Legislature(2021 - 2022)BUTROVICH 205
03/24/2021 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation: Energy 101 - Alaska Energy Authority | |
| HJR12 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HJR 12 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE
March 24, 2021
3:33 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Joshua Revak, Chair
Senator Peter Micciche, Vice Chair
Senator Gary Stevens
Senator Jesse Kiehl
Senator Scott Kawasaki
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Click Bishop
Senator Natasha von Imhof
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION: ENERGY 101 - ALASKA ENERGY AUTHORITY
- HEARD
HJR 12-ENDORSING ANWR LEASING; RELATED ISSUES
- MOVED SCS CSHJR 12(RES) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HJR 12
SHORT TITLE: ENDORSING ANWR LEASING; RELATED ISSUES
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) RAUSCHER
02/18/21 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/18/21 (H) RES, STA
02/19/21 (H) STA REFERRAL REMOVED
02/19/21 (H) BILL REPRINTED
03/01/21 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
03/01/21 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/03/21 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
03/03/21 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/08/21 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
03/08/21 (H) Heard & Held
03/08/21 (H) MINUTE(RES)
03/10/21 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
03/10/21 (H) Moved CSHJR 12(RES) Out of Committee
03/10/21 (H) MINUTE(RES)
03/12/21 (H) RES RPT CS(RES) 6DP 1DNP 2NR
03/12/21 (H) DP: MCKAY, CRONK, RAUSCHER, GILLHAM,
SCHRAGE, PATKOTAK
03/12/21 (H) DNP: HANNAN
03/12/21 (H) NR: FIELDS, HOPKINS
03/15/21 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
03/15/21 (H) VERSION: CSHJR 12(RES)
03/17/21 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/17/21 (S) RES
03/24/21 (S) RES AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
CURTIS THAYER, Executive Director
Alaska Energy Authority
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Delivered a presentation titled "Energy
101."
KIRK WARREN, Director of Engineering and Energy Development
Alaska Energy Authority
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information during the Energy 101
presentation.
REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE RAUSCHER
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HJR 12.
JESSE LOGAN, Staff
Representative George Rauscher
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions and provided information
during the hearing on HJR 12.
KARA MORIARTY, President and CEO
Alaska Oil and Gas Association (AOGA)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HJR 12 by invitation.
REBECCA LOGAN, CEO
The Alaska Support Industry Alliance
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HJR 12 by invitation.
KATIE CAPOZZI, President and CEO
Alaska Chamber of Commerce
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HJR 12 by invitation.
MARLEANNA HALL, Executive Director
Resource Development Council for Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HJR 12 by invitation.
MATTHEW REXFORD, President
Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation; and
Tribal Administrator, Native Village of Kaktovik
Kaktovik, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HJR 12 by invitation.
BERNADETTE DEMIENTIEFF, Executive Director
Gwich'in Steering Committee
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HJR 12.
DR. CHARLENE APOK, representing self
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HJR 12.
BARBARA HUFF TUCKNESS, representing self
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HJR 12.
MARGI DASHEVSKY, representing self
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HJR 12.
JULIE SMYTH, representing self
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HJR 12.
NAURI TOLER, representing self
Eagle River, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HJR 12.
MAX PLICHTA, representing self
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HJR 12.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:33:34 PM
CHAIR JOSHUA REVAK called the Senate Resources Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:33 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Stevens, Kawasaki, Kiehl, and Chair Revak.
Senator Micciche arrived during the course of the meeting.
^PRESENTATION: ENERGY 101 - ALASKA ENERGY AUTHORITY
PRESENTATION: ENERGY 101 - ALASKA ENERGY AUTHORITY
3:34:32 PM
CHAIR REVAK announced the first order of business would be an
Energy 101 presentation from Curtis Thayer with the Alaska
Energy Authority.
3:34:56 PM
CURTIS THAYER, Executive Director, Alaska Energy Authority
(AEA), Anchorage, Alaska, began the presentation by providing
background on AEA and what it does. He paraphrased slides 2 and
3 that read as follows:
WHO WE ARE
Created in 1976 by the Alaska Legislature, the
Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) is a public
corporation of the State of Alaska governed by a
board of directors with the mission to "reduce
the cost of energy in Alaska." AEA is the state's
energy office and lead agency for statewide
energy policy and program development.
WHAT WE DO
Railbelt Energy AEA owns the Bradley Lake
Hydroelectric Project and the Alaska Intertie.
These assets benefit Railbelt consumers by
reducing the cost of power
Power Cost Equalization The Power Cost
Equalization Program reduces the cost of
electricity in rural Alaska for residential
customers and community facilities.
MR. THAYER clarified that PCE does not apply to government
buildings.
Rural Energy AEA constructs bulk fuel tank
farms, diesel powerhouses, and electrical
distribution grids in rural villages. AEA
supports the operation of these facilities
through circuit rider and emergency response
programs.
MR. THAYER added that while AEA and the state do not have a
statutory responsibility to support the operation of the
facilities in these 170 communities, they assumed a moral
obligation to do so many years ago.
Renewable Energy AEA provides renewable energy
and energy efficiency grants, analysis, and
expertise to benefit Alaskans. These include
hydro, biomass, wind, solar, and others.
Grants and Loans AEA provides loans to local
utilities, local governments, and independent
power producers for the construction or upgrade
of power generation and other energy facilities.
MR. THAYER added that AEA is offering more loans through its
power project loan fund as money from grants diminishes.
Energy Planning In collaboration with local and
regional partners, AEA provides critical economic
and engineering analysis to plan the development
of cost effective energy infrastructure.
MR. THAYER highlighted that AEA applied for and received a $21
million bill grant through the Department of Transportation and
Public Facilities (DOTPF) to support the Alaska Cargo and Port
Storage project at the [Anchorage International Airport]. This
is a $210 million project, $21 million of which is federal funds
that will pass through AEA. He described this as thinking
outside the box to help create 2,000 jobs in Anchorage, 200 of
which will be full-time. He noted this was the largest bill
grant awarded on the West Coast.
3:38:30 PM
MR. THAYER directed attention to the map on slide 4 that shows
that AEA has ongoing projects spread throughout the state from
Southeast to the North Slope to the end of the Aleutian chain.
