Legislature(2025 - 2026)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/16/2025 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Presentation: Alaska Municipal League – Alaska Infrastructure Progress Update | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
April 16, 2025
9:14 a.m.
9:14:28 AM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Stedman called the Senate Finance Committee
meeting to order at 9:14 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair
Senator Donny Olson, Co-Chair
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair
Senator Mike Cronk
Senator James Kaufman
Senator Jesse Kiehl
Senator Kelly Merrick
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT
Nils Andreessen, Executive Director, Alaska Municipal
League.
SUMMARY
PRESENTATION: ALASKA MUNICIPAL LEAGUE ALASKA
INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRESS UPDATE
Co-Chair Stedman discussed the agenda.
^PRESENTATION: ALASKA MUNICIPAL LEAGUE ALASKA
INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRESS UPDATE
9:15:31 AM
NILS ANDREESSEN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA MUNICIPAL
LEAGUE, discussed a presentation entitled "Alaska's
Infrastructure Era: Key Outcomes; Core Needs" (copy on
file). He was prepared to talk about where the state had
been and where it was going. He noted that when Congress
passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) a
few years previously, local governments had directed the
municipal league to put a generational effort forward and
maximize the benefit for Alaska.
9:16:42 AM
Mr. Andreassen looked at slide 2, "A Generational
Opportunity, which showed a clip from United States
Senator Lisa Murkowski's website that featured a list of
news articles that had been published when IIJA was passed.
He explained that the bill corresponded to past discussions
of the states infrastructure deficit. He said that IIJA
had provided an opportunity to make a difference.
9:18:02 AM
Mr. Andreassen spoke to slide 3, "Outsize Impact," which
showed two pie charts from 2023. He noted that the source
of the information, Invest.gov, was no longer available for
data. He noted that IIJA provided funding where there were
needs, the largest amount going toward transportation. He
discussed the distribution of IIJA funds in 2023:
Federal Infrastructure Act Grant Funding Awarded to
Alaska Recipients by Recipient Type:
Transportation - 52 percent
Broadband 28 percent
Resilience 7 percent
Water 6 percent
Energy 5 percent
Environmental Remediation 1 percent
Other 1 percent
Mr. Andreassen commented that the numbers will have
adjusted slightly in more recent years. He pointed out
where IIJA had been directed, and for the most part that
state government had been a recipient of a large amount of
the funds. He stated that a large portion of the funds were
formula funds. He thought it was worth knowing that the
state was frequently a pass-through entity for the funds,
many of which were passed down to local agencies.
Mr. Andreassen drew attention to the chart on the left
showed funding per 1,000 residents, over the previous three
months, for various items including Tribal Broadband
Connectivity, Ferry Service for Rural Alaska, Rural
Development Broadband Reconnect Program, Surface
Transportation Block Grant Program, and the Port
Infrastructure Development Program, all the items had an
outsized impact in the state compared to the rest of the
nation. He thought one of the reasons the state had done so
well was due to the focus on underserved communities and
areas of persistent poverty. He stated that some of the
programs were structured to directly address the need of
people in Alaska.
9:21:49 AM
Mr. Andreassen referenced slide 4, "Transportation," which
showed data from USASpending.gov, and the Federal Highways
Administration. The information included enacted budget,
grants announced, obligations, and outlays. He shared that
only 35 percent had been distributed to grantees through
formula or competitive grants. He noted the grants that
Alaska had uniquely benefitted from:
Airport Infrastructure Grants 34.8 percent
Ferry Service for Rural Communities 25.8 percent
Rail Crossing Elimination 59 percent
Port Infrastructure Development Program 12.9 percent
Safe Streets for All 12 percent
Culvert Removal 3.9 percent
Mr. Andreassen mentioned that there was more work to be
done. He shared that there had been change at the federal
level but there was still room in the enacted budget for
distribution of grant funds to Alaskans.
