Alaska Governor Urges Trump to Ease Resource Development Restrictions
Governor Mike Dunleavy seeks executive actions to boost oil, gas, and logging projects, citing Alaska's economic needs and federal overreach concerns.
- Governor Mike Dunleavy has sent a formal request to President-elect Donald Trump, asking for a rollback of restrictions on oil and gas drilling and logging in Alaska.
- Dunleavy's proposals include opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil exploration and reversing protections in the Tongass National Forest, a critical habitat for wildlife.
- He has called for a state-specific executive order and the creation of a Cabinet-level task force to coordinate Alaska-focused resource development policies.
- Environmental groups, such as Trustees for Alaska, have pledged to challenge any attempts to expedite drilling or logging projects they believe threaten protected areas.
- Dunleavy criticized federal energy transition policies, advocating for continued fossil fuel development alongside renewable energy expansion and carbon capture initiatives.