Among others, he specifically listed PCE communities, rural
technical assistance, training, bulk fuel upgrades, heat pumps,
heat recovery, solar, transmission, and hydroelectric. He noted
that AEA is in communication with close to 200 communities on a
daily basis through either powerhouse bulk fuel or PCE.
3:39:07 PM
SENATOR STEVENS offered his belief that Kodiak Electric
Association (KEA) started under AEA during the Four Dam Pool
era. He asked if there were other electric energy programs like
KEA that are no longer under AEA.
MR. THAYER answered that Kodiak does not fall under AEA. He said
you are probably thinking about the grant funding that filtered
through AEA from the legislature when Kodiak was shifting to
renewable energy.
SENATOR STEVENS summarized his understanding that as communities
grow and develop they can leave AEA.
MR. THAYER clarified that communities are never actually under
AEA control. Rather, AEA serves as a conduit to assist
communities; they are always treated as a partner.
3:41:01 PM
SENATOR KIEHL asked if he would follow up with a slide that
shows the facilities and projects that AEA is actively pursuing.
He referenced the key on slide 4 and said he is a huge supporter
of PCE but he does not think of it as a project, and he knows
some of the biomass projects have been on hold for years.
MR. THAYER answered that PCE could be removed from the key but
other than that, the slide reflects current projects and the 194
communities AEA engages with monthly on PCE.
CHAIR REVAK offered that Senator Kiehl was referring to the
construction-type projects.
MR. THAYER committed to work with Senator Kiehl to answer his
questions.
MR. THAYER returned to the presentation and paraphrased the
definition and examples of "energy," "energy units," and "power
and energy" provided on slides 5-8. He cited Bradley Lake as an
example of a supply of energy. He explained that the diversion
project AEA recently completed to put more water into the lake
does not increase the 120 megawatts of generation, but the
increased capacity of the lake allows the power to be generated
over more months of the year.
3:44:11 PM
MR. THAYER directed attention to the pie graphs on slide 9 that
compare the U.S. energy profile to the energy profile in Alaska.
In the U.S., 70 percent of the power comes from oil and gas and
in Alaska that is 65 percent. In the U.S., 11 percent of the
energy comes from coal, whereas it is just 6 percent in Alaska.
In the U.S., 9 percent of the energy comes from renewables and
that is just 2 percent in Alaska. In the U.S., 2 percent of the
energy comes from hydroelectric, whereas 27 percent of the
energy in Alaska comes from hydroelectric. He noted that Kodiak
generates nearly 100 percent of its energy from hydroelectric
and nearly 95 percent of the energy in Southeast comes from
hydroelectric. In the U.S., 8 percent of the energy comes from
nuclear, but it plays no role at all in Alaska.
MR. THAYER mentioned the interest in the proposed Susitna-Watana
dam and advised that if it were operational today, that single
project would more than double the states renewable portfolio.
3:45:44 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked why hydroelectric is not considered
renewable.
MR. THAYER deferred the question to Mr. Warren.
3:46:07 PM
KIRK WARREN, Director of Engineering and Energy Development,
Alaska Energy Authority, Anchorage, Alaska, explained that the
impetus for the division is that hydroelectric projects are very
capital intensive and thus would be at a disadvantage if they
had to compete for funding on a national basis with smaller
renewable energy projects.
SENATOR STEVENS asked if that is a disadvantage for Alaska.
MR. THAYER replied it has not been a concern when AEA worked to
get a FERC license for hydroelectric projects in Alaska.
3:47:27 PM
MR. THAYER displayed a map of the lower Kenai Peninsula that
shows the multiple utilities all of which are in the Railbelt
market. He pointed to the Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Project
transmission line that runs through Homer Electric territory and
the Soldotna to Quartz Creek line into the Chugach Electric
system to Anchorage where the NEA transmission lines take the
power to Willow and Healy then into Golden Valley lines in
Fairbanks. AEA meets with these utilities regularly and as a
neutral party was able to resolve an issue all the utilities
shared with the [Sterling Substation and the Quartz Creek
Substation] SSQ Line.
3:49:09 PM
MR. THAYER paraphrased the bulleted points on slide 12 about the
Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Project. The slide read as follows:
• Benefits 500,000+ members of Chugach Electric
Association, City of Seward, Golden Valley
Electric Association, Homer Electric Association,
and Matanuska Electric Association
• Produces ~10% of Railbelt electricity at 4.5
cents/kWh or ~54,400 homes/year
He advised that the cost of Bradley Lake power is about
half that of natural gas generation, which is why AEA
continues to look at ways to monetize that and benefit the
consumer.
• Over $20 million in savings per year to Railbelt
utilities Bradley Lake versus natural gas
MR. THAYER paraphrased the bulleted points on slide 13 about the
West Fork Upper Battle Creek Diversion. The slide read as
follows:
• Project cost $47 million, will add ~10% energy or
~5,100 homes in a year
• Substantial completion on July 2020
• Project diverts runoff from Battle Creek into
Bradley Lake expanding the state's largest
hydroelectric facility
• Includes three miles of road, concrete diversion
dam, and a five-foot diameter pipeline under the
road to carry water from its source to Bradley
Lake
He highlighted that the engineering on this project has won
national awards and is a real feather in the cap to AEA and
the utilities. He commented on the potential for another
diversion to further increase the energy into Bradley Lake.
• More energy at lower cost can be produced and
delivered to ratepayers
3:51:44 PM
MR. THAYER reminded the committee that the SSQ transmission
line, which is in the Homer Electric service area, burned during
the Swan Lake Fire and lay dormant for four months. He said the
estimated cost to create additional generation from natural gas
cost ratepayers north of Homer more than $12 million. In
addition, there was ongoing litigation among all five of the
utilities that amounted to $4-5 million. AEA stepped in and
resolved the issue by purchasing the line for about $17 million
as required project work from the power sales agreement of
Bradley Lake. AEA is currently working with the utilities to
reduce line loss and upgrade the 75 megawatt line from Homer
into Southcentral so both Homer Electric and Golden Valley
consumers benefit from the 4.5 cent power.
3:53:34 PM
MR. THAYER turned to slide 17 and explained that the Alaska
Intertie is a 170 mile transmission line from Willow to Healy.
