by Suzanne Downing, Must Read Alaska

The Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference kicked off Tuesday with a series of high-level panels and presentations, but it was the lunchtime session — moderated by Gov. Mike Dunleavy — that stole the show.

The luncheon, held at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center, featured a powerhouse panel including US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin. The theme was clear and unwavering: “Alaska has it all.”

Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasized that the global reliance on fossil fuels has not diminished. Forty years ago, he noted, about 80% of the world’s energy came from coal, oil, and gas. Today, that number is roughly 85%. Technology has made the industry far less polluting. He also noted that despite massive investments, the share of global energy provided by renewables has only make up 3% of energy.

The panel discussed how energy access is directly tied to quality of life, economic development, and global stability. Fossil fuels, they noted, continue to drive the vast majority of global energy use, and Alaska has a critical role to play in meeting that demand responsibly.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Secretary Burgum added their perspectives on regulatory clarity and federal-state cooperation, underscoring the importance of stable, science-based policy frameworks that don’t sacrifice economic progress.

Read the full article