“If Biden Attacks Our State’s Energy Economy, How Will Alaska Pay for Stuff?” Power The Future Energy Hour Recap with Larry Behrens & Dave Stieren

December 23, 2020

On this week’s Power The Future Energy Hour, hosted by Alaska State Director Rick Whitbeck, the focus was on the “shadow EPA” being set up by the incoming Biden administration, as well as how Alaska’s energy future could be impacted under Biden.

Rick began the show by speaking about Power The Future’s activities the past week, as we continue to look out for Alaska’s energy workers.  We’ll be speaking to a number of groups as the new year hits, as well as continuing with the regular blog posts and the podcast that Rick records weekly with – conveniently our featured guest of the evening – Larry Behrens, the Western States Director of Power The Future.

Larry just had an article published by the Daily Caller, in which he outlined how the Biden administration plans on creating a “shadow EPA” with John Kerry and Gina McCarthy as the main players.  These two will head the energy “revolution” envisioned by the eco-Left, and will do so without having to be Congressionally confirmed.  Larry and Rick spoke at length about the damage the Biden energy team could do to their respective states’ endeavors to keep traditional energy workers employed.  Lots of good conversation followed throughout the two segments.  Definitely worth a listen if you are someone who cares about robust energy opportunities across this great state!

Rick’s guest for the last segment was Dave Stieren, a frequent participant on the show, who is Governor Dunleavy’s Community Relations Director.  Dave and Rick focused first on a study from the University of Wyoming that showed that a Biden energy plan could cost Alaska in excess of $300 BILLION over the next 20 years in lost GDP.  Dave’s response was poignant:

“When you look at the economy of the State of Alaska and the anti-development crowd. They’re very well-funded, very well-organized…and have made some strides in the state house and with political influence.  But, the question to their demands that the State become less dependent on oil and gas quickly becomes, ‘how do you propose to pay for things?’…With the Biden administration’s campaign rhetoric and the cabinet that’s already been announced, you have to ask, ‘how are you going to pay for stuff?’. We’ll tax the rich…ok, but rich people’s portfolios are…heavy into energy stocks…we’ll tax big industry, but big industry is doing well because of reliable energy solutions…so you want to tax more…of the big, bad, rich people, while you take away their ability to have any chance to continue to be big, bad and rich.  Again, I ask, how do you do that and pay for all of your grandiose plans?”

If you missed this week’s show live, you can still listen to it – as well as every episode from the past two years – on Power the Future’s Soundcloud.

The Energy Hour can be heard live every Tuesday night from 5:00-6:00 PM local time on KNVT (92.5 FM, 1020 AM and online at 1020KVNT.com).  The show (also replayed during the same hour on Saturday night) is heard throughout Southcentral Alaska communities, and acts as a recap of Power The Future activities in Alaska, as well as an opportunity to hear from various members of Alaska’s energy and political communities.  Feel free to reach out to Rick@PowerTheFuture.com with show ideas or feedback!

Merry Christmas, everyone!