On Thursday, Alaska Republican Party District 26 (Wasilla) convened and voted in favor of a resolution to censure Sen. Lisa Murkowski. The resolution, charging Murkowski with a series of offenses against core GOP principles, was formally adopted and will now be forwarded for consideration at the State Republican Central Committee meeting on Saturday.
The district had sent the charges to Murkowski and given her time to respond, but did not hear back from her.
This action follows a growing trend across the state. Earlier this year, a Kenai district committee unanimously passed a censure resolution, citing Murkowski’s repeated criticism of former President Trump, endorsement of Democratic candidates (notably support for Mary Peltola in 2022 and 2024), resistance to Trump’s nomination of Pete Hegseth for defense secretary, and her advocacy for ranked-choice voting, viewed by Republicans as a direct conflict with their platform.
Since then, at least seven other districts have followed suit, supporting similar resolutions demanding sanctions. The Valley Republican Women of Alaska also passed a similar resolution condemning Murkowski.
This is not the GOP’s first move to formally rebuke Murkowski. In January 2021, the State Central Committee itself voted 77 percent in favor of censuring her, officially cataloging actions such as her public call for Trump’s resignation and her impeachment votes among the catalysts.
At this Saturday’s Alaska Republican Party State Central Committee meeting, delegates from around the state are expected to deliberate on these censures and consider another party censure of Murkowski.
Under party rules, if 19 of the 37 organized districts support, the Central Committee may enforce sanctions, ranging from formal censure to prohibiting Murkowski from receiving party support or attending convention events. Murkowski, originally appointed by her father Gov. Frank Murkowski to fill his seat in the Senate, has not actually received state party support since 2016 and she is not invited, nor does she attend party conventions.
The outcome would carry no direct effect on Murkowski’s Senate seat, which does not come up again for election until 2028. But a party-wide censure would send a message to Alaska voters that the Republicans are following a set process. Murkowski is the only member of the Senate or House in Alaska history who has been formally censured by her own political party.
For months, leftists have pushed the narrative that Elon Musk was the shadow president, the real power behind the curtain. “We didn’t vote for Elon Musk!” they cried on social media and in street protests, implying that his growing influence over public policy, whether through X, Tesla, SpaceX, or his brief stint heading the Department of Government Efficiency, was somehow undemocratic, dangerous, and unprecedented.
Well, now that Musk and President Donald Trump are locked in a very public, very messy war of words, that particular talking point has collapsed under its own weight.
This week, Musk and Trump went from political allies to billionaire ballistic enemies in a matter of hours, with attacks escalating over the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” the sprawling piece of legislation that Trump backs and Musk opposes. Trump says Musk helped shape the bill. Musk says he never even saw it. Trump says Musk is just upset about EV subsidies being cut. Musk says the bill is a financial disaster that undermines all the work DOGE did to reduce government bloat.
And then it got personal — fast.
Trump took to X to suggest slashing all federal subsidies and contracts to Musk’s companies: “The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts.” A stinging rebuke from a former ally.
Musk, in turn, didn’t mince words. He accused Trump of lying about his departure from DOGE, called for his impeachment, and even claimed, without evidence, that Trump’s name is in the Epstein files and that this is why they haven’t been released.
This is not how shadow governments behave.
This is not how puppet masters treat their marionettes.
If Musk ever was running the White House, he’s certainly been fired in spectacular fashion. The idea that he was ever really in charge is now laughable.
The truth is this: Elon Musk is not above politics. He’s in them now, deep in the mud like everyone else. And when billionaires enter the political arena, they lose the illusion of being untouchable geniuses floating above the fray. Musk has gone from revered innovator to cable-news feud fodder, and from technocrat to Twitter brawler.
It’s also worth noting how quickly the Left has shifted its tone. Remember when Musk was the face of authoritarian techno-dystopia, supposedly controlling everything from speech to subsidies? Now that he’s taking a blowtorch to Trump on the very platform he owns, where are those same voices? Suddenly, silence — or even applause. The Left may embrace him again, and quickly.
