Economy & Business
RSSAlaska News covers state economic issues including cannabis banking, state dividends, and business development opportunities.
Gas tax hike could net Alaska $590M over pipeline life, analysis shows
Department of Revenue analysis shows increasing the North Slope gas production tax from 13% to 17% would generate $590 million over 30 years without affecting in-state gas prices due to existing tax ceiling protections.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Anchorage treatment facility debate exposes gaps in public process
The Housing and Homelessness Action Commission meeting became a forum for community concerns about a proposed True North Recovery treatment facility in Fairview, highlighting tensions between municipal funding requirements and neighborhood engagement.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Unalaska council to hear appeal in TSYS business dispute May 12
Unalaska City Council will hold a public hearing May 12, 2026, on a TSYS business appeal that could affect payment processing and merchant services in the Aleutian port community.
by Alaska News4mo ago1 min readAlaska Gear Company wins 2024 Manufacturer of Year; 2025 nominations open
The Made in Alaska Program has opened nominations for its 2025 Manufacturer of the Year award through May 29, following Alaska Gear Company's 2024 win.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAlaska lawmakers debate farm tax break for horses, flowers
A House committee narrowed a bill to restore farm property tax deferments, excluding horses and flowers despite testimony that the 2024 change cost operations thousands and threatens Alaska's agricultural ecosystem.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Planning commission postpones wetlands plan update over staffing gaps
The Anchorage Planning and Zoning Commission voted Monday to postpone Phase 1 updates to the city's wetlands management plan indefinitely after staff acknowledged no qualified wetlands expert is currently designated to oversee the program.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Senate panel debates gas pipeline tax structure in 26th hearing
The Senate Resources Committee held its 26th hearing on SB 280, examining the proposed volumetric tax system for the Alaska LNG project and discussing technical questions about where gas production would be taxed.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Alaska House panel debates insurance gaps for gig delivery drivers
The House Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony Friday on Senate Bill 35, which would require delivery network companies to provide $1 million in liability coverage when drivers are actively delivering, but leaves a coverage gap when the app is open but no delivery is accepted.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Alaska House Rewrites LNG Tax Bill, Raising Rate While Empowering Boroughs
The House Resources Committee approved a restructured tax approach for the Alaska LNG project that raises the pipeline tax to 15 cents per thousand cubic feet while allowing North Slope and Kenai boroughs to negotiate property taxes on facilities.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min read
Alaska LNG Tax Bill Stalls as Lawmakers Demand Project Cost Data
Senate Resources Committee consultant warns legislators lack critical data on Alaska LNG project capital costs and gas pricing needed to fulfill constitutional obligation to maximize resource value, with only 12 days left in session.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min read
Palmer meeting set for Glenn Highway safety project feedback
Alaska DOT&PF will hold a public meeting June 3 in Palmer to gather feedback on planned safety and capacity improvements to the Glenn Highway between Arctic Avenue and Palmer-Fishhook Road.
by Alaska News4mo ago1 min readKenai health office closed May 7 due to plumbing problems
The Alaska Department of Health office in Kenai will close May 7 due to plumbing issues, with remote workers continuing duties and essential staff reporting as usual.
by Alaska News4mo ago1 min readInterior transfers 1.4 million acres in Dalton corridor to Alaska
The Department of the Interior says the conveyance moves Alaska past 96% of its statehood land entitlement. State officials are taking public comment through June 26 on access across the corridor.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min readHouse Panel Advances $40M Community Impact Fund for Gas Pipeline
The House Resources Committee voted 7-2 to increase community impact funding for Alaska LNG pipeline municipalities to $40 million, up from the project developer's proposed $30 million, despite concerns about project economics.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
ConocoPhillips Cuts 12.5% of North Slope Workforce as Oil Prices Fall
ConocoPhillips cut 12.5 percent of its North Slope workforce following its merger with Marathon Oil, prompting 243 workers to petition for union representation amid falling oil prices.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readEngine Trouble Strands Columbia Ferry at Whittier Dock for Four Hours
The AMHS ferry Columbia experienced engine trouble that kept it docked at Whittier for over four hours on May 5, stranding passengers and vehicles bound for Prince William Sound communities.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readHouse panel holds wildfire evacuation bill over cost, scope concerns
The House Transportation Committee held HB 317, which would require DOT to prioritize maintenance of roads and airports in wildfire-prone areas for evacuation purposes, after concerns emerged about potentially $100+ million implementation costs and unclear scope affecting thousands of miles of roads and 237 airports.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Alaska bill would require human operators in autonomous freight trucks
The Alaska Senate Transportation Committee heard House Bill 217, which would mandate human safety operators in commercial autonomous vehicles while exempting personal vehicles under 10,000 pounds.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Senate panel proposes doubling Dalton Highway surcharge in gas line bill
Senate Resources Committee introduced a new version of the gas pipeline bill with a 30-cent Dalton Highway maintenance surcharge, double the governor's proposal, while senators question whether $1 billion in property tax breaks would save average Anchorage households only $55.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Senate panel debates $1B tax break for Alaska LNG amid cost secrecy
Alaska Senate Resources Committee heard testimony Tuesday on a proposed 55-cent per MCF volumetric tax for the Alaska LNG project, with Glenfarne calling it potentially prohibitive while lawmakers demanded cost transparency before committing to tax breaks that could cost communities $1 billion annually.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
House panel hears tax proposal for Alaska LNG project
