cluding renewable hydro, wind and solar. Rep. McKay added that while Alaska has large resources of critical minerals that could reduce the nation’s dependence on China, high energy costs pose a significant impediment. Members of the audience noted that Sen. Merrick’s Senate Bill 118, now in the Legislature, would require the Department of Natural Resources to submit a report to the Legislature with a three-year, five-year, and 10year plan to develop critical and strategic minerals. McKay also spoke to the need to pass a bill to begin carbon dioxide underground injection storage (the governor introduced this bill last year) “Alaska has the perfect locations for this on the Kenai Peninsula and the North Slope. If we’re ever going to get a gas pipeline, we need a place to store carbon dioxide extracted from North Slope gas, and this would be on the North Slope,” McKay said. The governor’s bill would establish the legal framework for special “Class 6” injection wells that are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, which regulates oil and gas wells, has already started work on an application to the EPA for this, but the full legislative authorization is needed. Sen. Jesse Bjorkman expects the Legislature to continue work on workforce development. The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee, which he chairs, held 13 hearings on workforce last session and identified key problems including: the need for childcare; more effective procedures for drug-testing; low pay and benefits in many occupations; and the cost of health care. Sen. Bishop said Alaska need to push alternative clean fuels like hydrogen to be competitive in the coming energy transition. Anchorage now has the third-busiest air cargo airport in the world and supplying airlines with clean fuels will help Alaska maintain its competitive edge. Carbon-free “green” hydrogen can be made by splitting water through electrolysis, but the process requires energy, another argument for developing lower-cost energy, Bishop said. — Tim Bradner www.AlaskaAlliance.com 23 BJORKMAN BISHOP KAUFMAN MERRICK MCKAY
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