It allows Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA) to connect
to and benefit from lower cost power in the Railbelt, primarily
from natural gas and hydro power from Bradley Lake. Between 2008
and 2018, the intertie saved GVEA customers approximately $40
million per year. He also commented on the widespread benefits
of the PCE endowment.
MR. THAYER discussed the benefits that Power Cost Equalization
provides to rural Alaska.
• Power Cost Equalization (PCE) provides electric
power to rural residential customers and
community facilities at costs similar those in
Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau
He noted that the first 550 kilowatts of power is 21-22
cents per kilowatt as opposed to more than $1 per kilowatt
without PCE.
• 194-eligible communities see the benefits of PCE
credits
• In Fiscal Year 2020, $29.6 million was disbursed
• PCE Endowment Fund created [and] capitalized in
Fiscal Year 2001 now ~$1.1 billion
MR. THAYER advised that the PCE statute is designed such that
the first tranche of earnings, which is about $30 million, goes
to the PCE endowment and the second goes to community
assistance. Should there be additional funding, up to $25
million can go back into AEA for renewable energy or powerhouse
upgrades or the Division of Community and Regional Affairs'
(DCRA) bulk fuel program. He acknowledged that only once in the
last five years were earnings such that renewable energy
programs and powerhouse upgrades could be funded.
3:56:44 PM
CHAIR REVAK welcomed Senator Micciche to the meeting.
SENATOR STEVENS asked for a short history of the Four Dam Pool
and creation of Power Cost Equalization.
MR. THAYER offered to follow up with the information.
SENATOR STEVENS said many of the communities in his district
depend on PCE and he was looking for information to support his
argument that the growing PCE fund serves a valid purpose and
should not be raided.
MR. THAYER restated his commitment to provide the information.
He then highlighted that the state's investment in the Intertie
saves Golden Valley in Fairbanks $40 million a year and PCE is
$30 million per year. He opined that people should look at it
from both perspectives; the benefit of the PCE endowment and
that the investment in infrastructure has led to ongoing savings
to people in urban areas.
3:59:51 PM
SENATOR KIEHL asked him to add information about the Railbelt
Electric Fund.
MR. THAYER agreed and said he would also include the report that
AEA prepared several years ago in response to a request from
Senator Coghill.
4:00:38 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE commented that to understand the equity that
came about with PCE it is important to include information about
the Cook Inlet Recovery Act. It led to significant investment in
natural gas supplies for Southcentral Alaska and provided energy
opportunities from Fairbanks up the Railbelt.
MR. THAYER replied it was a good point.
4:01:31 PM
MR. THAYER directed attention to the Digital Twin 3D model video
on slide 21 and explained that over the last 12 months AEA has
used this technology to do an inventory and assessment of all
the powerhouses in PCE communities in rural Alaska. A utility
worker in Anchorage can zoom in and work with the operator in a
rural community to diagnose and resolve any issues. He noted
that the powerhouse on display is one of the larger ones in
rural Alaska. The majority are 14 by 46 foot structures built in
Anchorage by private contractors and shipped to the rural
location.
4:02:44 PM
MR. THAYER paraphrased the bulleted information on slide 22 to
describe the Rural Power System Upgrades.
• ~197 communities eligible for Rural Power System
Upgrade (RPSU)
• Goal improve power system efficiency, safety,
and reliability
• Aging infrastructure and Operation and
Maintenance
He described the picture on the upper left as what a new
powerhouse ought to look like. The picture below shows a
powerhouse in the process of getting replacement
generators.
• Active projects 7 full and 16 Maintenance and
Improvement/Diesel Emissions Reduction Act
• Deferred maintenance $327 million
4:05:13 PM
MR. THAYER displayed the roster of RPSU projects that require
funding and explained that AEA has requested $5 million to fund
the projects in [Napaskiak, Nelson Lagoon, Nikolai, and
Rampart]. The communities of [Beaver, Buckland, Chefornak,
Chenega Bay, Chuathbaluk, Crooked Creek, Elfin Cove, and
Golovin] are next on the priority list and all need new
powerhouses. He noted the potential for a $12.5 million federal
match and advised that in the last five years the state has left
close to $50 million in federal funding on the table because it
was not able to come up with the match.
MR. THAYER turned to slide 24 and reported that the goal for the
more than 400 bulk fuel facilities in rural Alaska is to make
them code compliant and prevent spills and contamination. These
facilities have aging infrastructure and many are subject to
erosion. He compared the pictures of new bulk fuel tanks to a
group of older rusted tanks and highlighted that some of the
containment barriers are made of plywood that now is rotten. AEA
is working with the Coast Guard in a regulatory effort to assess
and prioritize projects. Currently there are 8 active projects
and 18 ongoing maintenance and improvement projects, but the
state has not funded any of these for the last three years. The
deferred maintenance on bulk fuel facilities in rural Alaska is
$800 million.
4:07:23 PM
MR. THAYER stated that AEA has requested $5.5 million for FY2022
to leverage $7.5 million for bulk fuel facility upgrades for
Ekwok, Marshall, and Shageluk. He reiterated that for the third
year this program has not been funded and the maintenance
backlog is getting worse. The Denali Commission and others are
willing to pay the 50 percent match, and in some cases the 80
percent match, but the state has to participate, he said. Next
in line for bulk fuel upgrades are [Minto, Noatak, Nondalton,
Shungnak, Togiak, and Tuluskak] and the intention is that they
will look like the picture on slide 24.
4:08:12 PM
CHAIR REVAK asked him to provide further explanation of the $50
million the state has left on the table in the last five years.
MR. THAYER responded that over the last five years different
agencies have requested state funding to provide the match for
federal funding, but for one reason or the other the state has
not done so. He said the match for AEA was close to $20 million
to leverage the $47 million. He offered to provide information
about AEA over the past five years that shows the years it
received funding and what the budget requests were. He said he
does not know why but one year AEA had money for the state yet
the legislature did not authorize receiving the federal match.
He said his interest is to maximize the federal portion of the
work.
MR. THAYER conveyed that the Renewable Energy Fund (REF), which
helps Alaskans reduce and stabilize the cost of energy, has
funded nearly $270 million in projects statewide. There are 99
operational projects and 27 are in development. The Round 13
recommendations from 11 applicants were submitted to the
legislature in January 2021. This program will sunset on June
30, 2023 and AEA is asking for the $6.5 million that is in the
fund to be reappropriated for use by the applicants from the
past two years.
