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wielechowski clarified that  he was asking about the                                                                    
opportunity   for  public   notice   and  public   testimony                                                                    
regarding any AIDEA decision.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner relayed  that AIDEA was required  by statute to                                                                    
obtain  support from  local communities,  which was  usually                                                                    
accomplished by specific resolutions  by local assemblies or                                                                    
boroughs, as well  as letters of support.  He continued that                                                                    
AIDEA  also  had public  board  meetings  in review  of  any                                                                    
investment decision, and  any investment decision undertaken                                                                    
was  subject to  a  resolution of  the  board. During  board                                                                    
meetings there was a public comment period.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson asked  about AIDEA's debt in terms  of an oil                                                                    
tax bond. He asked for  an update regarding AIDEA's position                                                                    
on the amount of debt.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner asked  if the question was  relating to Mustang                                                                    
Holdings LLC.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson answered "no."                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop asked  if Senator Wilson wanted  to know how                                                                    
much  was owed  to  AIDEA  in the  form  of  oil tax  credit                                                                    
payments.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilson answered  in the  affirmative  and asked  if                                                                    
AIDEA was ready to write off  the amount to see cash flow or                                                                    
hold dividends to pay credits off.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner  stated that AIDEA  currently held a  note that                                                                    
was originally issued  by DOR to Mustang  Operating Center 1                                                                    
(MOC  1)  under  the  original  structure  for  the  Mustang                                                                    
development   loan,  which   was  acquired   May  2019.   He                                                                    
elaborated  that  AIDEA  currently  held  receipt  authority                                                                    
under ownership  interest in MOC  1, which it  foreclosed on                                                                    
in  September   2020,  and  there  were   currently  payment                                                                    
obligations under the tax credits  of roughly $16.2 million.                                                                    
He  shared that  AIDEA believed  the credits  would be  paid                                                                    
through revenues received by the state.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:43:39 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner referenced slide 7, "BONDING CAPACITY":                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
      AIDEA's bonding capacity is subject to determination                                                                   
        by  external  credit   rating  agencies   and  their                                                                    
        evaluation of AIDEA's credit standing.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
      Prior to 2019, AIDEA held long-term  credit ratings                                                                    
        of AA+ by  S&P and  Aa3 by  Moody's, based  in large                                                                    
        part to AIDEA's  capital reserves  in place  and the                                                                    
        state's statutory dividend program.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
      In 2019, Moody's downgraded AIDEA's  Revolving Fund                                                                    
        bonds to A2  referencing "the Revolving  Fund bonds'                                                                    
        exposure to actions the  state may take as  it seeks                                                                    
        to adopt  a revenue  model less  dependent on  North                                                                    
        Slope oil production."                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
      AIDEA's capacity to provide financing opportunities                                                                    
        is directly related to  the asset base  available to                                                                    
        support those investments.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     The legislature  expressed its  intent in  enacting the                                                                    
     statutory   dividend   program  that   "the   financial                                                                    
     integrity of the [Authority] remain  secure so that the                                                                    
     Authority can  continue to  fulfill its  vital economic                                                                    
     development mission for the state" (see sec. 1, ch.11                                                                      
     SLA 1996).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner wanted to highlight  that since the Development                                                                    
Project Financing  Program was  initiated in  the mid-1980s,                                                                    
AIDEA had  issued a  little over  $415 million  of long-term                                                                    
bonds to finance  projects within the state.  The bonds were                                                                    
principally general obligation (GO)  bonds and did not carry                                                                    
the moral obligation of the  state and were issued solely on                                                                    
AIDEA's credit  standing. He  detailed that  AIDEA's bonding                                                                    
capacity  was  ultimately   determined  by  external  credit                                                                    
rating agencies.  Prior to 2019,  AIDEA had a  credit rating                                                                    
of  AA-plus.  The basis  for  the  high rating  was  AIDEA's                                                                    
capital  reserves, projects,  and the  state's dividend.  In                                                                    
2019,  Moody's   downgraded  AIDEA's   rating  due   to  the                                                                    
revolving fund bonds exposure to  actions the state may have                                                                    
taken  as it  sought  a revenue  model  less dependent  upon                                                                    
North Slope oil production.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weiztner continued  to discuss  slide  7. He  explained                                                                    
that  AIDEA's capacity  to  provide financing  opportunities                                                                    
was directly  related to its  asset base. He  continued that                                                                    
AIDEA did  not have  GO bonds  outstanding, although  it had                                                                    
Snettisham power  revenue bonds  that had a  current balance                                                                    
of  $54.6  million.  the  authority  also  retained  bonding                                                                    
authorization through the  legislature for several potential                                                                    
development projects.  He discussed project funding  such as                                                                    
the Skagway Terminal.  He shared that it was  unclear if the                                                                    
bonding capacity would  be used in the  near term. Currently                                                                    
AIDEA was  reviewing ways to  provide capitalization  in its                                                                    
loan programs, particularly  the Loan Participation Program.                                                                    
He  noted  that  AIDEA  had identified  that  there  was  an                                                                    
opportunity to  issue a  collateralized loan  obligation for                                                                    
an asset-backed security, which  would represent a recycling                                                                    
of  some  of the  invested  capital  into the  program.  The                                                                    
authority was actively engaging  (subject to board approval)                                                                    
in  looking at  working with  external capital  providers to                                                                    
provide other  sources of capital  for AIDEA to  fulfill its                                                                    
mission from the state.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman understood that  Mr. Weitzner was asserting                                                                    