Musk is learning the hard way that politics isn’t physics. It’s not a clean equation. It’s dirty, personal, and often irrational. And Trump — well, Trump is a master of the battlefield. He builds you up until you’re useful. Then, if you cross him, he can burn you to the ground. That’s not new.
What is new is Musk learning it the hard way.
So to all the critics who insisted Musk was secretly calling the shots: You got your answer. Elon Musk was never in control of the White House. But today, it looks like he’s on the outside, bloodied, tweeting, and very much not running anything.
Suzanne Downing is founder and editor of Must Read Alaska.
On June 3, Alaska State Sen. James Kaufman shared an optimistic message on social media:
“One of my top priorities is supporting responsible resource development in Alaska… Alaska has the ability to provide reliable, affordable energy not just to Alaskans, but to America and our allies. I am excited that we are once again taking meaningful steps in that direction.”
On June 5th, Congressman Nick Begich started his opinion piece in MRAK:
“When we talk about Alaska’s energy potential – we are talking about more than molecules in the ground or development projects. We’re talking about a true cornerstone of American prosperity and a valuable tool for national security.”
These are the kinds of sentiments Alaskans have heard for decades. These sound bites are filled with promise, always met with public hope, and too often followed by disappointment. Despite rich natural resources and enduring public support for development, Alaska repeatedly fails to launch major projects that would secure energy independence, create jobs, and restore fiscal sustainability. The culprit isn’t a lack of federal interest or industrial potential. It is Alaska’s own state legislature and its unwillingness to eliminate bureaucratic entrenchment.
To fulfill its promise as a national leader in responsible resource development, Alaska must go beyond words. It must confront its internal inertia with decisive action. A new generation of legislators, united with the executive branch, must systematically dismantle the regulatory and administrative barriers that block progress.
Governor Dunleavy needs to start immediately to exercise constitutional executive control where applicable. A new 2026 legislature must do the rest, because the current state legislature won’t.
Breaking Bureaucratic Entrenchment: A Five-Point Action Plan
1. Audit and Streamline State Regulatory Agencies
Alaska’s Departments of Natural Resources (DNR), Environmental Conservation (DEC), and Fish & Game (ADF&G) have grown into overlapping bureaucracies that too often delay rather than facilitate development.
Action: Launch a performance audit across these agencies to identify duplication, inefficiencies, and regulatory bottlenecks.
Objective: Establish a unified, expedited permitting process for energy, mining, and infrastructure projects.
2. Assert State Sovereignty Under ANILCA and the Tenth Amendment
Federal agencies—including the EPA, BLM, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service—have exceeded their jurisdiction, imposing restrictions that undermine Alaska’s development goals.
Action: Expand the Department of Law’s litigation capacity to challenge unlawful federal actions and to press RS 2477 claims for access and infrastructure.
Objective: Reclaim state jurisdiction over submerged lands, navigable waterways, and resource-rich public lands guaranteed under the Alaska Statehood Compact.
3. Forge a Legislative-Executive Alliance for Permitting Reform
No governor can reform Alaska’s development framework alone. Legislative collaboration is essential.
Action: Introduce and pass legislation which clearly establishes Alaska’s state sovereignty to reform permitting laws, protect state authority, and fast-track responsible development.
Objective: Ensure Alaska’s legal infrastructure promotes rather than obstructs economic opportunity.
4. Incentivize Private Infrastructure Development
Large-scale infrastructure, roads, pipelines, terminals often face crippling delays due to litigation and red tape.
Action: Create a public-private development model, similar to North Dakota’s, through a State Development Corporation, but avoid the missteps created by Alaska state NGO’s like the Alaska Industrial Export and Development Authority, the Alaska Energy Authority and other failing Alaska NGO’s.
Objective: Attract private capital to build essential infrastructure quickly and cost-effectively.