9:23:51 AM
Mr. Andreassen turned to slide 5, "Big Wins," which
highlighted USASpending.gov tracking of awarded grants and
a list of the grants from FY 23 to FY 25:
USA Spending tracks awarded grants, and the following
are from FY 23-25:
• Alaska Energy Authority - $206,500,000
• Native Village of Eyak - $85,921,275
• Alaska Native Tribal Health Corporation -
$74,950,045
• Golden Valley Electric Association - $70,972,123
• Municipality of Anchorage - $68,700,000
• NANA Regional Corporation - $65,168,000
• Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium -
$63,492,225 • Alaska Energy Authority - $62,450,000
• Dena Nena Henash - $62,450,000
• University of Alaska Fairbanks - $58,856,268
• Northwest Arctic Borough - $54,811,907
• University of Alaska Fairbanks - $53,327,846
• Calista Regional Corporation - $52,559,385
• Doyon Regional Corporation - $50,651,548
• Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of
Alaska - $49,899,103
• City of Seward - $45,732,04
Mr. Andreassen continued to discuss the grant distribution.
He thought there had been a broad distribution of the
funds. He highlighted that most of the grants were energy
related. The bar graph on the right showed total federal
dollars distributed through grants to the state from
October 22 through April 2025. He pointed out that prior to
the change in administration at the end of 2024, the latest
amount of funding had been releases. He noted that in
recent months the funding had declined. He said that
between 3 and 5 billion had been awarded to Alaska each
year.
9:27:12 AM
Mr. Andreassen considered slide 6, "Challenges Along the
Way," which reflected on some challenges experienced by
local governments, state agencies, and tribes:
Upfront and Matching Costs: Rural Alaska communities
often face limited revenue opportunities and high
costs, making it challenging to provide the matching
funds required by many federal grants and to cover
upfront costs for reimbursable grants. Thank you to
the Legislature/State funding through the Denali
Commission!
Potential Solutions: Suggestions include allowing the
use of other federal funds as matching contributions,
offering advance decisions on match waiver requests,
implementing sliding-scale match requirements based on
community circumstances, and accepting alternative
demonstrations of community investment in projects.
Eliminating reimbursable grants or providing bridge
loans to assist with upfront costs are also
recommended.
Lack of Interagency Collaboration: The absence of
coordinated funding among federal agencies leads to
inefficiencies and missed opportunities for
comprehensive project support.
Potential Solutions: Implementing a multi-agency
shared application process would allow for integrated
funding between programs and more efficient use of
federal funds.
Build America Buy America: Well-intentioned goal to
reinvest in American manufacturing, create jobs, and
strengthen our domestic supply chain. For states with
limited manufacturing or industrial capacity like
Alaska BABA is effectively a policy that transfers
wealth and jobs to other parts of the country. In
Alaska it's driving up costs, causing delays, and
threatening critical infrastructure projects in some
of our most vulnerable communities.
Potential Solutions: Argue for place-based waiver.
9:29:44 AM
Mr. Andreassen displayed slide 7, "Challenges Along the
Way," which was a continuation of the previous slide:
Applicant Eligibility: Alaska's unique range of
entities serving indigenous people may face
limitations due to federal programs restricting
eligibility to certain types of entities and adopting
expanded definitions of eligible entities can help
address this issue.
Potential Solutions: Including regional tribal
consortia and nonprofits as eligible applicants for
federal grant opportunities.
Complexity and Capacity Constraints: The
administrative demands of grant writing and compliance
are burdensome for communities with limited staff and
resources. Challenges include confusing or missing
guidance and funding agency capacity constraints.
Potential Solutions: Adopting models like the HUD's
High Energy Cost Grant program, which simplifies the
application process and uses flexible, needs-based
criteria, is recommended. Significant investment in
capacitybuilding and technical assistance is also
necessary.
Technology: Technological challenges specific to rural
Alaska, such as harsh environmental conditions and
limited infrastructure, hinder the deployment and
maintenance of energy projects.
Potential Solutions: Investing in research and
development tailored to Alaska's unique conditions,
and promoting the deployment of resilient and
adaptable technologies, are essential steps forward.
9:31:35 AM
Mr. Andreassen highlighted slide 8, "Federal Funding and
Policy Support," which addressed three areas in which AML
had tried to make a difference: a strategic approach to
community grant applications, Infrastructure Assistance,
and infrastructure grant writing. He specified that
investment to AML led to a strategic approach to
infrastructure development, increased collaboration, and
information-sharing, and improved access to grant writing
resources. He stressed that AML would not have had the
successes, experienced in the last three years, without the
support of the legislature.