that AIDEA  was in a  good financial position.  He mentioned                                                                    
the state's  structural deficit and subsequent  downgrade in                                                                    
credit  rating and  wondered if  the situation  affected the                                                                    
cost of borrowing for AIDEA.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner  affirmed  that the  state's  rating  directly                                                                    
impacted  the cost  of AIDEA's  borrowing, which  ultimately                                                                    
impacted  the  viability  of   the  project  investment.  He                                                                    
assured that the financial stability  and credit standing of                                                                    
AIDEA had  been strong.  He reiterated  that AIDEA  had been                                                                    
impacted  by  COVID-19 across  its  programs.  He noted  the                                                                    
additional  cash  flow  impact  of programs  that  had  been                                                                    
deferred,  which  would  affect AIDEA's  ability  to  secure                                                                    
external capital financing. He  thought there was a changing                                                                    
environment.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  summarized that as the  state went further                                                                    
down  its current  financial road  and possibly  using funds                                                                    
from the  Earnings Reserve Account  it would not  help AIDEA                                                                    
and would increase its cost of capital.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner  thought  Co-Chair  Stedman had  made  a  good                                                                    
summary.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:50:32 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:51:23 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Bishop  thought  Mr. Weitzner's  presentation  was                                                                    
important  and wanted  to continue  and  postpone the  other                                                                    
item on the agenda.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilson mentioned  Co-Chair  Stedman's question  and                                                                    
bonding  capacity.  He  asked if  the  credit  downgrade  by                                                                    
Moody's  was related  to  the  administration's decision  to                                                                    
borrow funding from AIDEA to pay off another account.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner  relayed that Moody's  had raised the  issue of                                                                    
the state's  budget. He highlighted  that any  addressing of                                                                    
AIDEA's  capital  reserves had  not  been  supported by  the                                                                    
governor. A  $2 million  appropriation was approved  for the                                                                    
Northwest  Arctic Borough  in support  of  a school  project                                                                    
that did  have an impact  and had accessed  reserved outside                                                                    
the  dividend statute.  He  noted that  AIDEA  had a  credit                                                                    
standing  that was  established with  its capital  reserves,                                                                    
which  were  there  for   future  investments  and  economic                                                                    
development projects.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner  noted  that AIDEA  currently  had  a  project                                                                    
pipeline  in place  of  economic  development projects  that                                                                    
would have an  investment level in excess of  $1 billion. He                                                                    
thought there  was a lot  of opportunity for  utilization of                                                                    
the  reserves  and returns  to  recycle  for future  project                                                                    
investment.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner showed slide 8, "RESPONSIBLE RESOURCE                                                                              
DEVELOPMENT - ACCESS TO ALASKA'S ABUNDANT NATURAL RESOURCES                                                                     
FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT."                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner discussed slide 9, "1002 AREA LEASE SALE":                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     PROJECT OVERVIEW                                                                                                           
      Section 1002 Area designated for future development                                                                    
        of its resource potential under ANILCA                                                                                  
      AIDEA Resolution  G20-31  authorizing   up  to  $20                                                                    
        million in the first year under BLM's Section 1002                                                                      
        Area Oil & Gas Lease Sale                                                                                               
      Bids submitted on 11 tracts ($19,236,345 in 1stYear)                                                                   
      AIDEA highest bidder in 9 of 11 tracts bid                                                                             
      Leases signed on 7 of the 9 tracts for an initial 10                                                                   
        year rights of use subject to lease stipulations                                                                        
      Potential to add  1.4 million  barrels  per day  to                                                                    
        Alaska's oil production through TAPS                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     TIMELINE                                                                                                                   
     Jan. 20,  2021 -  President Biden  announces moratorium                                                                    
     on all oil and gas leasing activities in ANWR.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Jan.  19, 2021  - Bureau  of Land  Management announces                                                                    
     official leaseholders; AIDEA holds 7 tracts.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Jan.  6,  2021  -   Bureau  of  Land  Management  opens                                                                    
     submitted sealed  bids; AIDEA is the  successful bidder                                                                    
     of 9 of 11 tracts.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Dec. 31,  2020 - Deadline  to submit qualified  bids on                                                                    
     leases.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Dec.  7,  2020  -   Bureau  of  Land  Management  posts                                                                    
     Detailed Statement of Sale.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Aug. 17, 2020 - Record of Decision (ROD) reached.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Dec. 22, 2017 - President  Trump signs the Tax Cuts and                                                                    
     Jobs Act, which  includes authorization for responsible                                                                    
     development in 1002 Area of ANWR.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Dec. 2, 1980 - President Carter signs Alaska National                                                                      
     Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA)                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner highlighted  that through Alaska's constitution                                                                    
at  least   25  percent   of  all  mineral   lease  rentals,                                                                    
royalties, royalty  sale proceeds, federal  mineral revenue,                                                                    
sharing  payments, and  bonuses received  by the  state were                                                                    
placed in  the Permanent Fund.  He shared that  AIDEA viewed                                                                    
natural resource  development within  the state  as critical                                                                    
for  the  state's  economic development.  He  asserted  that                                                                    
AIDEA  was  increasingly  being limited  in  access  to  the                                                                    
resources.  He   reiterated  that   much  of   the  economic                                                                    
development  and  jobs   supported  across  communities  had                                                                    
resulted  from responsible  development  of Alaska's  mining                                                                    
and oil and  gas resources, which had led  to public funding                                                                    
and public services.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:56:02 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner  discussed the  Section  1002  lease sale.  He                                                                    
explained  that  Section  1002  was  designated  for  future                                                                    