5. Rebuild Public Trust Through Transparency and Local Benefits
Years of delays, reversals, and litigation have left many Alaskans skeptical. Public support will require visible returns.
Action: Increase transparency in permitting and revenue use. Implement revenue-sharing agreements with local communities impacted by development.
Objective: Ensure Alaskans see and feel the benefits of the resources developed in their backyards.
The Consequences of Inaction
If Alaska fails to confront bureaucratic inertia, the consequences will be immediate and compounding.
1. Permanent Loss of Resource Sovereignty
Without state-level assertion of permitting and land-use authority, federal agencies will dominate development decisions.
Result: Billions in untapped mineral, energy, and infrastructure potential will remain buried beneath federal red tape.
2. Economic Decline and Outmigration
Without new development, Alaska’s economy will stagnate, and its working-age population will continue to decline.
Result: High-paying jobs in construction, energy, and resource sectors will vanish or move out of state, further weakening the tax base.
3. Fiscal Crisis Under Low Oil Scenarios
If oil drops near $40 per barrel and production lags, state revenues will collapse.
Result: Alaska will face increasing pressure to impose a state income tax, further cut the Permanent Fund Dividend, or deplete the Permanent Fund itself.
4. Loss of National Influence
Inaction diminishes Alaska’s credibility as a serious development partner in national energy strategy.
Result: The federal government will bypass Alaska for states with stronger infrastructure and clearer permitting processes.
5. Entrenchment of Anti-Development Narratives
When Alaska fails to act, environmental and anti-development lobbies fill the vacuum, entrenching policies that make future reforms even harder.
Result: Alaska may permanently lose the legal and institutional tools needed to reclaim its economic destiny.
Conclusion: The Choice Is Now
Alaska can choose another decade of drift, rhetoric without reform, federal control over state destiny, or it can choose decisive action. With the right leadership and aligned will between the legislative and executive branches, Alaska can become what it has always had the potential to be: a global model of responsible resource development, prosperity, and self-determination.
But that future will not be handed to us. It must be claimed. A claim that can only be secured by clearing bureaucratic barriers, confronting inertia, and affirming that Alaska’s land and future belong to its people.
The US Department of Justice has announced charges against two Chinese nationals accused of smuggling a dangerous biological agent into the United States. The agent in question is Fusarium graminearum, a toxic fungus considered a potential agroterrorism weapon.
Authorities say the fungus was discovered in luggage at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. According to the DOJ, Fusarium graminearum causes “head blight,” a disease that devastates crops like wheat, barley, maize, and rice. It is responsible for billions of dollars in agricultural losses globally each year. Its toxins are also dangerous to humans and livestock, potentially causing vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive issues.
Who are the individuals charged? A boyfriend-girlfriend pair — Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34 — both citizens of the People’s Republic of China and, according to prosecutors, loyal to the Chinese Communist Party. Jian, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Michigan, received funding from the Chinese government to conduct her research. Liu was conducting similar work at a lab in China.
Notably, the University of Michigan does not hold federal permits to possess or study Fusarium graminearum, the FBI reports.
The pair now face charges of conspiracy, smuggling goods into the U.S., making false statements, and visa fraud. While Jian has been apprehended, Liu remains in China. The US does not have an extradition treaty with the Chinese government, making his arrest unlikely unless he returns to US soil.
FBI Director Kash Patel described the case as “a sobering reminder that the CCP is working around the clock to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target our food supply.” He warned that such actions put American lives and the economy at serious risk.
It’s important to note that a complaint is merely an allegation. The individuals charged are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are continuing their investigation.
When asked for comment, Chinese Embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu said he was not familiar with the specifics of the case but emphasized that the Chinese government expects its citizens abroad to follow local laws while also pledging to defend their legitimate rights.
This is a developing story, and more details are likely to emerge.
But the bottom line is clear: The CCP is showing an alarming interest in actions that could harm the American people.