9:33:00 AM
Mr. Andreassen looked at slide 9, "AML Impact," which
showed a map of the state and cited that there were 214
total applications, #3.6 billion applied for, 70 successful
applications, and $1.3 billion brought to the state. He
stated that AML played a role in the impact but that many
organizations had played a role in the success.
Mr. Andreassen said that any eligible entity that had a
competitive project could apply for grants; AML worked to
remover barriers and provide baseline grants to communities
to support future opportunities.
9:35:32 AM
Mr. Andreassen addressed slide 10, "Our Approach," which
showed a graphic of approaches and foci:
• Augment Capacity Grant Writing and Project
Management
• Increase Competitiveness Bundle Projects and Data
• Improve Community Conditions Deliver Funding and
Projects
• Strengthen Local Governments Connect to Tools and
Services
Mr. Andreassen discussed each approach and how those
approaches strengthened processes for local governments.
9:37:04 AM
Mr. Andreassen advanced to slide 11, "Our Approach," which
was a continuation of the previous slide. He explained that
AML worked to provide support and technical support through
direct support, cohort support, training and technical
assistance, and outreach and information sharing. He
mentioned that there was a list of 1500 members committed
to the information investments. He spoke of the work of the
Alaska Rural Energy Conference and the Alaska
Infrastructure Development Symposium.
Mr. Andreassen stressed that a plan for sustaining the
infrastructure in the future included having in place
workforce development, housing needs, asset management, and
maintenance and operations.
9:39:34 AM
Mr. Andreassen looked at slide 12, "Project
Identification," which addressed some of the projects that
had been awarded. He mentioned two platforms available to
meet the needs of communities and the state:
Transportation Planning and Project Funding Support
Goals and Objectives
To support transportation project development,
evaluation, and prioritization for Alaskas local and
tribal governments. AML will help with community
outreach, project intake, and grant writing to secure
federal funds for surface transportation projects
under the Infrastructure Investment and Job Act
(IIJA).
Project Activities
Outreach, project prescreening, grant writing, and
project analysis.
Coordination with DOT&PF and other stakeholders to
ensure federal grant applications are competitive.
Communities Served
All cities, boroughs, and tribal governments in
Alaska.
Funding Agency
Alaska DOT&PF
Alaska Energy Hub
The Alaska Energy Hub is a one-stop resource to
connect energy projects and agencies providing funding
and Technical Assistance. You can find various maps
here, with additional resources available soon. The
Alaska Energy Hub is a project of the Alaska Municipal
League with funding from the U.S. Department of
Energys Energizing Rural Communities Prize.
Submit a Project We encourage project teams to
complete the Project Intake Form it is a first step
to find Technical Assistance for your project and your
response helps inform decision makers who might be
able to offer resources.
Resources Find information on technical assistance
and funding opportunities here.
Ambassadors Learn more about the Arctic Energy
Ambassadors program.
Project Map See a map of submitted energy projects
from around Alaska.
9:41:03 AM
Mr. Andreassen showed slide 13, "Alignment with State
Priorities,":
The Alaska Energy Security Task Force settled on goals
that were centered on affordability, reliability, and
resilience - the three key factors the Task Force
identified to meet the overall goal of lowering the
cost of energy for Alaskans while simultaneously
ensuring energy security for our state.
The recommended goals include the following:
Short-term: Minimize regret cost while providing
reliable service.
Mid-term: Invest in infrastructure improvements to
advance the long-term goal of energy diversification.
Long-term: Significantly diversify power generation
with an emphasis on local, reliable, and affordable
energy.
9:41:52 AM
Mr. Andreassen referenced slide 14, "Railbelt Transmission,
Generation, and Storage. The slide showed the work of the
Repowering Energy Assets working group, comprised of Golden
Valley Electric and the Denali Borough:
• Upgrading and expanding transmission lines to
improve reliability
• Reducing congestion through infrastructure
investments
• Integrating more renewable energy sources to
diversify energy mix
Huge new federal grant promises easier access for
cheaper, cleaner power in Alaskas Railbelt
The $206 million from the Department of Energy would
pay for a 50-mile power line beneath Cook Inlet, plus
two battery banks.
Golden Valley Electric Association Awarded $100 Millio
Loan from USDA Powering Affordable Clean Energy
Program, with $60 Million in Loan Forgiveness.
