Legislature(2025 - 2026)GRUENBERG 120
02/12/2026 01:30 PM House ENERGY
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HJR27 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 252 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HJR 27 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HJR 27-SUPPORTING STATE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT
1:39:25 PM
CO-CHAIR HOLLAND announced that the only order of business would
be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 27, "Supporting a comprehensive
energy and economic strategy for the state; urging the federal
government to disburse previously appropriated funds for energy
and infrastructure projects; affirming the principle of energy
equity and committing to a future-oriented energy strategy for
the state; encouraging state agencies to aggressively pursue
opportunities to develop and process critical minerals;
directing state agencies to coordinate energy and economic
planning; and championing a unified voice in support of the
state's full development potential."
[Co-Chair Holland passed the gavel to Co-Chair Mears.]
1:40:10 PM
CO-CHAIR MEARS opened public testimony on HJR 27. After
ascertaining that there was no one who wished to testify, she
closed public testimony on HJR 27.
1:41:13 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND moved Amendment 1 to HJR 27, labeled 34-
LS0973\I.3, which read as follows:
Page 1, lines 1 - 3:
Delete "urging the federal government to disburse
previously appropriated funds for energy and
infrastructure projects;"
Page 1, line 5, following "minerals;":
Insert "supporting the development of the
hydrogen industry in the state;"
Page 1, lines 6 - 7:
Delete "championing a unified voice in support of
the state's full development potential"
Insert "encouraging the creation of a task force
to explore energy and mineral development, including
hydrogen energy"
Page 1, lines 12 - 14:
Delete all material.
Page 2, line 3:
Delete "a 90"
Insert "an 88"
Page 2, line 12:
Delete "2027"
Insert "2028"
Page 2, lines 13 - 14:
Delete all material.
Page 3, following line 1:
Insert new material to read:
"WHEREAS the state possesses significant
potential for hydrogen energy production derived from
natural gas with carbon management, renewable energy
resources, and emerging geologic hydrogen
opportunities, and for hydrogen derivatives such as
ammonia and methanol suitable for domestic use and
export to Asia and Pacific markets; and
WHEREAS the state possesses significant potential
for hydrogen production derived from natural and
stimulated geologic hydrogen production, with
associate opportunities, but currently lacks adequate
policy frameworks for underground storage, permits,
and royalties for both hydrogen and associated
secondary production of helium; and"
Page 3, line 7:
Delete "will"
Insert "would"
Page 3, line 19:
Delete "inclusive"
Insert "diversified energy"
Page 3, line 22:
Delete "comprehensive"
Insert "diversified"
Page 4, following line 7:
Insert new material to read:
"FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State
Legislature recognizes that hydrogen industry
development is a unique hybrid activity, combining
elements of mineral exploration, oil and gas
development, power generation, industrial processing,
and subsurface storage and carbon capture and
utilization storage management, and encourages the
evaluation of statutory and regulatory frameworks to
ensure clear authority, predictable permitting, and
coordinated oversight of hydrogen development; and be
it"
Page 5, lines 2 - 6:
Delete all material and insert:
"FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State
Legislature encourages the governor to work with the
legislature to establish a task force, working group,
or similar organizational review to, before the
beginning of the Thirty-Fifth Alaska State
Legislature, provide recommendations to the
legislature to advance energy and mineral sector
development in the state; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED by the Alaska State Legislature
that the task force also review hydrogen energy
development in the state, including hydrogen produced
from natural gas, renewable energy resources, and
geologic sources, as well as hydrogen derivatives,
including ammonia and methanol, and evaluate options
for addressing hydrogen development, including
(1) the classification of hydrogen-related
activities for purposes of land leasing, subsurface
rights, and resource management;
(2) the use of existing oil and gas units,
depleted reservoirs, and other geologic formations for
underground hydrogen storage and associated carbon
storage;
(3) the coordination of land access,
leasing, and rights-of-way necessary to support
hydrogen production, storage, transmission, and export
facilities; and
(4) the alignment of hydrogen development
with in-state energy security, price stability, and
industrial growth."
CO-CHAIR MEARS objected for the purposed of discussion.