resource  development  under  the Alaska  National  Interest                                                                    
Lands  Conservation Act  (ANILCA). He  continued that  AIDEA                                                                    
passed  a resolution  authoring the  organization to  commit                                                                    
$20  million in  the first  year  under the  Bureau of  Land                                                                    
Management's  oil  and gas  lease  sale.  He recounted  that                                                                    
AIDEA  had   submitted  11   bids  for   tracts,  ultimately                                                                    
committing about $19.2 million.  He continued that AIDEA had                                                                    
been the high  bidder on 9 of the 11  tracts, and ultimately                                                                    
closed on  7 of  the 9 tracts.  He referenced  a forthcoming                                                                    
map that would  show areas that were closed  upon. He shared                                                                    
that AIDEA had an initial  ten-year right of use, subject to                                                                    
the lease stipulations, and ultimately  saw potential to add                                                                    
1.4 million  barrels per day  to the state's  oil production                                                                    
through the  Trans-Alaska Pipeline  System (TAPS)  and other                                                                    
infrastructure  on  the North  Slope.  He  noted that  AIDEA                                                                    
provided  a  timeline  to  decide   how  the  project  would                                                                    
progress.  He noted  that the  state's right  to access  its                                                                    
natural resources was codified within ANILCA.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzer moved to slide 10, "1002 AREA LEASE SALE":                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     HOW MUCH OIL IS ESTIMATED TO BE IN THE 1002 AREA?                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
      The U.S.  Geological  Survey  estimates  this  area                                                                    
        contains  10.4   billion   barrels  of   technically                                                                    
        recoverable oil.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR STATE OF ALASKA                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
      Public funding from taxes contributing  to economic                                                                    
        security within the  local communities on  the North                                                                    
        Slope, providing  revenue  to  fund local  services,                                                                    
        schools,   health   clinics,    housing,   emergency                                                                    
        response, water  and wastewater,  heat and  electric                                                                    
       utilities, and countless essential services.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
      Fixed royalty of 16.67% established, half  of which                                                                    
        goes to the State.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
      Half of all proceeds earned through the Section 1002                                                                   
        Area Oil & Gas Lease Sale are  shared with the State                                                                    
        of Alaska.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     ESTIMATED  JOB CREATION  FROM DEVELOPMENT  OF THE  1002                                                                    
     AREA                                                                                                                       
      55,000 130,000  jobs are  expected  to be  created,                                                                    
        according  to   the  House   Committee  on   Natural                                                                    
        Resources.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     ESTIMATED REVENUE GENERATED BY  DEVELOPMENT OF THE 1002                                                                    
     AREA                                                                                                                       
      Estimated up to $50  billion  in future  royalties,                                                                    
        according to  the  nonpartisan Congressional  Budget                                                                    
        Office.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner noted  that the  U.S.  Geological Survey  also                                                                    
linked to oil  available in Alaska Native  lands accessed by                                                                    
the Kaktovik  Inupiat Corporation.  He highlighted  that the                                                                    
total area  in Section  1002 was  1.56 million  acres, which                                                                    
was defined  under ANILA for  its potential  for exploration                                                                    
development  and  transport  of  oil and  gas.  Of  the  19-                                                                    
million-acre   Alaska  National   Wildlife  Refuge   (ANWR),                                                                    
Section  1002  was  not designated  as  a  wilderness  area.                                                                    
Within the 1.56  acres, the Bureau of  Land Management (BLM)                                                                    
had  defined  a  maximum  of 2,000  aggregate  acres  to  be                                                                    
available  for  surface  development,  which  signified  .01                                                                    
percent  of the  limited Section  1002 area.  He highlighted                                                                    
that the  focus from  BLM and  the state  had been  based on                                                                    
responsible    resource    development    coexisting    with                                                                    
conservation.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner continued  to discuss  development of  Section                                                                    
1002.  He  thought   responsible  resource  development  had                                                                    
historically  been  achieved  on  the North  Slope,  and  he                                                                    
highlighted that  there was  no reason  to believe  that the                                                                    
case  would  not be  the  same  in accessing  resources  for                                                                    
Section 1002.  He noted that  AIDEA fully supported  HJR 12,                                                                    
which urged  the United States  Department of  the Interior,                                                                    
BLM,  to  honor the  recent  lease  sales and  proceed  with                                                                    
permitting in ANWR. He discussed  estimated job creation and                                                                    
revenue  from development  of the  1002  area, including  25                                                                    
percent   of  the   state's  potential   revenue  would   be                                                                    
contributed to the Permanent Fund.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
10:00:57 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner continued  to address  slide 10.  He mentioned                                                                    
that Alaska  Native communities on the  North Slope actively                                                                    
supported development  within the 1002 area  and anticipated                                                                    
job creation.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Bishop referenced  the  $10.4  billion barrels  of                                                                    
"technically"  recoverable oil  as listed  on the  slide. He                                                                    
asked  if AIDEA  had  discussed what  might be  economically                                                                    
recoverable.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner relayed that analysis  indicated that there was                                                                    
7.3 billion  barrels of economically recoverable  oil in the                                                                    
1002  area. He  continued that  the technical  recovery from                                                                    
the Alaska Native land access was added the amount.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
10:02:34 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman thought  the area in question  was half the                                                                    
size of Prudhoe Bay, and  there was sufficient potential for                                                                    
the state.  He asked  for Mr. Weitzner  to elaborate  on the                                                                    
royalty split.  He wondered if  the 1002 area was  under the                                                                    
same  royalty criteria  as  the  Natural Petroleum  Reserve-                                                                    
Alaska (NPRA).                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner  explained that  through the  2017 Tax  Act (in                                                                    
