U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski was honored by the National Chamber of Commerce for her role in advancing Alaska’s oil and gas market.
Sen. Murkowski: “Any recognition like this is a reflection of what you have asked me to do in the United States Senate to serve you back there, to represent Alaska’s interest and to represent our interest as a resource rich and a resource production state with an administration that perhaps does not see eye to eye with us all the time when it comes to how we access our energy.”
Murkowski has pushed for more Alaska oil exploration as the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee chair. She also supported the U.S. taking over the Arctic Council’s chairmanship this April.
Alaska Oil and Gas Association CEO Kara Moriarty gave an update on the state’s oil and gas status.
She said Lower 48 states often consider all of Alaska the arctic and Kenai Peninsula oil development is a key player.
Moriarty: “A year ago today, Alaskans defeated a ballot measure that would have made Alaska more uncompetitive from an oil and gas investment perspective. It was a close vote but here in the Kenai, 68% of the Kenai voted no. So Kenai was a crucial area of the state for us to be successful in beating that initiative.”
At the current low oil prices, Alaska is set to bring in $1 billion more in revenue under Senate Bill 21 than it would have under ACES.