Economy & Business
RSSAlaska News covers state economic issues including cannabis banking, state dividends, and business development opportunities.
Alaska LNG Consultant Flags Potential 50% Return for Developers vs. $1B State Revenue
Legislative consultant Nick Fulford presented hastily-prepared analysis showing Alaska LNG midstream developers could earn roughly 50% annual returns by 2040-2050 while the state receives approximately $1 billion in combined taxes, raising questions about the proposed tax structure's fairness.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min readAI
House panel advances travel insurance consumer protection bill
The Alaska House Transportation Committee moved HB 302 forward Tuesday, legislation that would modernize the state's travel insurance regulations to align with national standards adopted by 42 other states.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAI
Alaska LNG Tax Bill Walks Tightrope Between Project Viability and Local Needs
House Resources Committee's revised tax structure for Alaska LNG reflects tension between competitive global positioning and community impact compensation that defines natural gas megaproject debates worldwide.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAI
Alaska House panel hears retirement savings bill for small business workers
The House Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony on HB 338, which would create an automatic IRA program for employees at Alaska businesses without retirement plans.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAI
Alaska LNG tax bill could swing state revenue by hundreds of millions
Department of Revenue warns that regulatory interpretations of Senate Bill 280's complex tax provisions could shift Alaska's annual revenue by hundreds of millions of dollars, with the bill creating new taxes while exempting the Alaska LNG project from property taxes.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAI
Homer Council to Vote on HART Sales Tax Renewal for November Ballot
Homer City Council votes tonight on placing a 20-year renewal of the 0.75 percent HART sales tax before voters in November to fund road and trail maintenance.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAIAlaska lawmakers hear warnings of rural fuel crisis, weigh loan program expansion
The House Energy Committee heard testimony about fuel supply challenges facing rural Alaska communities and discussed potential expansions to the state's Bulk Fuel Revolving Loan Fund.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min readAI
Alaska Energy Survey Shows Strong Support for Renewables, Mixed Views on Nuclear
Researchers presented survey results showing Alaskans favor expanding hydroelectric, solar and wind power while opinions on nuclear energy remain divided, with support for a natural gas pipeline dropping when tied to higher costs.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAI
Senate panel hears workforce plan for Alaska LNG pipeline
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee received a presentation on workforce needs for the Alaska LNG pipeline project, with consultants warning the state must act immediately to prepare workers for construction that could begin as soon as 2027.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min readAI
Municipal League urges local control in Alaska LNG tax negotiations
Alaska Municipal League Executive Director Nils Andreassen testified that local governments want the ability to negotiate individually with the Alaska LNG project developer rather than accept a one-size-fits-all tax structure.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min readAI
Senate Resources hears LNG tax framework comparison, transparency concerns
The Senate Resources Committee heard a presentation on fiscal frameworks for LNG projects and how Alaska's constitutional obligations create unique challenges compared to other jurisdictions, while public testimony supported transparency legislation.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago8 min readAI
Senate panel examines price controls, federal authority on gas pipeline
The Senate Resources Committee discussed legal concerns about proposed natural gas price caps and whether federal regulatory authority over interstate commerce conflicts with state legislative oversight of the Alaska LNG pipeline project.
by Matt4mo ago4 min readAI
Senate panel examines LNG project economics, megaproject risks
Consultants presented economic modeling of the proposed alternative volumetric tax for the Alaska LNG project and warned of cost and schedule risks common to large infrastructure developments.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago6 min readAI
Senate panel hears data center safeguards, tribal education bill
The Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee heard testimony Thursday on Senate Bill 250, which would require data centers to cover their own infrastructure costs and protect existing ratepayers from fuel supply risks and rate increases.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min readAI
House Resources Committee debates LNG equity stakes, rejects wildlife refuge amendments
The House Resources Committee heard testimony on state equity participation in the Alaska LNG project and voted down nine amendments to a wildlife refuge consolidation bill, with most votes splitting 5-4 along party lines.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago7 min readAI
Senate Finance hears corporate tax shift targeting online sales to Alaskans
The Senate Finance Committee heard testimony on House Bill 280, which would shift Alaska's corporate income tax to market-based sourcing, a change expected to generate $15 million annually by taxing out-of-state companies based on where Alaska customers receive services.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAIHouse Finance hears divided testimony on pharmacist prescribing bill
The House Finance Committee heard more than three hours of public testimony on HB 195, which would expand pharmacists' prescriptive authority, with supporters citing improved healthcare access and opponents raising abortion medication concerns.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min readAI
House committee hears bill to eliminate tax discounts
The House Labor and Commerce Committee heard Senate Bill 164, which would eliminate several tax discounts and deductions to raise nearly $500,000 annually for the state.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAI
Senate panel examines regulatory questions on gas pipeline tax plan
The Senate Resources Committee discussed federal versus state jurisdiction over a proposed natural gas pipeline and debated an alternative tax structure that would replace property taxes with a volumetric fee.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAI
Alaska DOT seeks snow removal equipment for statewide airports
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAIHouse Finance hears divided testimony on pharmacist prescribing bill
The House Finance Committee heard more than three hours of public testimony on HB 195, which would expand pharmacists' prescriptive authority, with supporters citing improved healthcare access and opponents raising abortion medication concerns.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago5 min readAI
State regulators extend review periods for Railbelt utility tariffs
Alaska regulators extended review periods for Railbelt utility tariff filings and set procedural schedules for rate cases involving Chugach Electric and Enstar Natural Gas.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readAIRural Alaska Electricity Costs Run Three to Five Times Urban Rates
Rural Alaska residents pay electricity costs three to five times higher than urban areas due to diesel-powered microgrids and fuel delivery challenges in remote villages.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readAI
Remote Alaska villages pay $6.63 per gallon as fuel costs strain budgets
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min readAIBristol Bay tribes fight to defend EPA veto of Pebble Mine in court
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readAIHouse Panel Considers Bills to Ease Alaska's Liquor Liability Insurance Crisis
The House Labor & Commerce Committee heard testimony on legislation aimed at addressing Alaska's severe shortage of affordable liquor liability insurance for restaurants and bars.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readAIMayors Oppose Alaska LNG Tax Bill, Cite Revenue Concerns
Five borough mayors testified against Senate Bill 280's proposed tax structure for the Alaska LNG project, citing significant revenue losses and inadequate impact compensation.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readAISenate Panel Questions DNR Commissioner Nominee on Gas Development
The Senate Resources Committee conducted a confirmation hearing for John Crowther, the governor's nominee for Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readAI