From buying up American farmland to attempting to smuggle a crop-destroying fungus into the country, the signs are hard to ignore. China is not our friend.
Sure, we can trade with them, and many Americans enjoy inexpensive goods imported from China, especially around the holidays. But we must not confuse economic partnership with trust.
Is the CCP’s endgame to weaken our food supply? To cripple us from within?
It’s a question worth asking. And it should concern us all.
Linda Boyle, RN, MSN, DM, was formerly the chief nurse for the 3rd Medical Group, JBER, and was the interim director of the Alaska VA. Most recently, she served as Director for Central Alabama VA Healthcare System. She is the director of the Alaska Covid Alliance/Alaskans 4 Personal Freedom.
The Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference continued this week with a panel called “Financing the Future of Sustainable Energy.”
The affair was marketed as a technical conversation about capital deployment and community resilience. In reality, it was a tightly scripted showcase for dark money networks, federally entangled “green banks,” and billionaire-backed influence peddlers laying the groundwork to control Alaska’s energy future, all without public consent and under the pretense of grassroots support.
Former Alaska legislator Lesil McGuire—who served in the House and Senate from 2000 to 2016-moderated the panel on behalf of New Energy Alaska, a group funded by the New Venture Fund, one of several nonprofits managed by Arabella Advisors and backed by billionaires like George Soros and Swiss national Hansjörg Wyss.
In 2023, the House Natural Resources Committee launched an investigation into Wyss’s influence, citing concerns that foreign nationals are steering U.S. energy and environmental agendas. Wyss has funneled hundreds of millions into Arabella’s political network, which plays a central role in shaping national climate policy. McGuire opened by boasting about a poll claiming 82 percent of Alaskans support renewable infrastructure, 86 percent believe it will create jobs, and 74 percent think it will diversify the economy. What wasn’t mentioned? How much are Alaskans, as federal taxpayers and ratepayers, actually willing to pay for this in dollars and lost reliability?
McGuire’s panel included representatives from Meridiam, Ameresco, Sustainability Partners, and Banyan Infrastructure. These four companies have polished credentials in ESG finance, infrastructure-as-a-service models, and public-private partnerships. This was far from a conversation about free markets. It was about financializing Alaska’s energy sector under a new regime of climate capitalists who frame their profit models as philanthropy while leaning on public dollars, federal loan guarantees, and regulatory capture.
Case in point: The Coalition for Green Capital (CGC), the Biden administration’s designated national green bank, received $5 billion from the Environmental Protection Agency in August 2024 under the Inflation Reduction Act’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
Days before the Trump administration took office, a former EPA staffer was caught on hidden video referring to this disbursement spree as “throwing gold bars off the Titanic”—a desperate rush to get billions into friendly hands before oversight could kick in.
Panelist Ileana Riverón referenced a $10 million investment in Spruce Root, a native Community Development Financial Institution in Southeast Alaska—formally announced in October 2024 through a partnership agreement with the CGC. On June 3, 2025, the same day the energy cabinet visited Alaska to speak at the Sustainable Energy Conference, CGC placed a full-page ad in the Anchorage Daily News, seemingly as a public plea to the Biden administration to unfreeze EPA funds.
The $10 million commitment is part of CGC’s $5 billion award under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which is now tied up in litigation after the EPA moved to revoke the grant.
Ameresco has been involved in energy system upgrades in Alaska, including work at Elmendorf Air Force Base, the installation of LED street lighting in Anchorage, and energy audits for the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) and the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS). Meridiam is involved in a project pitched as a solution for wind integration—at an estimated $330 million, a “long-duration” energy storage facility at the site of the soon-to-be-retired Healy coal plant. It doesn’t generate a single kilowatt of power on its own. The justification? By their own admission, only 10 percent of wind disruptions last less than four hours.