9:42:44 AM
Mr. Andreassen turned to slide 15, " Coastal Generation,
Distribution, and Storage," which addressed another working
group, Collaborative Support: Clean Energy Savings in
Coastal Communities, with partners Southeast Conference and
Alaska Heat Smart:
• Development of localized energy solutions (small
hydro, tidal)
• Supporting microgrid implementation to enhance
resilience • Ensuring sustainable, community-tailored
power solutions
Mr. Andreassen noted that the City of Saint Paul had
applied for everything and had received significant
awards since 2020 to upgrade their electric utility.
9:43:24 AM
Mr. Andreassen considered slide 16, " Rural Generation,
Distribution, and Storage:
• Expanding technical assistance programs for rural
utilities
• Training for local operators and system maintenance
support
• Increased integration of renewables to reduce fuel
dependency
Solar for All: Community Solar and Workforce
Development
Alaskas projects win nearly $125 million in EPAs
national Solar for All grant competition.
DOE Funds Five Projects in Alaska for Energy
Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) program
9:44:06 AM
Mr. Andreassen displayed slide 17, "Incentives and
Subsidies,":
• Developing financial mechanisms (grants, tax
credits, low-interest loans)
• Supporting investment in renewable energy and energy
efficiency
Aligning policies to streamline permitting and
regulatory processes
Tribal Grid Resilience Kodiak
The Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) has received
federal tax credits to expand solar power in remote
tribal communities. The TCCs projects is part of the
Alaskan Tribal Energy Sovereignty project, which aims
to improve grid reliability, air quality, and reduce
energy costs.
How the project works
The TCC will install solar PV and battery storage
systems in eight remote tribal communities.
The project will use revenue from the Tribal ownership
model to reduce energy costs and develop future
renewable projects.
The TCC will establish a utility board of Tribal
leaders to oversee the project.
How federal tax credits help
The Residential Clean Energy Credit provides a 30
percent tax credit for new, qualified clean energy
property installed from 2022 through 2032.
The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit provides
a tax credit up to $3,200 for qualified energy-
efficient improvements made to your home after January
1, 2023.
Mr. Andreassen noted slide 18, Statutes and Regulation
Reform, which discussed statutes and regulatory reform as
identified by the Energy Security Taskforce as areas to be
invested in. The project, working with AHFC, would develop
a framework for responsive building code development:
• Providing utilities with flexibility to adopt
innovative technologies
• Reforming statutes and regulations to remove
modernization barriers
• Engaging stakeholders to align regulatory frameworks
with utility needs
9:45:28 AM
Mr. Andreassen looked at slide 19, " Workforce Development
for Utilities:
• Training programs for local energy system operators
• Federal and state partnerships for capacity building
• Importance of technical expertise in managing modern
energy grids
Mr. Andreassen discussed the projects detailed on the slide
including, Strengthening Reporting Capacity in Rural Alaska
Governments, Rural Municipal Utility Cybersecurity, and
Alaska TREC: Home Energy Efficiency Training.
9:46:14 AM
Mr. Andreassen addressed slide 20, " Energy Storage and
Microgrid Development,":
• Enhancing reliability through Battery Energy Storage
Systems (BESS)
• Kodiak Electric's success in reducing fuel reliance
• Long-duration energy storage for resilience
EPA announces $78 million in grants to Tribes in
Alaska, Pacific Northwest to cut climate pollution,
accelerate clean energy transition.
• $24,232,383 for two wind turbines in Toksook Bay,
along with battery storage and a wind-to-heat boiler,
a project overseen by the Alaska Native Tribal Health
Consortium.
• $14,999,999 to the Central Council of the Tlingit
and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska to set up or expand
"composting and recycling infrastructure in four
tribal communities and the city of Juneau."
• $14,820,331 to the Aleut Community of St. Paul
Island to install three new wind turbines, upgrade
three current turbines and add battery energy storage.
• $4,942,841 to "construct a new, 70-foot-high
concrete and steel storage reservoir" to the Humpback
Creek Hydroelectric project for energy generation to
Cordova, awarded to the Native Village of Eyak.
• $2,339,537 to the Village of Solomon for energy
audits, weatherization improvements and solar energy
installations for households and tribal buildings.
