07/18/2026
Over the past two years, I have consistently supported Alaska’s LNG project because I believe it represents one of the greatest opportunities our state has seen in decades.
This project has the potential to provide affordable natural gas for Alaskans, create thousands of good-paying jobs, strengthen our economy, and position Alaska as a global energy leader for generations to come.
That’s why Thursday’s vote was one of the hardest I’ve cast.
My vote was not against the pipeline.
It was against a conference committee report that expanded far beyond the pipeline itself.
The final version of HB 381 included major new tax policy, changes to municipal taxation, private business disclosure requirements, education funding provisions, and other policy issues that deserved their own hearings, their own debate, and their own vote. These are significant policy questions that should be considered openly—not attached to one of the largest infrastructure projects in our state’s history.
Alaska needs a clean pipeline bill, not an omnibus tax and policy package.
I’ve said from the beginning that Alaska needs a stable, predictable business environment if we’re going to attract tens of billions of dollars in private investment.
If we’re serious about building this pipeline, we should keep the legislation focused on building the pipeline.
We were standing on the right tracks. Unfortunately, the conference committee asked us to board the wrong train.
I remain optimistic about Alaska’s future and fully support getting this legislation across the finish line so developers can move this project forward. I hope the Legislature returns with a clean bill focused on affordable energy, jobs, and long-term opportunity for Alaskans.
This project is too important to fail because we tried to solve too many unrelated problems in a single bill. Let’s pass a pipeline bill—and build Alaska’s future.