which  the  U.S. Congress  approved  the  oil and  gas  sale                                                                    
program  for BLM  to initiate  and do  initial environmental                                                                    
review) there  was a required  50 percent split  between the                                                                    
state  and the  federal  government on  any royalties,  sale                                                                    
proceeds  received from  development  in  Section 1002.  The                                                                    
arrangement  was different  than  that under  the NPRA,  and                                                                    
very different  from the state's own  development in Prudhoe                                                                    
Bay.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wielechowski  asked what  sort of  discussions AIDEA                                                                    
had  with  producers and  global  banks  regarding ANWR.  He                                                                    
wondered   if  any   entity   had   expressed  interest   in                                                                    
development.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner suggested it was  too early to provide feedback                                                                    
on  potential  interest  AIDEA  had  received,  specifically                                                                    
because the  authority had not  been actively  promoting co-                                                                    
investment  thus   far.  He  reminded   that  there   was  a                                                                    
moratorium  in place,  and AIDEA  was  currently working  on                                                                    
updating  the geotechnical  studies within  the tracts  that                                                                    
were under lease  in order to get  information for strategic                                                                    
discussions  with   private  sector  oil  and   gas  company                                                                    
investors that could be potential partners.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  asked if Mr.  Weitzner had  indicated that                                                                    
AIDEA  would be  running  3-dimensional  seismic studies  to                                                                    
delineate the value of potential  tracts that may or may not                                                                    
have in  order to  make decisions  about going  forward with                                                                    
partnerships  to  develop the  resource  or  dispose of  the                                                                    
tracts.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner answered  in the  affirmative and  shared that                                                                    
AIDEA  was looking  at the  full requirements  for filing  a                                                                    
plan with the BLM, and  updating the geotechnical studies in                                                                    
order to  have defined boundaries  on the resource  in order                                                                    
to have  a more advanced discussion  with potential partners                                                                    
for co-investment in field development.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:06:28 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner referenced slide 11,  "Coastal Plain 2021 Lease                                                                    
Sale  Results,"  which showed  a  map  of Alaska's  northern                                                                    
coast   depicting   tracts   available   for   bid,   tracts                                                                    
unavailable for leasing, or tracts  excluded from Public Law                                                                    
115-97 or  outside the Bureau  of Land Management's  oil and                                                                    
gas  leasing  authority.  He  highlighted  that  the  tracts                                                                    
marked  in clue  were the  nine tracts  that AIDEA  acquired                                                                    
under  the BLM  oil and  gas lease  sale. He  continued that                                                                    
AIDEA had  also bid  upon tract  25 and  tract 29.  He noted                                                                    
that AIDEA closed  and signed leases with BLM  on tracts 24,                                                                    
30,  31, 27,  26, 16,  and  17; but  did not  close or  sign                                                                    
leases  on tracts  23 and  22. He  explained that  AIDEA had                                                                    
identified  the priority  tracts and  wanted to  responsibly                                                                    
develop the area as well  as work within the stipulations of                                                                    
BLM with the 3 square  miles of surface structure that could                                                                    
be implemented.  He asserted that  AIDEA was  very cognizant                                                                    
of  the  potential  development   footprint  and  wanted  to                                                                    
recognize the conservation with BLM's leases.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman asked if Mr.  Weitzner to discuss Knick Arm                                                                    
Services and  Regenerate Alaska.  He asked  about horizontal                                                                    
drilling  and whether  the state  could  go to  the east  in                                                                    
Section 1002  if it was decided  not to go forward  with the                                                                    
surface tracts.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner  stated that  Regenerate  Alaska,  Inc. was  a                                                                    
current investor in  leases in the state,  which he believed                                                                    
to  have been  acquired by  an Australian-based  company. He                                                                    
did  not have  a  great  deal of  information  on Knick  Arm                                                                    
Services and was not aware  of the extent of its investments                                                                    
in the  state. He addressed horizontal  drilling and relayed                                                                    
that to  the extent  that the  underlying reserves  could be                                                                    
monetized,  then   AIDEA  would   be  able  to   access  the                                                                    
resources.  He  cited that  AIDEA  would  have to  file  the                                                                    
development  of plan  with  the state  and  BLM. Beyond  the                                                                    
eastern portion, AIDEA could work  with the Kaktovik Inupiat                                                                    
Corporation,  which  was  actively looking  to  develop  its                                                                    
resources. Ultimately AIDEA would  work with the corporation                                                                    
on how to transport resources  to TAPS, and he thought there                                                                    
were solutions in the state to accommodate.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
10:11:03 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop asked  if AIDEA had lost  the current year's                                                                    
field season to do a chute.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner thought the season  was more limited, and AIDEA                                                                    
was actively looking  at filing a plan with  BLM. He thought                                                                    
it was fair to say that  the year's planning needed to be in                                                                    
place  in order  to do  the  full extent  of a  geotechnical                                                                    
study. He reminded that AIDEA  had a ten-year lease with BLM                                                                    
and thought  there was  sufficient time to  file a  plan and                                                                    
complete the studies.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner  showed slide 12, "CESS  PROJECT," which showed                                                                    
a map  of the  Ambler Access Project.  The project  had been                                                                    
codified within  ANILCA, and  AIDEA had  worked on  it since                                                                    
2013. The  initial project development was  initiated by the                                                                    
Department of Transportation and  Public Facilities (DOT) in                                                                    
2009, to  start defining access  from the Dalton  Highway to                                                                    
the  Ambler  Mining  District.   The  full  project  crossed                                                                    
private,  state,  and federally  owned  land  to access  the                                                                    
Ambler  Mining  District  for broader  development  for  the                                                                    
