Legislature(2023 - 2024)BUTROVICH 205
01/17/2024 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
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| Start | |
| Introductions and Committee Discussion of Resource Topics | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE
January 17, 2024
3:32 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Click Bishop, Co-Chair
Senator Cathy Giessel, Co-Chair
Senator Bill Wielechowski, Vice Chair
Senator Scott Kawasaki
Senator James Kaufman
Senator Forrest Dunbar
Senator Matt Claman
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
INTRODUCTIONS AND COMMITTEE DISCUSSION OF RESOURCE TOPICS
-HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
JULIA O' CONNOR, Staff
Co-Chair Giessel
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided an overview of bills in committee
and their status.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:32:20 PM
CO-CHAIR CATHY GIESSEL called the Senate Resources Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:32 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Kawasaki, Claman, Dunbar, Kaufman,
Wielechowski, Co-Chair Bishop and Co-Chair Giessel.
^Introductions and Committee Discussion of Resource Topics
INTRODUCTIONS AND COMMITTEE DISCUSSION OF RESOURCE TOPICS
3:33:04 PM
O-CHAIR GIESSEL opened with an overview of current bills in
committee and other suggested interests. Some of the current
legislative focuses include Senate Bill 49, a geothermal bill,
executive orders, fish and game issues, as well as North Slope
activity, Santos, gas extraction and production numbers, mining,
critical minerals, energy issues with Alaska Energy Authority
(AEA), and the state's zero emissions goal.
3:34:24 PM
JULIA O' CONNOR, Staff, Co-Chair Giessel, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, provided an overview of a
spreadsheet she created to track bills in committee, with most
having been referred at the start of the new session. The
tracker outlined the status, bill number, short title, and
highlighted other components. She noted that there are currently
five executive orders that were referred to the committee and
one hearing request for HB 125.
3:35:44 PM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL said that these conversations provide a
refresher on last session's hearings. A request for a legal
analysis on each of the five executive orders was submitted. She
confirmed with Senator Wielechowski the 60-day timeline to take
action on these orders or they automatically take effect. She
stated that some senators have bills in committee that had not
yet been submitted for hearing requests and invited members to
deliver those. Co-Chair Giessel indicated her interest in
informational hearings on topics such as the status of Santos
Energy Solutions' efforts and its methods for reaching a zero
emissions goal.
3:36:53 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI thanked Co-Chair Giessel and said that
there is a gas crisis in Alaska resulting in gas running out by
March of this year, but possibly next year. Gas contracts will
begin to end in 2028 and ENDSTAR Natural Gas' contracts will
terminate in 2033. There is a long lag time to bring other gas
sources to the Cook Inlet region, so this is a critical issue to
focus on. He mentioned that it seems like GEO political forces
are aligned in a way that make a natural gas pipeline a
plausible project, and suggested hearing ideas from other
organizations such as the Alaska Industrial Development and
Export Authority (AIDEA). Developing a permanent fund is one
possible approach to addressing this issue. He also noted that
fishing issues are a concern as king and chum salmon populations
are declining in Alaska and mandate attention, so there is an
opportunity to work toward resolutions.
3:38:37 PM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL referred back to the Cook Inlet issue and
acknowledged utility organizations presentations from last
year. ENSTAR Natural Gas is another organization that could
provide an update on pipeline ideas. She invited Senator Claman
to share his thoughts on this issue.
3:39:04 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN said that he met with Hilcorp on the Cook Inlet
gas issue and was advised that the results of one well had
improved, therefore, the Homer Electric contract was extended by
a year. It would be helpful to hear from not only large buyers
but also smaller or potential producers of gas, such as
BlueCrest Energy, Inc. and Fury, to better understand the
landscape of this issue.
3:40:05 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI said that in addition to the previous items
discussed, agriculture, which only receives a miniscule portion
of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) budget,
necessitates attention. It is important to look toward this
topic as members continue to discuss ways to meet food security
goals and obtain an update on the Nenana-Totchaket (NenTot)
Agricultural Project. He relayed that discussions were held in
Fairbanks on the restoration of wood bison in the Yukon Flats
region. In line with the salmon crisis, including the pink
salmon fishery problem in the Cook Inlet region, recent studies
on hatchery fisheries have surfaced. He spoke to the potential
impact of hatchery fisheries in China and overseas that may
affect fisheries in Alaskan regions. Mining and critical
minerals also remain a priority for the country and state.
3:41:37 PM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL acknowledged a recent Cook Inlet study
conducted on the impact of hatchery fish.
3:41:48 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR shifted back to the gas issue and stated that the
Governor will introduce a measure on royalty relief. 200 million
dollars of grip funding along with transmission issues open the
door for discussions. He said he welcomes informational hearings
and legislative vehicles that touch on what Senators
Wielechowski and Claman said about the gas and transmission
issues. He stated that he anticipates a discussion with the
Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation on state parks, which
are under the purview of the committee, but have rarely been
discussed.
3:43:34 PM
SENATOR KAUFMAN added that the committee now has a clear idea of
priorities, but with the dynamic nature of issues including the
Cook Inlet Gas and grid updates, he said he supports having
informational hearings to refresh the memory and monitor these
issues.
3:44:08 PM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL indicated that she hopes to see a transmission
grid bill introduced as the Resources Committee reviews energy
issues in lieu of a special energy committee. She invited
Senator Bishop to speak to upcoming agenda items.
3:44:35 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP stated that although the committee has a good
sense of direction it is important to review energy and
transmission issues. He noted the appeal of the Iceland's
affordable energy avenues and selectiveness on adopting foreign
business development. He suggested the consideration of an
Ambler mining district update on critical minerals and its road
development project. Discussions are being held in light of the
U.S. Supreme Court's Sachet decision. With that decision,
Alaska's wetlands will change, so clear definitions of federal
and state wetlands territory through formal informational
hearings are vital. He said he anticipates fish and game
updates, as well as an update on how area M restrictions
affected Western Yukon chum returns. He stated that although
targets on return were not met the increase is a step in the
right direction. He opined that technology should be utilized by
the Department of Fish and Game. He suggested that the state of
Alaska could use Unmanned Arial Vehicles (UAVs) to conduct game
surveys and track moose, sheep, and caribou population data. The
University of Alaska Fairbanks' UAV could potentially remain
stationed round-the-clock.
3:48:31 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP said that permit reform is needed on the federal
level. There are several permit reform bills circulating in
Washington D.C. that target this issue. He and Co-Chair Giessel
had a conversation at an energy council meeting in Wyoming about
a large wind farm that will export electricity to California. He
stated that in order to have energy resources Alaska needs
permit reform. He stressed the 17-year lead time needed to
complete the project due to obstacles like the Environmental
Protection Agency's National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
The legislature anticipates two of Governor Dunleavy's land
bills coming forward that would shift more land into private
ownership.
3:50:07 PM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL acknowledged the agenda items as good
discussion topics and said it would be an interesting year. Some
of these issues were referred to the committee, such as the
trapping cabins and fishery bills. She thanked committee members
for their ideas on interesting topics, which help inform
legislation. Senator Giessel acknowledged that she appreciated
hearing other members' input and interests to help identify a
direction forward.
3:51:12 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Co-Chair Giessel adjourned the Senate Resources Committee
meeting at 3:51 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SRES Bill Referral as of 1.16.24.pdf |
SRES 1/17/2024 3:30:00 PM |