This means that expensive, multi-day storage is a requirement for something that is constantly sold to the public as inexpensive. During the keynote lunch presentation on Tuesday, Energy Secretary Chris Wright stressed the consideration of total system cost—highlighting how projects like this reveal the real price of integrating unreliable energy sources. The project is also part of Golden Valley Electric Association’s plan to meet its CO₂ reduction goals, replacing baseload coal with intermittent energy, which is often backed by costly storage that is often overlooked when promoting the renewable narrative.
As this conversation was about financing the transition, equally troubling is what was left out of the discussion. Curtis Thayer of the Alaska Energy Authority, during the lunch presentation, later pointed out that the Renewable Energy Fund has already spent $325 million, including $47 million on renewable energy projects in the last five years alone. Additionally, under a 2014 law, 20 percent of Alaska LNG project revenues (after paying into the Permanent Fund) are set to be allocated to the Renewable Energy Fund, potentially resulting in significant funding for renewable energy.
With key tax credits set to sunset under the current version of the “Big Beautiful Bill,” the future of these projects is anything but certain. Now is not the time to keep heads buried in climate slogans, ESG spreadsheets, or the rebranding of old climate policy as “resilience” or “energy equity.” It’s time to return to energy reality. The frozen funds and growing reliance on government guarantees are exactly what you get when we embrace the delusion of “all of the above.”
The government was never meant to serve as the backstop for risky investments disguised as climate virtue. That mindset has steered us into uncertainty and chaos—and it’s high time to course correct.
The Bureau of Land Management has appointed Kevin Pendergast as the new director of its Alaska State office, placing a seasoned expert at the helm of managing more than 70 million acres of surface land and 220 million acres of federal subsurface estate across the state.
Pendergast, who officially begins the role on June 29, will be responsible for advancing the Department of the Interior’s priorities in Alaska, including expanding resource development, overseeing energy and mineral programs, and managing multiple-use public lands in a state known for its vast natural wealth.
The announcement came from Jon Raby, who has been serving the function of director.
“Kevin brings decades of Interior Department and private sector experience and is a proven leader,” Raby said. “He has spent many years in Alaska working with policy makers, industry leaders, and communities across the state. His expertise will ensure we continue to unleash the resource potential in Alaska.”
As Alaska state director, Pendergast will guide key initiatives such as advancing exploration and development in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska and the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He will also lead the BLM’s efforts to revoke certain public land withdrawals, a move that supports major infrastructure projects like the proposed Ambler Road and the Alaska Liquefied Natural Gas Pipeline.
Pendergast has served as BLM Alaska’s deputy state director for resources since 2019, where he led a critical mining program and directed oil and gas leasing efforts, as well as recreational and other land-use programs. In Fiscal Year 2023, public lands managed by BLM Alaska contributed more than $1.7 billion to the economy and supported over 4,000 jobs.
In addition to his work with BLM, Pendergast has held leadership roles at the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, the Interior Department’s Office of Budget, and Grand Teton National Park. His early career was spent as a consultant and project manager throughout Alaska, giving him extensive familiarity with the state’s geography and communities.
Pendergast holds dual bachelor’s degrees in geology from Oregon State University and in civil engineering from the University of Alaska Anchorage. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Alaska and a certified Professional Geologist with the American Institute of Professional Geologists.
He resides in Anchorage with his wife and family.
The BLM manages 245 million acres of public land across the U.S., primarily in 12 western states, and administers 700 million acres of subsurface mineral estate. Its mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for current and future generations.
Author and energy advocate Alex Epstein delivered a provocative keynote at the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference, challenging dominant environmental narratives and making the case for energy freedom, a framework rooted in human flourishing, autonomy, and the unapologetic development of natural resources.
Epstein, best known for his book The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels, argued that Alaska’s history has unfolded in parallel with the rise of the modern environmental movement, a movement he described as fundamentally opposed to human impact on nature. He contended that this ideology views human impact as intrinsically immoral and inevitably self-destructive, an assumption he urged Alaskans to reject. In essence, he said, they are fundamentally opposed to human existence.