state through the mining interests.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wielechowski  understood  that  the  Tanana  Chiefs                                                                    
Conference  (TCC)   and  Doyon,   Limited  had   opposed  or                                                                    
challenged the Ambler Road project.  He asked what AIDEA was                                                                    
proposing  to do  in the  case that  Doyon refused  to allow                                                                    
purchase of a road right-of-way.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner  was only  aware of  legal challenges  that had                                                                    
been filed by TCC, which had  filed suit on the BLM's record                                                                    
of decision. He was not aware  of any action taken by Doyon.                                                                    
He explained that AIDEA was  actively engaging with Doyon on                                                                    
how to  address the private  land ownership as well  as with                                                                    
Nana  Corporation.  He  continued  that AIDEA  was  also  in                                                                    
discussion  regarding rights  of way  with the  state, which                                                                    
was an additional landowner of  over 124 miles. He mentioned                                                                    
a milestone  pertaining to the  federal land  ownership, and                                                                    
that the topic would be addressed on a later slide.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
10:14:42 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wielechowski understood that  there was an extensive                                                                    
cost-benefit  analysis done  on the  Red Dog  Mine Road.  He                                                                    
asked if  such a  study would  be done  prior to  the Ambler                                                                    
Access Project.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner  relayed that there  had been an  ongoing cost-                                                                    
benefit analysis  of the  access road.  There was  a current                                                                    
development  agreement  between  AIDEA  and  Ambler  Metals,                                                                    
under which each  party was contributing $35  million to the                                                                    
road  development,  which was  in  a  feasibility study.  He                                                                    
thought a final investment decision  would be reached at the                                                                    
end of the study, at a  maximum at the end of December 2024.                                                                    
The full  cost-benefit analysis was an  ongoing process that                                                                    
would  ultimately lead  to an  investment decision  by AIDEA                                                                    
and Ambler Metals.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wielechowski understood  that  the  $35 million  in                                                                    
spending  was  from  the Arctic  Infrastructure  Development                                                                    
Fund  (AIDF), which  put  a  cap of  $20  million on  loans,                                                                    
beyond which required legislative approval.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner  understood  that  bonding  authority  at  $25                                                                    
million  was subject  to AS  44.88.172, which  AIDF was  not                                                                    
under. He thought  the other element to  understand was that                                                                    
AIDEA was the  owner of the road, and the  investment was in                                                                    
the form of  ownership, which was allowed  under AIDF loans.                                                                    
He  wanted to  make  the distinction  that individual  loans                                                                    
were subject to limitations, but  the funds in question were                                                                    
not an advance  of loans by AIDEA to  an independently owned                                                                    
project company.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop  asked if  AIDEA was  intending to  create a                                                                    
scenario like the DeLong Mountain Road.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner affirmed  that AIDEA was looking  to create the                                                                    
economic developments  through the Ambler Road,  such as the                                                                    
DeLong Mountain  Road had for  the Red Dog Mine.  He thought                                                                    
the Ambler  Road was slightly  different. He  described that                                                                    
the Red Dog  Mine Road had been a 52-mile  road with storage                                                                    
capacity  and  port facilities  for  the  Red Dog  Mine.  He                                                                    
asserted  that  the  Ambler Road  would  ultimately  provide                                                                    
long-term  access and  development of  all the  mines within                                                                    
the district, not just individual specific mines.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop  understood the difference between  the road                                                                    
projects and had worked the DeLong Mountain Road project.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
10:19:03 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Olson  assumed that  AIDEA  would  perform a  cost-                                                                    
benefit analysis  for the Ambler  Access Project  similar to                                                                    
that of the road for the Red Dog Mine.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner explained  that AIDEA  was in  the process  of                                                                    
doing  so   while  doing  the  feasibility   study  for  the                                                                    
proceeding three  years, prior to taking  a final investment                                                                    
decision on the road.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson referenced an AIDEA  board meeting on February                                                                    
10, 2021; at  which it was stated that the  cost of the pre-                                                                    
development work  would be paid  50 percent by AIDEA  and 50                                                                    
percent  by  Ambler Metals.  He  wondered  if Ambler  Metals                                                                    
would  be  getting  a  credit   for  the  $35  million  pre-                                                                    
development contribution  when the tolls for  the road began                                                                    
being paid.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner   answered  in  the  affirmative.   Under  the                                                                    
development agreement that AIDEA  signed with Ambler Metals,                                                                    
which had been  publicly attached to the  board agenda, each                                                                    
party was  contributing up  to $35  million for  the current                                                                    
budget on the final feasibility  phase for the road project.                                                                    
Ambler Metals would  not be an owner of the  road. In return                                                                    
for the  $35 million  in development capital,  Ambler Metals                                                                    
would  receive credit  on the  initial  toll structure  that                                                                    
would be put  in place for the utilization of  the road. The                                                                    
credit  would  be based  on  volume  and projected  use.  He                                                                    
wanted to clarify that the  form of the agreement and credit                                                                    
had not been  finalized, and the structure  would be defined                                                                    
with the decision on the final structure of the road.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Senator Hoffman  observed that a  portion of the  road would                                                                    
go through the gates of ANWR.  He asked how many miles would                                                                    
be involved, and  what permits would be needed.  He asked if                                                                    
Mr.  Weitzner saw  the  issue  as a  major  obstacle in  the                                                                    
project.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner  thought that the  number of miles  through the                                                                    
refuge would be 26 miles  which would be administered by the                                                                    
National Park Service  (NPS). He continued that  AIDEA had a                                                                    
