Gov. Mike Dunleavy held a Tuesday afternoon press conference directing state agencies and calling on residents to end all business with Russia to add to the global pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin and his war against the Ukrainian people. Dunleavy also asked President Joe Biden to make domestic energy production a priority by reversing key policy decisions. Dunleavy noted Alaska’s history being part of Russia but says that our state is close to the conflict from a geographic, historical, and military point of view.
Dunleavy stated:
“We do have investments. We do have ties. We do have relationships. We believe after much contemplation and discussion with others that limiting or withdrawing or eliminating some of those investments and some of those relationships could prove to bring pressure upon President Putin to really think how far he wants to go in this conflict.”
Dunleavy was joined by Alaska Revenue Commissioner Lucinda Mahoney specifying on divesting from Russia:
“The State of Alaska treasury department manage investments in international funds, which included a very small portion of investments in Russia. In total, the number is less than .3%. As of December 31, 2021, we had investments totaling $267 million.”
Governor Dunleavy calls upon the President Biden to permit the state to increase domestic energy production, citing the NPR-A being blocked by the Biden Administration. In a recent op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, Dunleavy said that Alaska can help and is able to serve:
“Do it here. Allow us to do it here and stop this, really, it’s nothing short of an attempt to snuff out the life of Alaska as a state. When we need these resources more now than ever, they’re doubling down on this stuff. It makes no sense at all. we’ve asked that the legislature that they put money into a State Defensehood Approach. We have to make sure that we fight for Alaska’s survival as a state.”
Governor Dunleavy urged the president to take immediate steps to increase and encourage domestic oil and gas production by reversing harmful regulatory policies and expediting permitting processes.
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