Governor Dunleavy touts gas pipeline, credits Trump for reversing federal limits

Governor Mike Dunleavy used closing remarks at a sustainable energy conference Thursday to promote the state's natural gas pipeline project and credit the Trump administration with reversing federal restrictions.

Dunleavy said he has complete confidence the Alaska State Legislature will soon approve the pipeline project. He said the gas line has more momentum now than it ever has, citing support from the President, federal officials, military bases, and utilities as Cook Inlet gas supplies diminish.

"We had the Biden administration that had 70 to 80 sanctions against Alaska, basically shut us down, almost shut the entire state down," Dunleavy said. He credited the Trump administration with changing that dramatically, though he cautioned the shift remains fragile.

The governor called for two federal legislative actions. He said Congress must streamline permitting processes and ensure they are not subject to what he called the whims of regulatory individuals. He also called for reform of what he termed lawfare, court actions used to block projects.

"We need congressional acts that will ensure that permitting is streamlined and that permitting itself is not subject to the whims of regulatory individuals within the organizations," Dunleavy said. "And then we need to reform lawfare. Cannot be using court action just because you do not like a project."

Without congressional action to codify current administration policies, he warned, the business climate could shift again with future elections.

Dunleavy noted Alaska was set up to develop its resources when it became a state in 1959. He said battles with federal policy began after Earth Day in 1970 and the founding of Greenpeace in 1971.

He cited the state's timber industry as an example, noting Alaska has two of the largest national forests in the United States and one-seventh of the country's timber, yet has a smaller timber industry than Rhode Island.

Dunleavy urged attendees to stay engaged in policy decisions and not be passive observers.

"Elections matter. Policy matters, whether it is at the utility level, whether it is at your city council, whether it is your school board," he said. "Policy is being made all the time."