MR. THAYER directed attention to the picture on slide 28 of the
state's largest solar farm in Willow that was primarily funded
with the Power Project Fund (PPF). He noted that AEA also funded
the largest wind project in the state outside of Fairbanks, and
one of the largest hydroelectric projects in the state on Prince
of Wales Island. Today, AEA awarded $2 million to Galina leaving
$8.7 in uncommitted cash that may be used on 3-4 pending
applications. AEA also recently made a cogeneration loan to the
independent power producer Baxter Senior Living in Anchorage. He
said the PPF offers low interest loans to encourage innovative
power projects, which is what the legislature intended.
4:12:16 PM
MR. THAYER advised that he would conclude the presentation with
a discussion about Susitna-Watana. He began with a 1.5 minute
video that simulates the project that has been in the works for
40 years. He reviewed the following specifications for the
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project:
• Dam Height 705 feet
• Dam Elevation 2,065 Feet MSL
• Reservoir Length ~42 miles
• Reservoir Width ~1.25 miles
• Maximum Installed Capacity 618 MW
• Annual Energy 2,800,000 MWh or ~389,000 homes
• Cost ~$5.655 billion (2014$)
He noted that this one project would change the state's energy
production to 60 percent renewable. He further noted that the
cost estimate does not include upgrading transmission lines from
Susitna north into Fairbanks and south into Anchorage.
MR. THAYER reviewed the 2014-2015 economics of the Susitna-
Watana project:
• Benefit-Cost and Economic Impact Analyses
completed in 2015
• Based on 2014 projection of natural gas prices:
• Benefit-cost ratio of 2.39 from energy
savings alone
• $11.2 billion (2014$) in energy savings over
first 50 years
• $4.7 billion (2014$) in capital and O&M
costs over first 50 years
MR. THAYER reminded the committee that Governor Walker put the
project in abeyance and Governor Dunleavy took it out of
suspension. He reviewed the status of Susitna-Watana outlined on
slide 33, which read as follows:
• Integrated Licensing Process
• 2/3 of the way done; $193 Million invested
• Cost to complete ~$100 million for license
• 58 FERC-approved studies:
• Implemented 2012-2017
• 19 studies completed
• 39 significant progress made
• Initial Study Report filed with FERC
4:17:15 PM
MR. THAYER concluded the presentation saying that the capacity
of Bradley Lake must be increased to accommodate the Soldotna to
Quartz Creek line; AEA is looking at upgrading and stabilizing
the grid with batteries; and raising the spillway at Bradley
Lake about 7 feet will level the seasonal peaks and valleys.
CHAIR REVAK asked him to return sometime in the future to talk
exclusively about the Susitna-Watana project.
MR. THAYER replied he would be happy to do that and bring Bryan
Carey, the hydro expert and a manager on the project.
4:19:03 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked how Bradley Lake compares to Susitna-
Watana.
MR. THAYER answered Bradley Lake has a capacity of 120 megawatts
and Susitna-Watana has a capacity of about 620 megawatts or five
times larger.
4:19:40 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE asked if he agrees that Bradley Lake provides
about 10 percent of the energy for the Railbelt and adding
Susitna-Watana would bring the energy production from
hydroelectric to 75-80 percent.
MR. THAYER answered yes.
SENATOR MICCICHE asked, in the interest of moving away from
diesel power, if the state has looked at using local resources
to develop small local utilities that could be run by local
Alaskans and provide electricity for a village, small mine, or
fishing enterprise. He cited the example of a village sitting on
a small coal seam that is not commercially viable, but could
meet local needs.
4:21:06 PM
MR. THAYER answered not coal seams, but AEA is always looking at
ways to introduce renewables into a power grid in rural Alaska.
He added that quite a few communities in Southeast are looking
at the possibility of hydropower from either run of river or a
dam. This has been more successful than solar, wind, and tidal
but all such efforts are subject to the budget situation.
SENATOR MICCICHE offered his view that local opportunities to
develop conventional gas has been bypassed even though it is a
viable option in many communities. "A small sputtering gas well
in a community of 3-or 400 is a reality, and I think it is
something we need to think about." He also asked if AEA was
looking at the potential to use ISO tanks to supply small
villages, fish processing facilities, and mines with natural gas
at an affordable price.
MR. THAYER replied AEA has looked at such opportunities when the
capital budgets were larger. Currently they have an engineer who
is researching small nuclear and they are ready to provide the
technical expertise if somebody were to ask for help on a
project.
SENATOR MICCICHE suggested he consider the potential for natural
gas in rural Alaska.
4:24:47 PM
CHAIR REVAK thanked the presenters and AEA generally for what it
does to help bring the cost of energy down in Alaska. He offered
his belief that the economies of scale Alaska will need in the
future will rely on cheaper commercial and residential energy.
HJR 12-ENDORSING ANWR LEASING; RELATED ISSUES
4:25:25 PM
CHAIR REVAK announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE JOINT
RESOLUTION NO. 12(RES), urging the United States Department of
the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, to honor the recent
lease sales and proceed with permitting in the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge; urging the President of the United States to
defend the 2020 Record of Decision approving the Coastal Plain
Oil and Gas Leasing Program in the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge; opposing designation of the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge as a National Monument; and urging the Alaska delegation
in Congress to uphold sec. 20001 of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of
2017.
4:26:09 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE RAUSCHER, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HJR 12, stated this resolution
requests the continuation of the oil and gas development
program in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) that
was recently put on hold. When the Alaska National
Interests Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) became law in
1980, Congress reserved the right to permit oil and gas
development in the [1002 area] of the Coastal Plain of the
refuge. Withing days of the first lease sale in January
2021, he said President Biden placed the entire leasing and
development program on hold. HJR 12 urges this action to be
reversed.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER relayed that the resolution asks
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to honor the recent
lease sales and proceed with permitting in the 1002 area of
ANWR. It requests the agency take into account the long
history of safe and responsible oil and gas development on
the North Slope as well as the enormous benefit development
in ANWR could bring to North Slope residents, the state,
and the nation.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER said HJR 12 further states that the
Alaska State Legislature opposes any effort to employ the
Antiquities Act to designate ANWR as a national monument.
