President’s Message From Lorali Simon "Did you know that there have been several races in Alaska that were decided by a handful of votes — and even some that ended in ties that had to be broken by a coin toss? Think your vote doesn’t matter? It does! We need you." Ready or not, election season is here. The Alaska General Election is Nov. 5. Alaska will elect members to all 40 seats in the State House of Representatives, and 10 of the 20 seats in the Alaska State Senate. Additionally, Alaska’s sole member of the U.S. House of Representatives is up for election. Do we even dare discuss the presidential race? Above all, please register to vote and exercise your right and responsibility to vote! Registration is easy and complete instructions are available at the Alaska Department of Elections at www.elections.alaska.gov. If you’re traveling, vote absentee. And please take a minute to learn our elected officials as well as this year’s candidates — and what they stand for. Elections matter. Have you seen the bumper sticker that says, “If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention?” In a nutshell, the bumper sticker means — elections matter. Most everyone who reads the Alaska Miner Magazine shares values for a strong, vibrant, mining industry. Alaska — and America, are at a crossroads. Every single one of us must participate in the upcoming election and work to elect policymakers who share our values. The Alaska Miners Association Political Action Committee (AMAPAC) is organized by AMA members who research candidates and then make campaign contributions to candidates who share our values. Every year AMAPAC asks the membership to contribute financially so that we can combine our resources and make a significant impact in elections. AMAPAC is non-partisan — we simply support candidates who support mining. Please consider supporting AMAPAC by sending a check to AMAPAC, 121 W Fireweed Lane, Suite 120, Anchorage, AK 99503, or by going to the AMA website and clicking the AMAPAC button in the upper right corner. The 2024 election is significant for the mining industry in areas such as the regulatory environment, critical minerals and national security, energy policies, infrastructure investment and economic policies. Regulatory Environment Environmental Regulations: More than anything, we need a stable regulatory environment. The pingpong approach of the past three federal administrations has left many resource extraction companies in investment limbo. A second term of the Biden Administration will likely impose stricter regulations on mining operations, affecting costs and project timelines. Conversely, a more industry-friendly administration could relax regulations, facilitating easier expansion and operation of mining activities. Critical Minerals and National Security Strategic Importance: The U.S. government has recognized certain minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements, as critical to national security. These exist but are not yet mined in Alaska. Policies encouraging domestic production of these minerals could result in incentives and support for the mining sector. Energy Policies Fossil Fuels vs. Renewable Energy: Policies regarding fossil fuel extraction (coal and natural gas) and a push for more renewable energy sources will directly influence mining operations. A push towards renewables increases the need for minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements used in renewable technologies and batteries. We all must show up this election season The Alaska Miner Summer 2024 4
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