50-year right-of-way  permit that  had been signed  with the                                                                    
NPS,  which  was  also  eligible   to  be  extended  for  an                                                                    
additional 50 years.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
10:22:55 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner looked at slide 13, "AMBLER ACCESS PROJECT":                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     PROJECT BACKGROUND                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
      Access to Ambler Mining District defined within                                                                        
        ANILCA.                                                                                                                 
      FY20 final EIS / FY21 Joint ROD from BLM/NPS.                                                                          
      $35M for AIDEA's Arctic Infrastructure Development                                                                     
        Fund, matched by Ambler Metals LLC for Final                                                                            
        Feasibility.                                                                                                            
      Development   Agreement    with    Ambler    Metals                                                                    
        coordinating the timeline between the Arctic Mine                                                                       
        feasibility and Ambler Access Road feasibility by                                                                       
        latest December 2024.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATIONS                                                                                           
      360 direct jobs for road construction on an annual                                                                     
        average                                                                                                                 
      Up to 81 direct annual jobs for road operations and                                                                    
        maintenance over the life of the road                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     MINES CONSTRUCTION                                                                                                         
      2,777 direct jobs for mine construction; $286M in                                                                      
        wages annually                                                                                                          
      2,034 additional indirect and induced jobs; $108M in                                                                   
        wages annually                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     MINING OPERATIONS                                                                                                          
      495 direct jobs; $72M in wages annually                                                                                
      3,436 additional indirect and induced jobs; $228M in                                                                   
        wages annually                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     GOVERNMENT REVENUES (LIFE OF ALL FOUR MINES)                                                                               
    $393M in mining license tax revenues to the State                                                                        
      $524M in corporate income taxes to the State                                                                           
      $214M in production royalties to the State                                                                             
      $13M in claim rents to the State                                                                                       
      $193M in payments to local governments                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner identified that the  primary foci of the Ambler                                                                    
Access Project  were the jobs  created and the  revenues for                                                                    
the state created by mine  development. He shared that AIDEA                                                                    
had worked with the University  of Alaska Fairbanks in doing                                                                    
an initial study on the  potential project benefits from the                                                                    
mines and the road.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop asked about the  2021 planned field work and                                                                    
observed  that   there  was  an  aggressive   schedule,  and                                                                    
wondered how negotiations were proceeding with Doyon.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner informed that AIDEA  had initiated a term sheet                                                                    
with  Doyon for  land access  permit rights.  He anticipated                                                                    
reaching  a formal  agreement within  the next  month, which                                                                    
would provide  access for three  years. He added  that AIDEA                                                                    
needed to  engage Nana on  the same terms. He  anticipated a                                                                    
robust field  season for  the year, and  the work  was being                                                                    
coordinated with  private landowners  and the  Department of                                                                    
Natural Resources (DNR) for the rights of way.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner discussed  slide 14, "KEY ELEMENTS  + ISSUES IN                                                                    
FINAL FEASIBILITY":                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
    200+ mile new road in remote Alaska                                                                                      
    Design components                                                                                                        
        o 29 bridge crossings                                                                                                   
        o Predominant permafrost across corridor                                                                                
        o Materials site with 12 million cubic yards of                                                                         
          fill                                                                                                                  
        o At least 40 fish passage sites                                                                                        
        o Subsistence concern considerations                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
    Crossing Approval from five landowners                                                                                   
    ANILCA and NEPA requirements                                                                                             
    26 permits and authorizations                                                                                            
    Federal laws: CWA, NHPA, MSFCMA, ESA, MBTA, BGEPA,                                                                       
     WSRA, RHA                                                                                                                  
    Multiple mines in exploration                                                                                            
    Coordinating with stakeholders (many hundreds of miles                                                                   
     apart from each other)                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner thought  slide 14  intended to  highlight that                                                                    
the Ambler  Access Project was  not an easy  development. He                                                                    
mentioned the primary issue of  coordinating the project for                                                                    
subsistence concerns.  He used  the example  of the  Red Dog                                                                    
Mine transportation  system and thought the  proposed Ambler                                                                    
road  was a  more complex  undertaking that  needed to  take                                                                    
into account all the communities' subsistence concerns.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:26:26 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  was  curious about  construction  of  the                                                                    
Ambler Access  Project. He  asked about  who would  be doing                                                                    
the actual construction of the road.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner  reiterated that  AIDEA would  be the  owner of                                                                    
the road  and would be  engaging the contractors  that would                                                                    
do the  construction of  the road. He  added that  AIDEA was                                                                    
working  with a  project manager  seconded through  DOT, who                                                                    
had extensive experience with complex  road structure in the                                                                    
Arctic environment. He relayed  that AIDEA would engage with                                                                    
contractors  to manage  and control  construction. Operation                                                                    
of  the  road would  be  contracted  to different  operators                                                                    
through AIDEA's administration.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  thought the project  would be  the biggest                                                                    
road project since the Dalton  Highway. He was curious about                                                                    