The House Resources Committee received a Department of Revenue presentation on House Bill 381, which would replace property taxes on the Alaska LNG project with a 15-cent per thousand cubic feet volumetric tax on the pipeline, reducing the project's annual tax burden from nearly $750 million to roughly $200 million by 2033.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Dunleavy says Alaska gas pipeline depends on property tax overhaul
Governor Mike Dunleavy urged the legislature to pass a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes bill within three weeks, calling it essential to financing what he described as the largest project in Alaska history, an LNG pipeline from the North Slope.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min read
Senate panel doubles oil surcharge for Dalton Highway maintenance in gas pipeline bill
The Senate Resources Committee adopted a new version of the Alaska gas pipeline bill that doubles a proposed oil surcharge to 30 cents per barrel to fund Dalton Highway maintenance, though the revenue falls short of estimated needs.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAnchorage faces mobile home park crisis as South Park Estates closes
Municipality officials presented proposals for resident-owned communities and modular cottage developments to address the closure of South Park Estates mobile home park and the broader crisis of aging parks across Anchorage.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min read
Alaska LNG project could tap Defense Production Act for federal support
The Alaska Senate Resources Committee heard testimony on how the Defense Production Act, invoked by President Trump in April, could provide unprecedented federal support for the $47 billion Alaska LNG project through grants, loan guarantees, or offtake agreements.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min read
House panel ties Alaska gas line tax breaks to Fairbanks spur line
House Resources Committee advances substitute bill requiring Alaska LNG project to build spur line to Fairbanks North Star Borough as condition for receiving tax incentives, ensuring Interior residents pay same tariff as Southcentral customers.
by Alaska News5mo ago4 min read
Generations Southeast brings CDL simulator training to Juneau, Prince of Wales
Generations Southeast Community Learning Center has installed virtual driving simulators at its Juneau and Prince of Wales campuses to provide commercial driver's license training locally, eliminating the need for Southeast Alaska residents to leave the region for CDL certification.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
Housing agency buys 600+ acres statewide to spur development
Alaska Housing Finance Corporation closed on over 600 acres across Alaska in September 2025 using expiring federal funds, targeting single-family housing development to address the state's housing shortage.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
Anchorage to transfer Nordstrom building to development authority
The Anchorage Assembly introduced a proposal to transfer the vacant former Nordstrom building to ACDA for redevelopment as mixed-use housing and commercial space, with a public hearing scheduled for March 24.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Zoning Board Approves Variances Despite Municipal Errors on Canyon Road Property
The Anchorage Zoning Board of Examiners and Appeals granted variances for a Canyon Road property after the municipality discovered its 2013 nonconforming determination contained multiple errors, allowing both an existing home and proposed shop to encroach into rear setbacks.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
Airport firefighting trucks fail, leaving Juneau one flat tire from losing all flights
Juneau's airport dropped to Index B status when two of three firefighting trucks failed simultaneously, limiting service to only 737-700s Alaska Airlines is phasing out and prompting urgent funding requests for replacement equipment.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
Alaska DOT files five equipment bids for snow blowers, paint trucks, road maintenance gear
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readPlatting Board Denies Shawn Street Vacation Amid Gaming Hall Concerns
The Platting Board rejected a request to vacate Shawn Street right-of-way in Birchwood, citing concerns about future residential access despite neighbors' fears of commercial traffic from an adjacent gaming hall.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
Senate panel advances gas pipeline tax overhaul with $610M revenue target
The Senate Resources Committee adopted a comprehensive rewrite of gas pipeline taxation combining policy oversight and new tax structures that could generate $610 million annually from Alaska's natural gas resources.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
Alaska's Right-to-Repair Bill Navigates National Debate on Consumer Access
The House Community & Regional Affairs Committee advanced HB 162, a digital product repair bill, placing Alaska among states wrestling with how broadly to extend repair rights while protecting business models and intellectual property.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago5 min read
Alaska House panel advances ban on heavy fuel oil for cruise ships
The House Transportation Committee narrowly adopted a committee substitute restricting heavy petroleum fuel oil use to large commercial passenger vessels, passing 4-3 after debate over environmental protection versus economic impact.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago5 min read
Senate unveils gas pipeline bill with $600M property tax, consumer protections
The Senate Resources Committee introduced sweeping changes to the governor's gas pipeline proposal, including a $600 million property tax at full production, prohibitions on shifting cost overruns to consumers, and $1 million per mile impact payments to communities during construction.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Denali Borough mayor opposes state control of pipeline tax payments
Denali Borough's mayor testified against a provision in SB 280 that would route pipeline tax revenue through the state legislature, seeking direct payments and upfront impact fees instead.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Energy consultant: Alaska LNG tax bill could cut delivered cost by 20 cents
Energy consultant tells House Resources Committee that proposed alternative volumetric tax in HB 381 would reduce delivered cost to Asia by roughly 20 cents per MMBtu compared to current property tax, potentially making the $46+ billion project more competitive globally while still generating stable municipal revenue.
by Alaska News5mo ago4 min read
Oil industry opposes tax provisions in Alaska gas pipeline bill
Alaska Oil and Gas Association testified against multiple tax provisions in SB 280, warning that sections decoupling oil and gas lease expenditures and imposing new S-corp taxes could harm current operations and chill investment.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