It beseeches President Biden to consult and engage in these
important decisions and immediately rescind the provisions
of Executive Order 13990 pertaining to ANWR.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER offered his belief that this is
both a states' rights issue as well as a jobs issue because
development within the refuge could create tens of
thousands of jobs across the country and thousands of jobs
within Alaska.
4:29:15 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked how the Antiquities Act factors into
lease sales in ANWR.
4:29:31 PM
JESSE LOGAN, Staff, Representative George Rauscher, Alaska
State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, explained that the
portion of the Antiquities Act that the resolution is
questioning allows national monuments and protected lands
to be established by executive order, without congressional
action.
4:29:54 PM
SENATOR KIEHL asked: 1) for the source of the data in the
WHEREAS clause on page 2 that predicts the number of jobs
at peak employment, and 2) when the numbers were collected.
MR. LOGAN answered it is 2018 data from the International
Energy Agency (IEA) and the Alaska Oil and Gas Association
(AOGA).
SENATOR KIEHL asked if the data reflects the scale and pace
of development that is likely from the entities that won
the bids in the recent lease sales.
MR. LOGAN answered not necessarily; the numbers are
estimates based on a 4:1 multiplier effect that is assumed
for each oil and gas industry job both in Alaska and across
the nation. The base was the assumed development in ANWR
for the next 20 years.
4:31:19 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked what additional provisions are part
of Executive Order 13990 and what the final FURTHER
RESOLVED clause seeks to accomplish.
MR. LOGAN replied he believes it was Section 1003 of the EO
that placed a temporary moratorium on the development of
oil and gas leases that had been issued in ANWR. He offered
to provide a copy of the EO to the committee.
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked if the moratorium on the current
lease sales had an end date or was open ended.
4:32:17 PM
MR. LOGAN answered there was no end date on the moratorium
that applied to lease sales and permitting. He noted that
another section of the EO directed the Department of
Interior to review all Environmental Impact Statements
(EIS) from the previous administration.
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked if there was an estimate of how long
the review of the existing Environmental Impact Statements
would take.
MR. LOGAN answered he was not aware of any such estimate.
SENATOR KAWASAKI suggested that if the resolutions moves
forward the COPIES section should be conceptually amended
to reflect that Deb Haaland is the Secretary of the
Interior.
4:33:19 PM
SENATOR KIEHL questioned the last WHEREAS clause on page 2
that says, "the exploration and extraction of oil and gas
has not been shown to contribute significantly to increased
greenhouse gas emissions;". He pointed out that the
transportation sector accounts for more than one-third of
greenhouse gas emissions and it is all oil.
MR. LOGAN answered that the clause is referring to the
extraction of the hydrocarbon, not the consumption. He
added, "By sector, the extraction of hydrocarbon oil and
gas in Alaska contributes 0.7 percent of the U.S. global
greenhouse gas emissions. So one-half of that is
contributed to the sector of extraction, so [0.035]
percent."
4:34:32 PM
CHAIR REVAK asked if he was specifically referring to
extraction.
MR. LOGAN answered yes.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER pointed to the words "exploration
and extraction" on page 2, line 31.
SENATOR KIEHL commented that he would need to check his
Econ 107 textbook to understand what an increased supply of
a marginally fungible commodity does to consumption.
4:35:12 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE commented that the last he checked, Alaska
produced fewer greenhouse emissions from exploration and
production of hydrocarbons than any other state, so this is
the best it gets. He suggested the resolution could have
mentioned that because making it difficult to produce
hydrocarbons in the most tightly regulated regime on the
planet pushes production off to places like Russia that
does not compare environmentally regardless of the metric
used in the calculation.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER agreed and thanked him for the
comment.
4:37:23 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked what happens if the leases are made
unavailable.
MR. LOGAN replied he does not know, but on March 21 Alaska
joined 12 other states in a lawsuit against the Biden
Administration for canceling leases in NPRA, ANWR, and
coastal areas in the Lower 48.
SENATOR MICCICHE said he believes there is a fairness issue
when companies work for decades and invest hundreds of
millions of dollars to get a lease only to have an
executive order suddenly stop the process at the finish
line. He expressed hope that the matter would end up at the
U.S. Supreme Court with a finding that once a company gets
the lease, the game is over.
4:40:36 PM
At ease
4:41:20 PM
CHAIR REVAK reconvened the meeting. He opened public
testimony on HJR 12 and stated he would start with invited
testimony.
4:41:41 PM
KARA MORIARTY, President and CEO, Alaska Oil and Gas
Association (AOGA), Anchorage, Alaska, stated that with
passage of ANILCA in 1980, the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge was expanded to 19 million acres, with over 90
percent of the region permanently protected as wilderness.
However, Section 1002 of ANILCA specifically states the
intent for future oil and gas development on the Coastal
Plain.
MS. MORIARTY stressed that the oil and gas industry has an
excellent decades-long record of safe, effective, and
environmentally responsible development in Alaska,
particularly in the Arctic. She also pointed out that
development does not occur the way it did years ago and
technology continues to decrease the footprint. For
example, a typical oil pad on the North Slope used to be 65
to 70 acres compared to the newest drilling pads that are
12 to 14 acres.
MS. MORIARTY described development of the Coastal Plain as
a long-term process that will be good for the country. She
predicted that the demand for oil and gas will continue for
the next 30 to 40 years, and will build upon the jobs and
revenues the industry has contributed to the state for
decades.
4:43:50 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked what interest industry has in this
area, who bid on the leases, how much, and what happens if
the leases cannot be used.
MS. MORIARTY replied AOGA members did not participate in
the January lease sale; it was dominated by the Alaska
Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), the
State of Alaska, and small entities interested in oil and
gas. However, she said this does not mean that the
traditional industry players in the state do not have a
long-term interest in the Coastal Plain. Negative oil
prices, supply, and cash flow contributed to make 2020 a
very challenging year and that continues for both small and
large companies. Furthermore, there is a lot of regulatory
uncertainty with the new administration. Responding to the
question about what happens if the leases are not
developed, she said she would need to discuss this with the
Department of Interior. She concluded that development of
an exploratory field like the Coastal Plain will easily
take 10 to 12 years, and ANWR may come back into industry's
purview in 15 years when the demand is still there.
