What a Trump win could mean for Dunleavy, data farms and oil development in Alaska
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - In a recent video message, President-elect Donald Trump vowed to fight “like never before” to develop the Alaska’s natural resources.
“Thank you to your great governor,” Trump said in the video posted Friday to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s Facebook page. “We’re going to work together just like we have in the past. It was a very special relationship, Mike, thank you very much. I look forward to a long and enduring future relationship.”
As the nation prepares for a new president, many Alaska leaders seem excited about possible projects that could be explored under the Trump administration, which is expected to spur regulation changes that let companies drill more on federal land.
There is also speculation that Gov. Mike Dunleavy could transition to working in Trump’s Cabinet.
Last week, Dunleavy said he and Trump have not discussed possible job opportunities.
When asked if he thinks he will join the administration, Dunleavy said “there’s always that possibility.”
“Would I like to have a discussion with the president about jobs? I’m more than happy to have a discussion about anything as long as it can move Alaska forward,” Dunleavy said.
Trump said he’d ensure Alaska received more money from defense investments. In addition, he said there would be more mining.
Trump also mentioned the proposed 800-mile gas pipeline that some state leaders have dreamed about for years.
“During my second term, we will continue the fight for Alaska like never before. We will ensure the gas line project gets built to provide affordable energy to Alaska and allies all over the world,” Trump said.
When asked for comment regarding Trump’s statement, Dunleavy’s communications office referred Alaska’s News Source to comments made by the governor last week.
“When he was president, he did a lot of things for Alaska, everything from ANWR [Arctic National Wildlife Refuge] to opening the Tongass National Forest,” Dunleavy said last week during an interview. “I mean, he is a real proponent of Alaska and I’m excited about what we can do with President Trump in the office.”
Alaska is not a monolithic state and excitement about a second Trump term isn’t universal.
The Gwich’in Steering Committee wrote in a statement on Facebook that it wasn’t deterred by the election.
“We fully support the Gwich’in Nation and their steadfast commitment to protecting our sacred ancestral domain and the Porcupine Caribou herd. Our people have resided in the Arctic Lands for generations, and we will continue thriving, mindful of our responsibility to honor our ancestors’ legacy and for the future of our Children’s Traditions rights!”
During his interview, Dunleavy also talked about “data farms” in Alaska and has invited tech businesses, including Amazon, to the state.
“I think it’s a good thing for Alaska, a good thing for this country,” Dunleavy said. “We’ve talked about energy transition, needing more energy because of electrification of everything from cars to data farms and we’re going to need all of the energy resources that we can get.”
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