the  40 fish  passage  sites  listed on  slide  14, and  the                                                                    
species of fish that were in the area.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop replied, "Arctic grayling."                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner   explained  that   the  fish   passage  sites                                                                    
reflected  the stipulations  from  the environmental  review                                                                    
and  the joint  record of  decision with  the National  Park                                                                    
Service and the BLM. He  continued that AIDEA was looking to                                                                    
comply with permit  requirements put in place  for the five-                                                                    
year initial rights of way.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  asked  what  kind of  fish  were  in  the                                                                    
rivers. He asked  if there were species of  salmon that were                                                                    
in the rivers.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Bishop thought  the  Department of  Fish and  Game                                                                    
(DFG) could  specify species  of fish.  He doubted  that any                                                                    
salmon got  that far up  the river, but thought  there could                                                                    
be Arctic  grayling, Arctic char, whitefish,  northern pike,                                                                    
and some trout.  He affirmed that his staff  would work with                                                                    
DFG to get the information.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner  stated he  would  provide  detail within  the                                                                    
record of decision about which  fish had been identified. He                                                                    
wanted to  defer to  what was  specifically required  by the                                                                    
permit.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop acknowledged  that it was very  early in the                                                                    
process  but wanted  to emphasize  the  importance of  using                                                                    
Alaska hire  and utilizing local  contractors. He  knew that                                                                    
there  would  be  agreements with  Native  corporations  and                                                                    
local tribes  and wanted to  ensure local hire  was executed                                                                    
to  the  fullest extent.  He  asked  if  there was  a  rough                                                                    
estimate of the cost per mile of the proposed road.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner stated  that there was an  estimated $2,000 per                                                                    
mile  cost for  the 210.6-mile  road.  The cost  was due  to                                                                    
issues  with waterways  and bridging.  The current  estimate                                                                    
for  the  road's  capital  costs  was  a  little  over  $500                                                                    
million.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Bishop  asked for  the  cost  of  the road  to  be                                                                    
restated.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner corrected  that the estimated cost  of the road                                                                    
was $2 million per mile.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
10:31:37 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman asked  if the project would  be under Davis                                                                    
Bacon wages.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzman  stated that the  project would  not explicitly                                                                    
be  under Davis  Bacon, and  AIDEA was  not seeking  federal                                                                    
funds to finance  part of the road. He  continued that AIDEA                                                                    
was  looking  for  private  sector  investors.  He  did  not                                                                    
anticipate a  requirement for federal funds  that would have                                                                    
Davis Bacon  wage requirements. He  thought it  was possible                                                                    
that  AIDEA would  work with  some union  groups that  would                                                                    
work on portions of the road through a contract process.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  understood  that state  funds  also  fell                                                                    
under  Davis  Bacon  wage  requirements.   He  asked  for  a                                                                    
clarification  on  the  eventuality of  coming  under  Davis                                                                    
Bacon wage requirements.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzman  agreed  to provide  further  information.  He                                                                    
clarified  that the  road itself  was  independent from  the                                                                    
mine development and was an industrial access road.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop commented that there  was precedent from the                                                                    
DeLong Mountain Road regarding Davis Bacon.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner  addressed slide 15, "WEST  SUSITNA ACCESS ROAD                                                                    
PROJECT":                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     PROJECT BACKGROUND                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
      2014 Roads to Resources Program DOT&PF Study                                                                           
      Pre-development feasibility stage of planning for a                                                                    
        multi-use public access road leading to resource                                                                        
        development opportunities that will diversify the                                                                       
        state and borough economy and lead to job creation.                                                                     
      Partnership between  AIDEA,  the  Matanuska-Susitna                                                                    
        Borough (MSB) and industry partners.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     The proposed route is approx.  100 miles long, from the                                                                    
     west end  of Ayrshire  Road to  near the  confluence of                                                                    
     the Talachulitna  and Skwentna  Rivers. Near  the Happy                                                                    
     River crossing,  the route would diverge  away from the                                                                    
     Donlin Gold gas  pipeline route and continue  west to a                                                                    
     point  of  tie-in  with  existing  mineral  exploration                                                                    
     roads.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner explained  that the  West Susitna  Access Road                                                                    
Project  was a  follow-on  to the  2014  Roads to  Resources                                                                    
Program,  which  was originally  a  DOT  study. The  project                                                                    
would  ultimately link  to Port  Mackenzie. The  project had                                                                    
support and input from the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
10:35:32 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner reviewed slide 16, "PHASE 2 STUDY + SCHEDULE":                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     We  have   concluded  Phase   2,  which   included  two                                                                    
     objectives:                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     1.   Advance   preliminary  engineering   enough   that                                                                    
     preliminary opinions  of probable capital costs  can be                                                                    
     developed for economic decision making.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     2. Conduct  wetland mapping  and fieldwork  to position                                                                    
     the project  for developing a  Clean Water  Act Section                                                                    
     404 permit application, if the project moves forward.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     2020                                                                                                                       
     JUNE   -  MSB   Assembly   approved  participation   in                                                                    
     Memorandum of Understanding                                                                                                
     AUGUST -  Executed funding,  Notice to  Proceed issued,                                                                    
     project begins                                                                                                             