4:47:16 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked exactly what Executive Order 13990
did.
MS. MORIARTY answered that the Biden Administration issued
three EOs within a week. One placed an indefinite
moratorium on ANWR, one placed a 60-day moratorium on
leases, and she did not recall what the third did. She
offered to follow up with the information.
SENATOR KAWASAKI summarized her response.
MS. MORIARTY restated her answer and offered her
perspective that it was not clear how the Biden
Administration plans to do business on leasing and
permitting on federal lands, but there have been strong
statements about ensuring that ANWR does not move forward.
4:49:46 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE asked for a brief description of the
public process over the past four decades before the oil
lease sale was approved.
MS. MORIARTY explained that after the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
of 2017, an EIS process started in 2018, the record of
decision came out at the end of 2020, and the lease sale
was in January 2021. The process included a draft EIS, two
rounds of public comment, a final EIS and the record of
decision.
SENATOR MICCICHE said he understands and respects
environmental challenges on the use of public lands, but he
sees the recent challenges as philosophically motivated
rather than environmental. He asked if she would agree.
MS. MORIARTY replied she believes there are challenges and
opposition in both camps. Some are based on care for the
environment, but there is also a growing philosophical
difference about where energy the country's energy should
come from and how fast it should come from different
sources.
CHAIR REVAK invited Rebecca Logan to provide her testimony.
4:54:00 PM
REBECCA LOGAN, CEO, The Alaska Support Industry Alliance
("Alliance"), Anchorage, Alaska, stated the mission of the
Alliance is to promote responsible exploration,
development, and production of oil, gas, and minerals for
the benefit of all Alaskans. She advised that she would
highlight two aspects of the written testimony she
submitted. The first is that the energy sector has yet to
see evidence that the dire job situation in Alaska is
recovering. Alliance member companies have been severely
affected since 2015. She reported that there were 15,000
jobs in the industry 11 years ago and today there are just
7,000. She emphasized that more resource development jobs
are needed for Alaska to return to a healthy employment
environment.
MS. LOGAN stated that the Alliance strongly believes that
Alaska can explore for, develop, and produce oil and gas in
a more careful, safe, and environmentally sensitive manner
than anyone in the world. In fact, the industry has
recognized Alaska as a training ground for minimizing the
impact and footprint associated with oilfield development.
She cited previous development across the North Slope as
proof that it is possible to develop and produce oil and
gas from the Coastal Plain of ANWR with minimal impact and
a small footprint.
4:56:19 PM
KATIE CAPOZZI, President and CEO, Alaska Chamber of
Commerce ("Alaska Chamber"), Anchorage, Alaska, thanked the
committee for inviting the Alaska Chamber to testify on HJR
12. She reported their mission is to promote a positive
business environment in Alaska, and as such they
enthusiastically endorse HJR 12. For years the Alaska
Chamber's top federal priority has been to support
exploration and development of oil and gas in Alaska's
federal areas and to encourage the legislature to strongly
advocate for the same. Developing the 1002 area in ANWR
would provide great economic opportunity for Alaska. She
reported that the Alaska Chamber's statewide polling shows
that a majority of Alaskans have supported opening a small
portion of ANWR to oil and gas development for decades.
4:57:40 PM
MARLEANNA HALL, Executive Director, Resource Development
Council for Alaska (RDC), Anchorage, Alaska, stated strong
support for HJR 12 as it supports the oil and gas lease
program that will allow limited activity within the non-
wilderness portion of the Coastal Plain of ANWR. This
resolution describes measures to address ANILCA and the
intent to preserve areas in the Coastal Plain for oil and
gas development. She said this will create thousands of
jobs nationwide, generate billions of dollars in government
revenue for public services, and promote energy security
for decades. Alaskans and the rest of the U.S. will benefit
from this development. She concluded her testimony assuring
the committee that the RDC membership has long supported
exploration and development of oil and gas in the Coastal
Plain of ANWR.
4:59:10 PM
MATTHEW REXFORD, President, Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation;
and Tribal Administrator, Native Village of Kaktovik,
Kaktovik, Alaska, stated support for HJR 12 that opposes
the designation of ANWR as a national wildlife refuge. He
said Kaktovik is the only community inside the Coastal
Plain area of ANWR and his testimony will reflect the anger
he and his community are feeling. They want the legislature
and people elsewhere in the state to be angry too. He said
the Inupiat People work to resolve conflict, work together,
and value humility, so to become angry is extraordinary. He
continued to state the following:
Last week the Washington Post published an opinion
article that is a continuation of the onslaught
that my community has been subjected to by the
Gwich'in Steering Committee who have been trying
to erase the Inupiat from the lands we have lived
on for thousands of years in the name of racial
justice and human rights. The article titled,
"Indigenous Advocacy Transformed the Fight over
Oil Drilling in the Arctic Refuge" is a slap in
the face to my people. Nowhere does the article
mention the Inupiat People or Kaktovik, not once.
This is the same experience we had with Congress
in 2019 and the introduction of the bill HR 1146
titled, "Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain
Protection Act" which was characterized as human
rights legislation, but failed to even mention our
people. It is appalling that our own U.S. Congress
tried to eliminate us through legislation.
In September 2020 we found that the Gwich'in
Steering Committee approached the United Nations
Committee on the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination, claiming they were racially
discriminated against by the U.S. government
during the Coastal Plain Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS). Like the Washington Post article
of last week, neither HR 1146 nor the Gwich'in
Steering Committee's complaint to the U.N.
mentioned the Inupiat or Kaktovik.
Can you imagine what this feels like to my people?
And where do we get help fighting this? We're a
small community of 700 people on the northern
shore of Alaska. We do not have the same resources
supporting us. We do not have the millions of
dollars that the environmental groups provide to
the Gwich'in in a clear effort to erase our
existence. We are mad.
We have endured being removed from our homeland
many times since the 1940s when the U.S. Airforce
bulldozed and forcibly moved our village, not once
but two times over a time period of ten years, for
a distance early warning site on Barter Island.
The Kaktovik People specifically chose the current
site of Kaktovik for the third and final
relocation.
My forefathers were subjected to iodine radiation
and cold weather studies by the military in an
effort to understand how we could withstand living
in the harsh Arctic climate we call home. We never
received an apology, reparation, or restitution
for all the hardships we faced with our new
neighbors.