9:46:42 AM
Mr. Andreassen advanced to slide 21, " Bulk Fuel Management
and Infrastructure:
• Addressing maintenance and regulatory challenges in
fuel storage
• Regional bulk fuel aggregation to reduce costs
• Long-term sustainability strategies for fuel-
dependent communities
Mr. Andreassen noted that AML had supported a grant
application to address a barge landing infrastructure in
Western Alaska. The league had also been involved in
several projects that supported energy efficiency. He said
that the area had not received much funding from IIGA or
IRA, as the prior administration had focused on reducing
environmental pollution and greenhouse gasses, which left
the fuel challenges in the area lacking a funding source.
He stated that AML had sought funding too mee the needs of
the communities.
9:48:03 AM
Mr. Andreassen looked at slide 22, " Capacity Building,"
which showed a sample of energy awards that AML had been
directly involved in. He emphasized that there many other
projects that the stakeholders had played a role in seeing
to success. He mentioned partnering with Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities and the Denali
Commission on Reducing Impact of Rural Boardwalk Barriers.
He spoke to the additional projects on the slide: Alaska
Water Infrastructure Financial navigation Center (AWIFNC),
and Community Capacity Building in Disaster Impacted
Communities.
9:49:28 AM
Mr. Andreassen spoke to slide 23, " Capacity Building,"
noting that the capacity building efforts extended into
other areas. He discussed the projects illustrated on the
slide:
Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) Planning
Description:
The Alaska Municipal League is working on behalf of
the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation to
complete sustainable energy planning for the Climate
Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program. This effort
looks to identify policies, programs, and projects
(measures) that reduce greenhouse gas emissions while
helping Alaska communities achieve benefits like
energy cost reductions, quality of life, and energy
independence. By working with the CPRG program, AML
can help provide easier access to federal funds for
the energy needs that Alaska communities have, both in
the near and long-term via planning that complements
energy project development work being conducted by AML
and other partners around the state.
Heavy Equipment to Support Maintenance
Key Takeaway:
AML coordinated a bundled application and now the
administration of this Congressionally Directed
Spending Appropriation for the purchase of Heavy
Equipment in 8 communities across Alaska.
Arctic Energy Ambassadors
Description:
The Arctic Energy Ambassadors program provides
training and support to develop regional energy
leadership in the state for selected practitioners to
improve energy security across Alaskas Arctic region
and beyond. Through deployment of energy projects and
support for grant applications and technical
assistance, the U.S. Department of Energy is
delivering resources and partnership for the Arctic
region, aligned with DOE Arctic Strategy.
The Ambassadors will help ensure that resources are
shared widely in Alaska to tap into programs, answer
questions, and prepare for clean energy transitions in
their communities to combat climate crisis and build
climate resilience.
Community Compass
Key Takeaway:
Community Compass is a technical assistance program
that will provide support and capacity building among
HUD grantees in Alask around the state, including
Tribes and Regional Housing Authorities.
9:51:02 AM
Mr. Andreassen referenced slide 24, " Capacity Building,"
which showed additional types of capacity building
including, Resilience Planning that Strengthens Alaskas
Rural Communities, Statewide Equitable Community
Connectivity Action Plan (SECCAP), and Regional
Infrastructure Accelerator TIFIA Plan for Alaska.
Mr. Andreassen relayed that he was optimistic that smaller
communities would receive the support that they needed. He
reiterated that AML could not have supported communities to
the extent that they had without the support of the
legislature and the state.
9:52:56 AM
Mr. Andreassen turned to slide 25, " Shifting Gears," and
addressed where AML was headed forward. He mentioned the
new federal administration had different priorities than
the previous administration. There was a short list of
screenshots and news articles that identified cuts to
programs under Donald Trump:
Skagway likely to lose nearly $20 million in FEMA
rockslide mitigation funds.
Skagway was slated to be Alaskas first recipient of
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities
grant funding.
CISA cuts $10 million annually from ISAC funding for
states amid wider cyber cuts.
The cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
confirmed this week that it is cutting funding for
cybersecurity intelligence sharing.
Federal Funding freeze halts key infrastructure
projects in tribal communities
Rural leaders push Congress to unfreeze climate and
environmental funds
USDA Funding Cuts
Local Food for Schools (LFS)
$1,383,131 funding cut to Alaska
$2,390,054 in potential economic loss to Alaska
Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA)
$765,450 funding cut to Alaska
$1,307,107 in potential economic loss to Alaska
Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA Tribal)
$5,298,875 funding cut to Alaska
$9,048,529 in potential economic loss to Alaska
Mr. Andreassen lamented that under the Trump
Administration, much of the work done by AML for
communities in Alaska would cease to continue or come to
fruition due to funding cuts and cancellations, and cuts to
agency staffing. He opined that there was a lot of turmoil
and lack of clarity due to the chaos at the federal level.
9:55:57 AM
Mr. Andreassen considered slide 26, " Executive Orders,"
which showed a list of a portion of the 131 Executive
Orders issued by the new federal administration:
• Revocation of the vast majority of prior EOs.
• 14151 terminate DEI, equity, and environmental
justice
• 14153 Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource
Potential
• 14154 Unleashing American Energy
• 14158 Establishing and Implementing DOGE
• 14210 Workforce Optimization
• 14222 Cost Efficiency Initiative
• 14225 Immediate Expansion of American Timber
Production
• 14238 Reduction of Federal Bureaucracy
• 14239 Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local
Preparedness
• 14241 Immediate Measures to Increase American
Mineral Production
• 14255 Establishing Investment Accelerator
• 14260 Protecting American Energy from State
Overreach
• 14269 Restoring America's Maritime Dominance
Mr. Andreassen stated that many of the orders had specific
connotations to the effort that had been made in the
previous years in terms of infrastructure. He said that
Alaskas competitive advantage for accessing federal grants
had been based in part on equity and environmental justice.
Rural communities that could point to challenges had been a
priority for the federal government. He discussed the
review process for current applications, which could be
cancelled under EO 14151.
Mr. Andreassen spoke to thought agencies were currently
going through a vetting process for all currently awarded
projects. He noted that under EO 14222 not only wordage
would be scrutinized, but also cost savings that agencies
needed to be looking for. He noted that the projects would
need to be evaluated by DOGE, and grants and projects would
be cancelled based on words identified in EO 14151.
Mr. Andreassen highlighted two types of Executive Orders on
the list that impacted how AML related to the federal
government: EO 14210 Workforce Optimization, EO 14222 Cost
Efficiency Initiative. We stated that staff at the federal
level could not be replaced until four employees were
terminated. He said that the Federal Highways Grant
Division in Alaksa had four people take the early
retirement plan, leaving zero staff. He lamented that,
under the executive order, only one employee would be
allowed to return should the program come back online.
9:59:41 AM
Mr. Andreassen continued to address the list of Executive
Orders on slide 26. He noted that all the impacts of the
executive orders were still being discovered. The
implementation section set requirements in 30-day intervals
and included demands for reports and evaluations, at the
same time as the workforce was being diminished. He stated
that the last three years had been spent ramping up the
federal workforce in the state to meet the needs of
communities, which was now being stripped away and
reprioritized in a way inconsistent to the interest of
Alaskans.
Mr. Andreassen acknowledged that AML members had a
resolution in place emphasizing the need for resource
development. He considered the list and considered the
benefits to the state from timber and mineral production
and maritime dominance.
10:01:31 AM
Mr. Andreassen displayed slide 27, "Developing a Strategy,"
which he considered could be a call to action. He thought
that it was worth consideration at the state level to think
through the previously mention two executive orders and
consider how to navigate challenges at the local level:
• Approach a changing federal landscape methodically,
similar to how governments would develop a risk
mitigation strategy or an economic development
strategy.
• Identify nexus with State and local roles and
responsibilities.
• Determine potential impact, plausibility, scale,
etc.
• Develop strategy to mitigate impact where necessary,
or leverage opportunity.
• This approach is consistent with EO 14239 and shifts
from an all-hazards approach to preparedness and
mitigation to one that is risk-informed.
Mr. Andreassen discussed the development of a risk
register, which was a common part of a project in which a
team would consider risks. He thought one could expect that
staff or state agencies could assess the impacts from each
executive order and how to prepare for a response. He
reiterated that where there were areas for economic
opportunity would require preparation.
Mr. Andreassen thought everyone should be thinking about a
strategy, and thought the suggested approach was consistent
with EO 14239, and shifted from an all-hazards approach to
preparedness and mitigation to an approach that was risk
informed.
