Alaska’s Resource Development Council Holds 2019 Conference

November 22, 2019

Everyone who lives in the Great Land knows Alaska’s economy is driven by responsible resource development.  Oil and gas exploration, mining, timber, fisheries and tourism are the main employers in Alaska, and the vast majority of the state’s general fund revenues are driven by these same industries.

The Resource Development Council is a statewide organization dedicated to advocating for these key business sectors.  After their 40^th annual conference this week, attendees should have left with optimism for the sustainability and expansion of Alaskan jobs, revenues and opportunities to continue to live, work and play in the 49^th State.

Each of the business lines had a chance to address the hundreds of conference participants throughout the two-day event.  From the opening session’s round-table of key stakeholders in the Alaskan economy to an economic forecast from a state labor economist, all the way through to the champagne send-off toast, the buzz about Alaska’s development future was palpable. 

There were updates on legacy projects, and a segment highlighting BP’s transition of its Alaskan assets to Hilcorp.  There were segments of the program dedicated to new projects that Power The Future has already written about, such as the A2A Rail and the Qilak LNG export undertakings.

Updates from federal and state agencies working on bringing Alaska’s natural riches to market were given, and the conference heard from key Arctic neighbors and collaborators from Norway.  There was a segment on the advancements for Arctic development from the Arctic Economic Council, and an exceptionally well-attended trade show that highlighted vendors, industry groups and advocacy organizations (including Power The Future).

Coming on the heels of the Alaska Miners Association’s conference two weeks early, the RDC should be lauded for an exceptionally well-run, informative and relevant conference. 

The men and women working in Alaska’s energy community have tremendous advocacy organizations who work together to protect jobs, advance opportunities and offset the well-funded cries to shut down Alaska development and shutter the state’s economy that emanate from the dozens of (mostly Lower-48-based) environmental extremist organizations on a regular basis.