AIDEA attacks environmental group before report release

The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority issued a press release on April 9, 2024, attacking an environmental group's credibility before the group published any new report. AIDEA stated it had received notice that SalmonState would launch another campaign against the authority and preemptively rejected the group's anticipated reports as inaccurate and biased.

The press release provided no details about which AIDEA project or action SalmonState plans to scrutinize. The authority described SalmonState as an environmental group paid to oppose resource development by the New Venture Fund, which receives donations from left-wing billionaires.

Randy Ruaro, Executive Director of AIDEA, said the authority will fight against what he called the dark money machine of the New Venture Fund and its biased partisan donors. He said AIDEA remains focused on its mission to support jobs and economic development for Alaskans while SalmonState continues to spread misinformation.

The statement was issued one day after AIDEA announced it had received designation as a State Energy Financing Institution from the U.S. Department of Energy on April 8, 2024.