By PAUL FUHS
There have been several editorials lately that call out the Governor’s Sustainable Energy conference as having “left out” information and supported only the state’s fossil fuel assets.
As the sponsor of a geothermal hydrogen project in the Aleutians, this outlook couldn’t be further from the truth. Did the writers of these criticisms actually attend the conference?
I found it to be really balanced with most of the panels focused on technological breakthroughs in alternative energy. I found the section on geothermal energy particularly useful, and of course we have many potential geothermal projects that are under development.
Perhaps what the writers found distasteful was the press coverage on the three energy related secretaries who travelled to Alaska at the invitation of Gov. Mike Dunleavy, an unprecedented accomplishment.
While support was shown for all the alternative energies, we have to accept the fact that our economy is strongly supported by the oil and gas industry and is the source of our incredible Alaska Permanent Fund, which just reached a record $83 billion in value. In addition to earnings from investments, the oil industry still contributes over $100 million to the fund every year.
This oil industry funded fund now provides a majority of state funding for critical state services, while allowing Alaskans to benefit from them without having to pay taxes. In addition, the oil industry represents about one third of the jobs in Alaska.
Incredibly, one of the writers stated that “the people of Alaska drive the economy, not some outside corporations.” Excuse me for saying this, but without these ‘outside’ companies, the ‘people’ wouldn’t even have a job.
Likewise, there were protesters near the conference. I saw one banner, held up by well-meaning people saying “Extraction is not our way of life.” I guess this was intended to drive a wedge between industrial development and subsistence hunting. Did they ever stop to think if the moose, caribou or salmon that they killed consider themselves to be extracted?
Of course, the human race has “extracted” resources throughout time on earth, or we wouldn’t even be here.
Criticizing the Sustainable Energy conference with such arguments is just pure foolishness. Alaskans and the whole world will need the energy resources that Alaska represents, and we shouldn’t be discriminating against any of them. The conference certainly didn’t.
Paul Fuhs is former Commissioner of Commerce and Economic Development for Alaska, Former Mayor of Dutch Harbor and is currently promoting geothermal and related hydrogen industries in the Aleutian Islands.
The “writers” who criticized the conference can’t see beyond their festering TDS. If Trump is for something, they’re against it.
Paul, could you elaborate on your statement that the oil industry provides one third of the jobs in Alaska? There are roughly 330,000 jobs in Alaska. The oil industry would have to employ 110,000 people for your statement to have merit. Direct oil and gas employment in Alaska is about 4,100 jobs.
N, You would need to count all jobs that depend, to varying degrees, upon the wealth created by the oil industry… “for your statement to have merit.” 85% of state budget is supported by oil revenue (‘https://alaska.gov › kids › learn › economy.htm). The rest of our economy logically mirrors that. Just sayin….