DATE
STUDY
OVERALL SUMMARY
ASSUMPTIONS
RECOMMENDATIONS
CHAIRS
November 1979
Solutions to the National EnergyCrisis: Why Not Alaska?
An answer to dwindling domestic energy production and foreign oil dependency. Development of Alaska's ample natural resources would provide a solution to the energy gap of the 1980's.
1. There is a danger that there will be a shortage of oil which will instigate an energy crisis.
2. Alternative sources of energy will not reverse the ever-weakening national energy picture in the next 5 to 15 years.
3. Alaska's natural resources can provide many sources of energy for the nation.
4. Congress is about to lock up energy potential lands before they have been explored and inventoried.
5. The Arctic's energy resources can be tapped without harming the land or the wildlife.1. Congress must resist the political pressure to lock up Alaska until there have been thorough inventories of the energy resources of the state.
2. The Secretary of the Interior should expedite the leasing of onshore and offshore federal lands in Alaska that have high oil and gas potential.
3. The State of Alaska should create a transportation infrastructure so hat its resources can get to market at a reasonable cost.
4. The federal government must streamline the permit system that now has Alaska in a regulatory straightjacket.
5. The government should get out of the energy exploration business and encourage private enterprise to find and produce energy.
6. The national media must investigate the skillful campaign of those who would lock up Alaska.Robert L. Hartig
