There has been a lot of discussion in the press and among Alaskans regarding the Legislature’s sending a delegation to participate in the upcoming Energy Council.  The question of the importance of sending a number of Legislator’s has also been an issue.

No other state relies on oil production for nearly 90 percent of its general fund revenue the way Alaska does.  We have the federal government and other agencies that are in our business every day, continuing to slow down or shut down resource development across this state.  And yes, we do need a big presence in D.C. We need to make sure they hear our voice when we say we want to control our own destiny.

It’s particularly important that we establish relationships with national entities that have the ability to stymie or encourage Alaska resource development.  Forums such as the Energy Council allow that dialogue to take place face to face. 

This is one forum that we can get support from other resource development states in fighting the ever growing environmental community in Washington, D.C.   These groups like to use Alaska as a major source of their fundraising efforts to promote like minded candidates for public office and to fund their public relations efforts.  I for one, do not want to see Alaska turn into the environmental lobby’s personal playground and it is important that Alaskan’ viewpoints are represented in groups like the Energy Council and represented to the new administration in Washington, D.C.