10:05:18 AM
Mr. Andreassen noted that one EO discussed shifting more
responsibility for risk mitigation to state and local
government. He wondered whether there were resources to do
that if FEMA was no longer a resource. He considered and
EO that would restrict the state from taking action related
to carbon credits or carbon mitigation type activities. He
stressed the importance of planning how the state would
navigate the next four years.
10:06:08 AM
Mr. Andreassen highlighted slide 28, "Planning and
Community Development," and noted that AML was prepared to
do a lot of the work described on the previous slides,
including:
• Community Planning and Prioritization
• Grant Development and Response
• Grant Award, Partnerships, and Match
• Procurement and Workforce
• Project Management
• Grant Reporting and Outcomes
• Maintenance and Operations
• Asset Management and Sustainability
10:08:15 AM
Mr. Andreassen looked at slide 29, "Planning and Community
Development,":
Stakeholder Engagement
• Planning Services: AML's cohort-based framework
facilitates collaboration among municipalities,
encouraging shared learning and alignment on best
practices.
• Community Development: Many projects, such as those
focused on energy resilience or climate adaptation,
rely on active stakeholder involvement to ensure
outcomes address diverse local priorities.
Integrated Project Administration
• Planning Services: AML offers municipalities tools
and templates for managing zoning updates, permitting
processes, and other planning activities.
• Community Development: Grant-funded projects often
involve administrative tasks such as compliance
monitoring, reporting, and contractor coordination.
Funding Alignment and Access
• Planning Services: Long-range planning aligns
municipal strategies with funding opportunities by
prioritizing state and federal goals (e.g.,
infrastructure investments, resilience).
• Community Development: Many grant-funded projects,
such as those in energy or water systems, depend on
strategic planning frameworks to secure funding.
Leveraging Shared Services
• Planning Services: AML provides shared software, GIS
mapping, and contractor pools to enhance planning
capacity. • Community Development: Many projects,
particularly those involving infrastructure
improvements or resilience hubs, benefit from these
same tools.
10:09:38 AM
Mr. Andreassen addressed slide 30, "Leveraging Investments:
Next Steps,":
Expansion of Shared Services
• Community Oriented Municipal Planning
• Reporting and Compliance
• Project Management
• Infrastructure Asset Management
• GIS and Data Management for Planning
Strategic Plan for Risk Mitigation and Opportunity
Development
Consistent with
Vision: Thriving communities led by healthy local
governments
Mission: Strengthen Alaska's local governments
Values: Sustainability, Collaboration, All
Municipalities
Fiscal First Aid
• Tax and Revenue Administration
• Bonds and Loans
• Modeling and Projections
• Short and Long-Term Needs
• Deferred Maintenance
• Investment
Co-Chair Stedman solicited questions from the committee.
10:14:40 AM
Co-Chair Stedman queried whether the Alaska Governor's
Office of Infrastructure was still in existence.
Mr. Andreassen replied in the affirmative. He noted that
the office sent out a weekly newsletter with grant
opportunities and activities.
10:15:26 AM
Senator Kaufman asked for more detail on Community Planning
and Prioritization listed on slide 28. He asked what
staffing, cost, and spend looked like for the programs
listed on the slide.
Mr. Andreassen replied that when he started at AML there
were three employees, which had grown to 28. He was
uncertain about growth and funding going forward. He
thought the Division of Planning and Community Development
was at the heart of what AML did. He said that if the
vision was to remove barriers and be sure that every
community had resources to meet community needs, ALM would
use a cohort approach to mitigate cost and maximize human
resources. He noted that some work could be contracted out.
He stressed that AML constantly sought efficiencies.
Co-Chair Stedman solicited further questions.
Mr. Andreassen that through collaborative work AML staff
and partners had worked to meet the needs of communities.
He felt that the future looked hopeful.
Co-Chair Stedman thanked Mr. Andreassen for his
presentation. He discussed housekeeping.
ADJOURNMENT
10:19:58 AM
The meeting was adjourned at 10:19 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 041625 AML_Infrastructure - SFIN.pdf |
SFIN 4/16/2025 9:00:00 AM |
|
| 041625 Grant Report to Legislature.pdf |
SFIN 4/16/2025 9:00:00 AM |