The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 as
amended, known as ANCSA, was supposed to allow our
Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation or (KIC) the economic
freedom to develop its land to benefit our
community. While our leadership was the only
Native group to speak out against ANCSA when the
Act passed, we again tried to make it work,
inviting the oil and gas industry into our
community and establishing an economy that has
allowed our people to flourish for decades. In
fact, the only well drilled inside ANWR was
drilled on KIC land. Unfortunately, our economic
freedoms were short-lived and we lost those
freedoms under the next piece of federal
legislation, the Alaska National Interest Lands
Conservation Act of 1980, as amended, known as
ANILCA.
This Act compromises KIC's ability to access and
develop its lands. Kaktovik did not want to be an
island in the middle of a refuge, but it happened
anyway. Having lived in the refuge since the
passage of ANILCA, I'm here to tell you that life
has been difficult. And the federal management
agency has not performed its duty to our community
as required by law. We would not expect that to
change if ANWR was designated a national monument.
In fact, we would expect to see our rights further
restricted.
I want to be clear to the committee today that
passage of this resolution is not going to affect
or change the national opinion of ANWR. Not only
if you start fighting the falsehoods that the
Gwich'in Steering Committee has been so successful
in presenting.
My community of Kaktovik does what it can to
counter the perception that the Coastal Plain is
only sacred for caribou. The Coastal Plain is
sacred to the Kaktovikmiut. Our ancestors are
buried here and our children grow up here. To be
clear, the Gwich'in Steering Committee is not a
tribe. They are an advocacy group based in
Fairbanks, Alaska, which is over 400 miles away
from our village. It is the Inupiat who hold these
lands as sacred. See the attached map for
reference of distances to this testimony.
This fight has been relentless and I am here today
at your invitation to support your opposition in
turning ANWR into a national monument. By passing
HJR 12, you are supporting Kaktovik, and for our
community that is important. You will have many
speak on the importance of oil and gas to our
national security and economy and that we need
jobs. While all of that is true, until you help us
fight the rhetoric that the Gwich'in Steering
Committee is sowing nationally and
internationally, then this joint resolution won't
mean much.
I implore this committee to officially recognize
Kaktovik as the only community in the Coastal
Plain and the Inupiat as those who have occupied
it for thousands of years. But just acknowledging
us is not enough. Today I ask this committee to
take action to prevent further discrimination of
the Kakovikmiut. I'm asking for a bill that makes
it illegal for a tribe to assert false lands
claims over another tribe's lands. I'm asking for
a bill that makes it illegal for a tribe to assert
false lands claims over another tribe's lands.
Please provide us with some relief from this
assault. This is our homeland and we are not going
anywhere.
The Kaktovik Inupiat strongly support responsible
development to secure an economic future for our
people. Simply pretending the Inupiat do not exist
is alarming and offensive. Claiming our land
belongs to another tribe should be illegal, and
this committee can help.
We are angry and I hope that you are now angry
along with us. I request that you support HJR 12.
I ask that you consider legislation that prevents
other tribes from suffering at the hands of their
neighbors by addressing false land claims. And I
ask that you fight and then fight with the people
of Kaktovik for the rights we were guaranteed so
many decades ago.
CHAIR REVAK thanked him for the moving testimony and
requested he submit it in writing.
5:07:19 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE thanked him and said his moving testimony
was very well received.
5:07:53 PM
CHAIR REVAK turned to public testimony on HJR 12.
5:08:32 PM
BERNADETTE DEMIENTIEFF, Executive Director, Gwich'in
Steering Committee, Fairbanks, Alaska, stated that there is
no intention to insult the Inupiat as they have been
partners, brothers, and sisters on this land for thousands
of years. She explained that the Gwich'in Steering
Committee does not mention the Inupiaq because they only
speak for themselves, not other tribes. She said we all
migrated to this land at one time and the Creator blessed
the people with the land to caretake, not to see what they
could get out of it. She said the animals that migrate
through the Coastal Plains directly affect our way of life.
They have had a cultural and spiritual connection to the
Porcupine caribou herd since time immemorial.
She pointed out that people who really believe that the
refuge is sacred would not drill for oil on it because
there is no safe way to drill. Prudhoe Bay is evidence of
this. She said we are worried about the future of our
children and their survival. She concluded her comments
stating that "We are not going anywhere and we are not
going to allow anybody into our sacred land for money."
5:11:36 PM
DR. CHARLENE APOK, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska,
identified herself as Inupiaq. She stated she has a
masters' degree in rural development and a PhD. in
indigenous studies focused on circumpolar health. She said
she was calling to oppose the lease sales and oil
development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).
The environmental impact statements have been inadequate
and government-to-government consultation has been lacking.
She said corporations are not people and the people from
Kaktovik have not and will not benefit if ANWR is
developed. Money and profits have left the state or
benefited people who are not in the Alaska Native
community.
DR. APOK said the poverty rates and health disparities that
Alaska Natives face are a direct reflection of the
inequitable development in Alaska. She agreed with the
earlier statement that this is a fairness issue because
proper stakeholders have not been heard or engaged. She
said the health of the people is directly tied to the
health of the land, and the health disparities will
continue if HJR 12 goes forward. To the earlier question
about whether this was a philosophical or environmental
issue, she said they are the same.
5:14:02 PM
BARBARA HUFF TUCKNESS, representing self, Anchorage,
Alaska, stated support for HJR 12. She maintained that it
is a fairness issue for everyone who lives and works in
Alaska. She thanked the sponsor for highlighting the
important parts of the issue that should be debated
throughout this process. She shared that she is a retired
Teamster who worked directly and indirectly for the oil and
gas industry for many years. She wants to see the economy
continue to grow in a safe and environmentally productive
way and she believes that honoring the lease sales and
proceeding with permitting in the non-wilderness portion of
ANWR is the right thing to do.
5:16:06 PM
MARGI DASHEVSKY, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska,
stated she was calling to oppose HJR 12. She opined the
resolution contains factual inaccuracies that misrepresent
the anthropogenic climate change in her home state. As a
lifelong Alaska she is deeply committed to diversify the
economy from extractive industries. She said the calls from
indigenous people has elevated the importance of tribal
consultation.
