Peltola's energy platform draws fire from both sides in the race

Mary Peltola rolled out an energy platform Tuesday in her U.S. Senate race against Republican Dan Sullivan, a campaign pitch that drew fire from both her opponent and Alaska environmental groups.

The plan, "Making Energy Affordable for Alaskans," aims at rural energy costs that this summer hit $21 a gallon for fuel in Noatak. Broadly, it backs the Alaska LNG export pipeline and more in-state oil refining while also pledging to restore federal renewable-energy tax credits and steer more federal money to rural grids and heating programs. "As an independent voice for Alaskans, I will always stand up to anyone to invest in Alaska energy production," Peltola said.

How much of it she could actually deliver is another question. As Alaska News has reported, the LNG pipeline depends on the state Legislature passing tax stabilization and on approval from the Regulatory Commission of Alaska, not a senator's endorsement — and the tax credits and funding she lists would take acts of Congress and appropriations.

Sullivan's campaign called her record anti-energy, pointing to her "present" vote on the Alaska Right to Produce Act, a bill she herself introduced, and her support for the methane fee in the Inflation Reduction Act. Peltola, who backed the Willow oil project during her single House term, casts herself as friendlier to production than that portrait suggests. From the other direction, groups including Trustees for Alaska and the Native Village of Nuiqsut argue that more Alaska drilling and pipelines deserve tougher scrutiny for their toll on wildlife and subsistence.

The race is a dead heat. Peltola, Alaska's lone House member from 2022 to 2025, lost her seat in 2024 by 6,722 votes, and the major race-raters now call the Senate contest a toss-up. Alaska's nonpartisan primary narrows a 16-candidate field to four on Aug. 18, ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.