Economy & Business
RSSEconomy & Business in Alaska is the mix of government decisions, contracts, grants and private projects that shape the state's economy. It covers municipal budgets, infrastructure and airport planning, federal grants and contracts, employment trends, and energy development across Alaska.
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Week of Apr 20
Senate panel hears autonomous vehicle bill requiring human operators
Senate panel heard testimony Tuesday on a bill requiring human operators in commercial autonomous vehicles on Alaska roads, citing snow and ice as untested variables for self-driving systems.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
State regulators extend review periods for Railbelt utility tariffs
Alaska regulators extended review timelines for rate changes from Chugach Electric and Enstar Natural Gas serving Southcentral Alaska.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min readAlaska Airlines Pilots Raise Concerns Over Hawaiian Merger Integration
Alaska Airlines pilots worry the Hawaiian merger will delay their access to widebody aircraft, as seniority list integration begins following Hawaiian's flight code retirement on April 22.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min readEarly construction work causes two-hour delays on Palmer commute
Construction crews on Palmer-area highways starting at 6 a.m. on April 23 caused two-hour commute delays, with no end date announced yet.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min readValdez Planning and Zoning Commission Meets Tonight
Valdez Planning and Zoning Commission meets tonight at 7 PM in City Hall to review permits, variances, and subdivisions as part of an ongoing zoning code update.
by Alaska News6mo ago1 min readAlaska mines release toxic metals into rivers, state data shows
Alaska's mines released over 450,000 pounds of mercury in 2018, the most in the nation, contaminating rivers that villages depend on for drinking water and subsistence fishing.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min readRural Alaska Electricity Costs Run Three to Five Times Urban Rates
Rural Alaskans pay three to five times more for electricity than urban residents because remote villages rely on expensive diesel microgrids, despite state renewable energy plans.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
Week of Apr 13
Remote Alaska villages pay $6.63 per gallon as fuel costs strain budgets
Remote Alaska villages paid an average of $6.63 per gallon for gasoline this winter, straining household budgets as barge transport and small order volumes drive costs far above road-connected areas.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min readMore from Economy & Business
Bristol Bay tribes fight to defend EPA veto of Pebble Mine in court
Bristol Bay tribes asked a federal court to defend the EPA's veto of the Pebble Mine, which would threaten the world's largest sockeye salmon fishery worth $2 billion annually.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min readAlaska considers ban on driverless commercial trucks amid safety debate
Alaska House committee heard testimony on HB 217, which would ban driverless commercial trucks and make Alaska the only state requiring human operators in all autonomous vehicles.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago3 min readAlaska Senate Shelves Homemade Food Safety Bill After Complex Debate
Alaska Senate shelved a bill banning homemade foods in vacuum-sealed jars after lawmakers found the botulism-safety rules too complex to define clearly.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago3 min readWeek of Apr 6
Fairbanks Seeks $3.5M in State Funding to Host 2028 Arctic Winter Games
Fairbanks is seeking $3.5 million in state funding to host the 2028 Arctic Winter Games, expecting 2,000 athletes and thousands of family members to boost local tourism.
by Alaska News7mo ago2 min readHouse Panel Hears Bill to Waive ID Fees for Homeless Young Adults
House panel heard a bill to waive state ID and birth certificate fees for homeless people aged 18-25, removing a barrier to employment and housing.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago2 min readWeek of Mar 30
House Panel Considers Bills to Ease Alaska's Liquor Liability Insurance Crisis
Alaska lawmakers are considering bills to address a liquor liability insurance crisis that has tripled premiums and forced five carriers out of the market.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago2 min readMayors Oppose Alaska LNG Tax Bill, Cite Revenue Concerns
Five Alaska borough mayors told lawmakers the proposed Alaska LNG tax bill would slash municipal revenues by up to 90 percent, prompting the Senate to delay it for further review.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago2 min readSenate Panel Questions DNR Commissioner Nominee on Gas Development
Senate committee pressed DNR nominee John Crowther on Cook Inlet gas supply and oil royalty disputes as he seeks confirmation to lead Alaska's resource department.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago2 min readAbout Economy & Business
Economy and business in Alaska is the mix of government decisions, contracts, grants and private projects that shape the state's economy. It is the broad subject that holds narrower topics such as business, energy, oil and gas, mining, aviation and tourism.
Much of it runs through public bodies, with municipal assemblies approving contracts and planning decisions, state agencies leasing land and selling gravel and rock, and AIDEA lending to industry. Recurring questions concern infrastructure such as harbors, airports, roads and water and sewer lines, along with housing and zoning rules, energy supply, labor contracts, federal grants and military construction.
Its decisions reach every part of the state, from Anchorage and the Mat-Su to Kodiak, Cordova, Haines and the North Slope. Federal and military spending, resource development and Alaska Native corporation ventures all feed into the economy.