According to Epstein, the net-zero movement is the most powerful expression of this anti-impact worldview, demanding “limitless sacrifice” to avoid affecting the climate, often at the cost of human prosperity and innovation. He grouped fossil fuels and nuclear energy, two industries he described as “high-impact, complex, and revolutionary,” as early targets of this ideology.
We must confidently reject anti-humanism, Epstein said, underscoring his call for Alaskans and all Americans to embrace responsible development as a moral imperative. Americans must demand the right to develop and prosper, he said, asserting that energy has been the engine of American progress.
Epstein challenged the conventional meaning of the word impact, encouraging a redefinition rooted in purpose and progress. Does a bird think about impact when it builds a nest? Does a beaver calculate the environmental cost of its dam? He argued that humans, too, are a part of nature and should stop behaving like a self-hating species.
One third of the world — 3 billion people — still use wood and animal dung to cook their food and heat their shelters, he said. There is a direct correlation between reliable, affordable energy and human quality of life. As for air quality, Epstein said if the Clean Air Act existed while early humans were discovering fire, they would not have been allowed to use it.
Rather than minimizing impact, Epstein advocated for environmental improvement, enhancing nature in ways that expand human opportunity. He emphasized that fossil fuels remain uniquely cost-effective and essential to human flourishing, offering what he called “incredible climate mastery” and reliability.
Epstein also issued a policy challenge: to fight for energy freedom, permitting reform, and local control. He highlighted the opportunity provided by what he called an “incredibly supportive” federal administration and recent Supreme Court decisions that open the door for greater state autonomy in energy policy. He called on Alaska to seize that moment, push for bipartisan permitting reform, and insist that the federal government defer to the state on permitting decisions.
Epstein’s remarks were a direct appeal to Alaskan lawmakers, industry leaders, and citizens to resist external pressure from those who, he said, benefit from past development but now seek to restrict others from doing the same.
Alaska has the resources, the ingenuity, and now, the momentum, he told the audience in Anchorage. It’s time to embrace energy freedom, not just for Alaska, but as a model for the nation.
Check links below for our complete coverage of the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference:
When we talk about Alaska’s energy potential – we are talking about more than molecules in the ground or development projects. We’re talking about a true cornerstone of American prosperity and a valuable tool for national security.
I recently joined a bipartisan Congressional delegation to Asia, where I met with key leaders in business and government in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Our message was simple but powerful: Alaska is ready to provide the resources the world needs.
This week, Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin are in our state championing Alaska’s energy potential because the timing has never been more critical to develop our resources.
Right now, as many as 50 companies from across the globe – including allies in Asia, Europe, and India, have expressed interest in liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Alaska. This is not mere speculation. It’s serious demand backed by serious capital that is aligned to unlock and export clean, reliable energy.
The Alaska LNG project, backed by Glenfarne Group and now prioritized as a national energy and trade asset, represents a turning point. With a planned 800-mile pipeline from the North Slope to Cook Inlet, this project will not only provide domestic gas to Alaskans, but also 20 million tons of LNG annually to our allies abroad. For places like Taiwan and Japan, the project is a no-brainer. Alaska LNG means shorter shipping routes, bypassing the Panama Canal, and energy from a trusted partner.
It’s no coincidence that this momentum is building under the renewed leadership of the Trump Administration, which wasted no time in deleting harmful Biden-era obstructions that had locked up Alaska’s potential.
Under President Biden, critical projects like Alaska LNG were subjected to political uncertainty, bureaucratic paralysis, and unjustified permitting delays. That’s no way to treat a state with the largest untapped reserves of oil and gas in the country – and it’s certainly no way to ensure long-term American energy security.
Thankfully, the tide is turning. On Day One, President Trump signed executive orders to roll back restrictions on energy exports, streamline permitting, and return Alaska to its rightful place as a cornerstone of national energy strategy.