1:41:28 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND explained that Amendment 1 to HJR 27
would update numbers and language that had gone "stale" since
the previous legislative session in the spring of 2025. This
included removing some sections about frozen funding which
appeared to be "moot." Additionally, some of the clauses were
trimmed to tighten the focus. Finally, the proposed amendment
would add clauses to expand on hydrogen production, storage, and
use. This focus would include a regulatory framework for
hydrogen storage and extraction.
1:43:23 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND responded to a question from
Representative Kopp by explaining that hydrogen development in
Alaska is a question of "where can we get it, and what can we do
with it." He detailed the geologic background of naturally
occurring hydrogen and highlighted the importance of properly
identifying and stimulating the production of hydrogen through
specific mining techniques. He described several uses for
hydrogen including using it in fuel cells, adding it to a
natural gas stream to augment the supply, making aircraft fuel,
and using it to produce ammonia for export. He explained that
the Hydrogen Working Group had already existed for a previous
year.
1:48:32 PM
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON, in response to a question form
Representative Kopp, added his understanding that there would
not be a fiscal note generated by the creation of an advisory
board.
1:50:30 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND provided a brief recap of the changes
Amendment 1 would make to HJR 27.
1:52:57 PM
CO-CHAIR MEARS removed her objection. There being no further
objection, Amendment 1 was adopted.
1:53:10 PM
REPRESENTATIVE COSTELLO moved Amendment 2, labeled 34-
LS0973\I.2, which read as follows:
Page 3, following line 11:
Insert new material to read:
"WHEREAS advanced nuclear technologies, including
small modular reactors and microreactors, offer the
state a reliable, nonintermittent, zero-carbon
baseload energy source capable of supporting
industrial development, lowering energy costs, and
strengthening long-term statewide energy security; and
WHEREAS the strategic deployment of nuclear
microreactors in rural regions of the state at
military installations and in emerging industrial hubs
would provide stable power essential for national
security operations, Arctic readiness, and the
development of critical mineral and rare earth
projects across the state; and"
Page 5, line 8:
Delete "Defense"
Insert "War"
CO-CHAIR MEARS objected for the purpose of discussion.
1:53:41 PM
JACK THOMPSON, Staff, Representative Mia Costello, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Mia Costello, presented
Amendment 2 regarding advanced nuclear technologies to the
committee.
1:54:48 PM
CO-CHAIR MEARS removed her objection. There being no further
objection, Amendment 2 was adopted.
1:55:15 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 1:55 p.m. to 1:56 p.m.
1:57:38 PM
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON moved HJR 27, labeled 34-LS0973\I, as
amended, out of committee. There being no objection, HJR 27 was
reported from the House Special Committee on Energy.
[Co-Chair Mears returned the gavel to Co-Chair Holland].
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| I.3 Amendment to HJR 27.pdf |
HENE 2/12/2026 1:30:00 PM |
HJR 27 |
| HJR027 Sponsor Statement Ver I, 1.21.26.pdf |
HENE 2/12/2026 1:30:00 PM |
HJR 27 |
| HJR027 Resolution Ver I, 1.21.26.PDF |
HENE 2/12/2026 1:30:00 PM |
HJR 27 |
| HJR 27 Intro Slides.pdf |
HENE 2/12/2026 1:30:00 PM |
HJR 27 |
| HJR 27 - Allmeroth Testimony.pdf |
HENE 2/12/2026 1:30:00 PM |
HJR 27 |
| HJR 27 - Amendment 2.pdf |
HENE 2/12/2026 1:30:00 PM |
HJR 27 |
| I.2 Amendment to HJR 27 passed 2.12.26.pdf |
HENE 2/12/2026 1:30:00 PM |
HJR 27 |
| I.3 amendent to HJR 27 passed 2.12.26.pdf |
HENE 2/12/2026 1:30:00 PM |
HJR 27 |
| HJR27 Fiscal Note LAA.pdf |
HENE 2/12/2026 1:30:00 PM |
HJR 27 |
| HJR 27 - Launch Alaska Testimony.pdf |
HENE 2/12/2026 1:30:00 PM |
HJR 27 |