MS DASHEVSKY described the Alaska Industrial Development
and Export Authority (AIDEA) investment in state leases in
ANWR as a reckless use of state funds and encouraged the
legislature to develop a long term fiscal plan for the
state that recognizes that oil is not the future. She
concluded that transitioning from fossil fuel will bring
innovation and talent to Alaska. She said HJR 12 does not
speak for me, and it is not in the best interest of
Alaskans.
5:18:36 PM
JULIE SMYTH, representing self, Fairbanks, Alaska, stated
that she is Inupiaq and she is calling to oppose HJR 12.
First, she believes the resolution is a waste of state
resources because everyone who receives a copy can set it
aside and ignore it. The legislature's time would be better
spent tending to things it does control. Second, there have
been many claims that the residents of the North Slope had
ample opportunity to participate in the public process and
they supported these projects, but that is not what she
found when she went over the BLM testimony with people from
Kaktovik and Arctic Circle. In fact, just one person from
each village supported any kind of change and more were
opposed. Most people were present to make claims about how
dishonest the government and oil companies are to make
comments about the caribou and indigenous relationships as
well as relationships with other animals such as whales,
fish, birds, moose, musk ox, and polar bears. They
questioned why there was not more research on these
animals. There were also several comments on preserving the
indigenous way of life. She pointed out that when the
traditional way of life is not preserved, people like her
grandparents will have to move into urban areas and they
will need financial support from the government.
5:21:08 PM
NAURI TOLER, representing self, Eagle River, Alaska,
identified herself as Inupiaq. She paraphrased the third
WHEREAS on page 4 that read as follows:
WHEREAS the North Slope Borough, representing the
residents of the North Slope, including the Alaska
Native residents of the Coastal Plain and the larger
North Slope area, fully participated in the public
process conducted by the Bureau of Land Management in
the course of developing the 2020 Coastal Plain Oil
and Gas Leasing Program Record of Decision and
supports the decision; and
MS. TOLER referenced the testimony during the 2/5/2019 BLM
draft EIS public meeting in Kaktovik and highlighted that
more than just a few testifiers talked about promises that
hunting would be available in the Arctic refuge but it was
not. She referenced a map with areas shaded in purple where
lease sales would not occur and asked why the areas down to
the coastline weren't excluded to accommodate calving. She
said she wants it a matter of record that she believes the
EIS process was fast-tracked and given insufficient time.
She only heard about the public meeting in Kaktovik the day
before it happened and information was not available for
review until the meeting was underway. She noted that
Kaktovik residents signed petitions opposing the lease
sales. One petition was signed by 61 residents. She stated
for the record that she opposes oil development and she
opposes HJR 12. She said the invited testimony was very
one-sided and she hopes the committee understands that Mr.
Rexford represents a corporation and not the community.
5:23:26 PM
MAX PLICHTA, representing self, Fairbanks, Alaska, stated
he is an ecologist who lives and works in the Interior and
the North Slope. He urged the committee to oppose HJR 12
regarding the Coastal Plain lease sale in the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and the opposition to
designating the refuge as a national monument. He said it
has been well documented that the 1002 area has a unique
and large degree of ecological diversity as opposed to
other similarly sized areas in the region. He also pointed
out that it is well documented that the Arctic is and will
continue to be disproportionately affected by climate
change. He offered his belief that since the majority of
the North Slope is already open to current and future oil
and gas exploration, it is appropriate to protect the 1002
area for wildlife, climate change, and future generations.
5:24:41 PM
CHAIR REVAK closed public testimony on HJR 12. He urged any
interested parties to submit their written testimony to the
committee at sres@akleg.gov.
5:25:15 PM
At ease
5:26:36 PM
CHAIR REVAK reconvened the meeting and stated he would
entertain amendments.
5:26:54 PM
SENATOR KIEHL moved Conceptual Amendment 1.
Page 2, line 29 through page 3, line 1:
Delete all material
CHAIR REVAK asked if there was objection.
SENATOR MICCICHE commented that he was not going to object
because that WHEREAS clause has no value.
5:28:08 PM
CHAIR REVAK echoed the sentiment. Finding no objection,
Conceptual Amendment 1 passed.
5:28:15 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE moved Conceptual Amendment 2.
Page 6, line 22:
Delete "Scott de la Vega, Acting"
Insert "Deborah Haaland,"
5:28:24 PM
CHAIR REVAK objected for discussion purposes.
SENATOR MICCICHE explained that this reflects the current
U.S. Secretary of the Interior.
5:28:57 PM
CHAIR REVAK removed his objection. Finding no further
objection, Amendment 2 passed.
5:29:16 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE moved to report the {Senate} CS for CSHJR 12,
work order 32-LS0413\I as conceptually amended, from committee
with individual recommendations, attached fiscal note(s), and
the authority for Legislative Legal Services to make drafting
changes as needed.
5:29:39 PM
CHAIR REVAK announced that without objection, SCS CSHJR 12(RES)
moved from the Senate Resources Standing Committee.
5:30:17 PM
There being no further business to come before the
committee, Chair Revak adjourned the Senate Resources
Standing Committee meeting at 5:30 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SRES Energy 101 AEA Presentation 3.23.21.pdf |
SRES 3/24/2021 3:30:00 PM |
SRES Energy 101 Presentation by AEA Curtis Thayer |
| SRES HJR 12 Summary of Changes Version B to I.pdf |
SRES 3/24/2021 3:30:00 PM |
HJR 12 |
| SRES HJR 12 Supporting Document submitted by M Rexford NVK – ANWR Map 1-sheet v1.pdf |
SRES 3/24/2021 3:30:00 PM |
HJR 12 |
| SRES HJR 12 Testimony 3.24.21.pdf |
SRES 3/24/2021 3:30:00 PM |
HJR 12 |
| SRES HJR 12 Letter of Support Khadjinova 3.24.21.pdf |
SRES 3/24/2021 3:30:00 PM |
HJR 12 |
| SRES HJR 12 Letters of Opposition after 3.24.21.pdf |
SRES 3/24/2021 3:30:00 PM |
HJR 12 |
| SRES HJR12 AOGA Letter of Support 3.24.21.pdf |
SRES 3/24/2021 3:30:00 PM |
HJR 12 |