A small group of protesters gathered Tuesday outside the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage during the opening day of the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference, holding a large banner that read: “Alaska Is Not for Sale.” A smaller banner said, “Defend the Sacred.”
The 30-some-odd demonstrators were notably absent from previous years, when Gov. Mike Dunleavy hosted the first three iterations of the conference during the Biden Administration. At that time, Alaska’s development potential was hamstrung by Biden policy and misinterpreted federal regulations, and economic momentum remained stagnant except for government growth. Perhaps the protesters didn’t think anything was going to happen to improve Alaska’s future, so they skipped the conferences.
But this year, with a new administration led by President Donald Trump in Washington and what many in Alaska describe as a renewed opportunity to chart their own energy future, the tone inside the conference hall was far different than outside it.
More than 1,000 attendees, including state and federal officials, private sector leaders, tribal representatives, and international investors, convened to discuss how Alaska can responsibly develop its vast natural resources, including oil, natural gas, critical minerals, and renewable energy. The protesters want none of it, and appeared especially irked that the natural gas pipeline might become a reality.
Attending the conference are many members of the Trump Administration, including Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, along with their staff. Also prominent has been Sen. Dan Sullivan.
While the protesters shouted about the commercialization of Alaska’s natural assets, conference speakers inside focused on building a sustainable and diversified energy economy that benefits Alaskans and strengthens national security.
Gov. Dunleavy, who has been a consistent advocate for unlocking the state’s resource potential, has described the conference as a platform to attract investment and highlight Alaska’s role in powering the nation.
“Nobody is talking about selling off Alaska,” said one conference attendee. “We’re talking about standing it up, on its own feet, for its own future.”
Despite their small numbers, the protestors drew attention from local media, whose reporters and camera operators nearly outnumbered them.
The conference runs through Thursday and includes panel discussions on LNG, critical minerals, energy infrastructure, permitting reform, and tribal energy partnerships.
Read our conference coverage at the links below:
