The May 10th meeting of the Fiscal Policy Study Group is postponed but stay tuned as we develop the next series of meetings.
What's New 
Energy Action Coalition
Renewable Energy Projects in Alaska
Alaska USA Federal Credit Union
500 W 36th Avenue
Room 201
We will have a briefing from Chris Rose, Executive Director of Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP), to outline how Alaska produces energy and where renewable generation may fit in a statewide sustainable energy strategy.
REAP’s mission is to increase the development of renewable energy and promote energy efficiency in Alaska through collaboration, education, training and advocacy.
CWN Food Security Study Group
Wednesday, May 8th
The Peanut Farm
5227 Old Seward Hwy
(Google map)
8am-9am
We will have a briefing from David Schade, Acting Director of the Alaska Division of Agriculture, to discuss the statutory duties and authorizations of the Division and state programs related to food production, inspection, and enhancing our local food supply.
David’s PowerPoint can be downloaded here.
The May 3rd Fiscal Policy Study Group meeting is postponed until next week. Check back to this webpage for updates on future meetings.
CWN Food Security Study Group
Wednesday, May 1st
Alaska Village Initiatives
1577 C St
Suite 304
8am-9am
Join us tomorrow for a briefing from our co-chair, Ed Fogels, natural resource consultant and former Deputy Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. Ed will discuss some of the obstacles to commercial agriculture in Alaska and what government could do to remove those obstacles and improve the food supply chain.
April 23, 2019
April 24th: POSTPONED Food Security Study Group
Our April 24th Food Security Study Group is postponed but we plan to meet next week, March 1st.
If you would like to be added to the Food Security Study Group announcement list, email events@commonwealthnorth.org.
First National Bank Alaska
Operations Center
1751 Gambell St
second floor
8am-9am
(doors open at 7:45am)
We will have a briefing from Mark Foster. He will talk about research he has done on K-12 effectiveness, efficiency, and affordability. He recently completed his appointed term on the Anchorage School Board and previously served as the Anchorage School District’s CFO. Mark has also recently worked in Juneau advising Senators on fiscal and education-related issues.
CWN Energy Action Coalition
Friday, April 12th
Global LNG Markets
Alaska USA Federal Credit Union
500 W 36th Avenue
2nd floor
Noon-1pm
On Friday, Larry Persily will brief us on global energy markets and the outlook for exporting Alaska’s North Slope natural gas. Larry formerly served as federal coordinator for North Slope natural gas pipeline projects.
CWN Fiscal Policy Study Group
Friday, April 12th
First National Bank Alaska
Operations Center
1751 Gambell St
second floor
8am-9am
(doors open at 7:45am)
Friday morning we will be joined by Alaska Attorney General Kevin Clarkson and Department of Revenue Commissioner Bruce Tangeman to discuss the Governor’s proposed constitutional amendments now under consideration by the Legislature.
Constitutional amendment proposals
CWN Presents
Enhancing the University of Alaska’s Land Grant
Thursday, April 25th
Noon-1:00pm
The Petroleum Club of Anchorage
3301 C Street
Click to download PowerPoint presentation
CWN is pleased to host University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen to discuss the University’s land grant and its role in the University’s overall funding. Land grant universities across the United States have been recipients of federal lands in order to enhance their ability to obtain a sustainable funding stream. President Johnsen will explain why the University of Alaska’s land grant is the second-smallest in the United States, and what steps the University is taking to advocate for additional acreage to enhance its ability to support education. Earnings from the University’s Land Grant Trust Fund are used to fund, among other things, the Alaska Scholars Program which awards an $11,000 scholarship to the top ten percent of the graduates from every Alaska high school each year.
University Lands Background
Under federal laws enacted in 1915 and 1929, the University of Alaska was entitled to receive approximately 360,000 acres of public land in Alaska. Due in large part to the inability of the Federal Government to expeditiously survey Alaska, only 3% of the 1915 land grant had been conveyed when the Statehood Act of 1959 repealed the law. As a result, the University never received the remainder of its entitlement. Consequently, the largest state in the U.S. has received a smaller land grant for higher education than any other state except Delaware and Hawaii (which received no federal land at all). Today, the University owns approximately 145,000 acres of land. These lands include federal grant lands, other lands acquired from local, state or federal governments for restricted educational purposes, purchased lands, and lands donated to the University.