    SEPTEMBER - Wetland mapping and fieldwork completed                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     2021                                                                                                                       
     MARCH - Phase 2 study completed                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman looked  back  to slide  15.  He asked  for                                                                    
clarification about  the proposed construction plan  for the                                                                    
West Susitna Access Road Project.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner  informed that AIDEA was  the principal partner                                                                    
in the  project from the  state side. He continued  that DOT                                                                    
had done  the initial  studies in  2014 on  available routes                                                                    
within  the  Mat-Su Borough.  He  continued  that AIDEA  had                                                                    
taken  updated the  study  with  the Phase  I  and Phase  II                                                                    
analyses in order to define  an optimal route. Additionally,                                                                    
AIDEA would  need to  continue working with  the state  as a                                                                    
principal landowner. There would  also be private landowners                                                                    
along the route that needed  to be engaged. The slide showed                                                                    
pre-feasibility  planning  in order  to  get  to a  National                                                                    
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) permit application.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  had seen a substantial  pricing difference                                                                    
between  corporate transportation,  DNR, and  through AIDEA.                                                                    
He was curious about the  construction cost of the projects,                                                                    
and thought  it was clear  there was a huge  cost difference                                                                    
between DNR and DOT. He  thought DOT was much more expensive                                                                    
and  cumbersome  to  work  with. He  thought  if  the  model                                                                    
worked, perhaps  it should be  replicated in other  areas of                                                                    
the state.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Bishop  thoguht  Co-Chair Stedman  had  offered  a                                                                    
comment rather than a question.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
10:39:27 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner  followed up on Co-Chair  Stedman's remarks. He                                                                    
explained that AIDEA's approach  in working with the borough                                                                    
and private  industry partners was  to expedite  the process                                                                    
to receive  initial permits while  taking the  full analysis                                                                    
of  conservation,  environmental concerns,  and  stakeholder                                                                    
engagement. He thought the process  prepared the project for                                                                    
how the  road would be  financed. He mentioned  AIDEA's role                                                                    
in  the state.  He thought  there  was a  benefit to  having                                                                    
external capital  as a  partner, in  ways of  having quicker                                                                    
project development.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner  addressed slide 17, "POTENTIAL  NEXT STEPS FOR                                                                    
PHASE 3":                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
      Conduct baseline environmental studies:                                                                                
      Cultural and historical resources, fish, wildlife,                                                                     
        etc.                                                                                                                    
      Perform additional field work as required                                                                              
     Identify mitigation and avoidance opportunities                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Advance engineering to the 10% 15% design level                                                                         
      Identify and explore alternative routes                                                                                
      Conduct Port MacKenzie feasibility analysis and                                                                        
        potential future development plans                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
    Q1 2021 - Phase 3 discussion and scope development                                                                          
     Q2 2021 - Phase 3 approvals from MSB Assembly and                                                                          
     AIDEA Board                                                                                                                
     Q3 2021 - Phase 3 execution                                                                                                
     Q4 2021 - Phase 3 completion                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner mentioned  the Environmental  Impact Statement                                                                    
submission and application and  thought any road development                                                                    
would need to  have NEPA approval. He  looked towards having                                                                    
a filing being prepared in the first quarter of 2022.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop asked about the  industry partners AIDEA was                                                                    
working with.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Weitzner  informed that  AIDEA was  specifically working                                                                    
with Nova  Minerals and Gull  Mining Corporation,  which had                                                                    
leases within  the Yentna Mining  District. During  Phase 1,                                                                    
there  was   additional  support  from  parties   that  were                                                                    
interested in the transportation  project, with leases south                                                                    
of Skwentna.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
10:42:51 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  asked if railway  had been reviewed  as an                                                                    
option. He  cited that rail had  less environmental impacts.                                                                    
He asked more detail on the question of road versus rail.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner  relayed that  the  option  of rail  had  been                                                                    
considered during the  phase 1 study, and  AIDEA had elected                                                                    
to go forward on phase 2  without rail. He asserted that not                                                                    
all  users  would  benefit  from  rail  and  the  industrial                                                                    
access, which was coordinated for  larger volume users. Rail                                                                    
would limit  public access, which  was a requirement  of the                                                                    
Mat-Su Borough.  While rail was  able to  accommodate higher                                                                    
volumes, it was at a higher cost.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Hoffman went back to  slide 1 and referenced AIDEA's                                                                    
mission and economic growth  and diversification of Alaska's                                                                    
economy.  He  knew  that  Donlin Creek  in  his  region  was                                                                    
proceeding with a project. He  asked Mr. Weitzner to comment                                                                    
on why the  region was not pursuing working with  AIDEA on a                                                                    
large mine.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Weitzner stated  AIDEA  had  conversations with  Donlin                                                                    
Gold  regarding   development  and   utility  infrastructure                                                                    
needs. He understood  that Donlin had not  made decisions on                                                                    
how to  address gas supply  and other energy  development to                                                                    
power  the  mine.  He  noted   that  AIDEA  was  in  ongoing                                                                    
conversation as to how to best serve Donlin.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop discussed the agenda for the following day.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
10:46:48 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
The meeting was adjourned at 10:46 a.m.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
022521 AEA Presentation for Senate Finance Committee.pdf SFIN 3/1/2021 9:00:00 AM
AEA
022521 AIDEA Presentation for Senate Finance Committee.pdf SFIN 3/1/2021 9:00:00 AM
AIDEA
030121 AIDEA Excess Capital Letter 1.8.2021 Signed.pdf SFIN 3/1/2021 9:00:00 AM
AIDEA