For the first time in years, Alaska has a seat at the table. We are no longer locked up by burdensome regulations or unlawful restrictions.
Energy development in Alaska is no longer a domestic issue. It’s a powerful negotiating tool and one that we must wield wisely. By exporting LNG to our allies, we reduce their dependence on authoritarian regimes. By investing in projects like Alaska LNG, we create good-paying jobs at home and balance our trade relationships abroad. By reminding the world that Alaska is ready to lead, we send a clear message: American energy is back and it starts in the Last Frontier.
But this opportunity is not self-executing; we must deliver on competitive pricing; we must build the infrastructure; and we must continue to fight back against the radical, shortsighted efforts that would rather keep our resources in the ground than empower working Americans to benefit from them.
For Alaska, this is a defining moment. We are the gateway to American prosperity, both economically and strategically. From LNG exports to critical mineral production including gallium, germanium, antimony, and graphite, all of which are needed to power our tech and defense sectors – Alaska is positioned to meet the demands of the 21st century.
Brendan Duval, founder and CEO of Glenfarne Group, took the main stage at the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference on Thursday, delivering a dynamic presentation that blended personal history with ambitious projections for Alaska’s natural gas future.
Duval, who now leads the company working with the state to develop the Alaska LNG project, began by introducing himself to the crowd of about 1,000 attendees at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage, saying they may as well get to know him because he will be working with a lot of them. He shared that he holds dual citizenship in the United States and Australia, and that he worked his way through college as a welder before eventually launching Glenfarne, a global energy infrastructure firm.
“I understand what it takes to build something from the ground up,” Duval said, emphasizing the importance of workforce development in Alaska.
“We are going to overwhelm the local workforce, so you guys better get ready,” he warned, signaling the scale and urgency of the project’s labor demands.
The presentation turned into a high-energy exchange as Duval was joined on stage by Gov. Mike Dunleavy for a public discussion on the project’s viability and potential economic impact.
“Alaska is facing an energy emergency in the Southcentral region and along the Railbelt, one that could undermine the operational integrity of our military bases,” said Gov. Mike Dunleavy to Must Read Alaska after the two left the stage. “This makes it critical to swiftly address the crisis by bringing natural gas from the North Slope through the 42-inch pipeline, with a target date of 2028. The project is economically sound, enjoys support from both Washington and Alaska, has all necessary permits in place, and is backed by known gas reserves and commitments from Asian allies. At this point, all we’re waiting on is an expedited FEED (front-end engineering and design) and a final investment decision to move forward.”
Key takeaways from Duval’s remarks included:
Workforce surge expected: Duval’s comment about overwhelming the workforce underscored the need to rapidly scale up local training and hiring. The in-state component of the project alone is expected to require thousands of skilled laborers and support personnel.
In-state phase is economically sound: Duval referenced a recent analysis by energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie, saying the report confirms that even the in-state portion of the Alaska LNG pipeline is economically viable. That phase would deliver natural gas to Alaskans along the route before reaching international markets.
Global price advantage: According to Duval, Alaska is well-positioned to outcompete Henry Hub prices — the U.S. benchmark for natural gas — in Asian markets by as much as 150% in some pricing scenarios. The projection reflects both shorter shipping routes and high Asian demand for U.S. LNG.
This kind of effort is not new to Duval and his company. But he noted that he has never had an opportunity where so much groundwork had already been laid — including permits, rights-of-way, and engineering studies. In contrast to starting from scratch, much of the heavy lifting has already been completed for this project. He also emphasized the phased structure of the project, which allows tranches of funding to be leveraged upon the successful completion of each phase.
“Never has this project had more tailwind, more support, more advantage, and more need — both in-state and globally — for Alaska’s energy,” said Brett Huber of Power the Future, which represents the interests of energy workers. “Power the Future is bullish on the success of AKLNG.”
Duval’s appearance was a highly anticipated moment at the conference. Earlier in the week, his company announced it had received over $115 billion in investment interest in the project.
