ENERGY COUNCIL COMMENT

Its common sense for Alaska to send a strong legislative delegation to the Energy Council in Washington DC, whatever times of the year the Council meets. Alaska is a top energy producing state. Alaska’s top sources of revenue used to be oil and Senator Ted Stevens – but now it’s only oil. Hopefully, natural gas flowing through a pipeline to the Lower 48 will someday be an additional major source of revenue to Alaska.

A strong and visible presence at the Energy Council - and face-to-face meetings with national leaders - is critical to Alaska’s future. It amazes me anyone would choose to mischaracterize the Energy Council, and our legislators being there, but politics itself is an amazing thing.

Not everyone in the legislature is in Washington DC is doing work at the Energy Council. I’m here in Juneau working on current legislation, preparing important new legislation I’ll be filing next week, and contacting constituents. I’ve been appointed as an Alternate Delegate to the Energy Council, and may attend next year. I support my colleagues at the Energy Council as they work hard toward getting our gas pipeline built, opening ANWR, and bringing other energy issues to national visibility.