Legislative Agenda 2021: CWN’s 14th Annual Legislator Meet and Greet

Wednesday, December 16

Online

noon-1:30pm

As we approach a new legislative session in January, the State of Alaska faces a serious budget outook and other critical public policy issues. Our legislators will be asked to make important public policy decisions that will affect Alaskans for many years to come.

In December, Commonwealth North will once again host pre-session discussions between Alaskans and legislators. Your participation is vital to ensuring your voice is heard by legislators and that you know the criteria they will use to make decisions in the upcoming legislative session.  

At last year’s Legislator Meet and Greet program a third of Alaska’s legislators joined us for an outstanding luncheon which received very favorable responses from both legislators and Commonwealth North members.

This year we will host the program online and have moderated breakout rooms for several rounds of small group discussions with legislators.   This is not a campaign, political debate, or cross-examination. It is an opportunity to discuss key issues with well-informed, thoughtful Alaskans.

Thank you to our program sponsors!

Sponsorships Available

Contact the CWN office at events@commonwealthnorth.org for details.

Arctic Policy Study Group

Powering Alaska’s Arctic

Wednesday, October 14

8am-9am

Online

Alaska’s Arctic communities are innovating toward new and renewable energy opportunities. This panel will provide an overview of the trends that are driving clean energy and electrification projects in the Arctic as well as showcase several projects that demonstrate how communities and energy providers are using the Arctic environment and new technologies to expand electrification, decarbonization, and a brighter energy future.

Speakers:

• Rob Roys, Deployment Driector – Launch Alaska
• Ingemar Mathiasson, Energy Manager – Northwest Arctic Borough
• Matt Bergan, Wind Farm Project Engineer – Kotzebue Electric Association

The program is free of charge but please register to receive login details.   How to Zoom You can join us from any computer, smart phone, or tablet by clicking the link emailed to you after registration. If you plan to connect by tablet or smartphone, I recommend visiting Zoom.com prior to the program to download the app. You can watch this tutorial for more information.

Commonwealth North Forum

Senator Lisa Murkowski:

Pending Federal Actions and Alaska’s Arctic

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Noon-1pm

Online

Video is available here.

Senator Murkowski will speak to recent and pending federal actions, legislation, and appropriations to more fully realize the U.S. position as an Arctic nation. 

1. Discuss the re-established Arctic Energy Office, its role, what does success look like
2. S. 2786 The Arctic Shipping Federal Advisory Committee Act (pending passage via the Coast Guard Bill)
3. Other direct appropriations and incentives for Arctic ports pending in WRDA legislation, the National Defense Authorization Act, and perhaps the Coast Guard Authorization Bill.
4. Pending appropriations for ice breakers, reflections on the President’s June memo regarding icebreakers, and what kind of input the Coast Guard needs from commercial players in the Arctic region.
5. Adding and amplifying Alaskan voices in Arctic policy making.   
6. Expansion of formal US relations with Greenland; what can be done to promote more cooperation with our neighbors in Russia, Canada, Greenland, Iceland.

The program is free to members, $10 for non-members, and $5 for students.

How to Zoom

You can join us from any computer, smart phone, or tablet by clicking the link emailed to you after registration. If you plan to connect by tablet or smartphone, I recommend visiting Zoom.com prior to the program to download the app. You can watch this tutorial for more information.

Oil  –  Seafood  –  Visitors:
Three of Alaska’s Major Economic Sectors
in the Time of COVID

Wednesday, September 30th

Noon-1pm

Online

Alaska’s economy continues to weather the challenges presented by the COVID-19 global pandemic. How are the oil, seafood, and visitor industries facing these challenges? What impacts has the pandemic had? How are these industries pivoting toward the future? Commonwealth North hosts the leaders of these industries’ trade associations to share their reflections and outlooks for their respective industry.

Speakers:

• Kara Moriarty, Alaska Oil and Gas Association
• Chris Barrows, Pacific Seafood Processors Association
• Sarah Leonard, Alaska Travel Industry Association

How to Zoom You can join us from any computer, smart phone, or tablet by clicking the link emailed to you after registration. If you plan to connect by tablet or smartphone, I recommend visiting Zoom.com prior to the program to download the app. You can watch this tutorial for more information.

CWN Launches New Website

Alaskans asked their choices to close the budget gap

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new website to assist Alaskans in better understanding the State’s fiscal challenge. The web site www.akbudget.com offers Alaskans the opportunity to make revenue and spending choices to address the projected $1.3 billion dollar shortfall in the State of Alaska’s fiscal year 2022 budget.

The web site was developed by CWN’s Fiscal Policy Study Group. Since last May, the group has been working to flesh out the most likely options for balancing the state’s budget. Click below for a brief introductory video and visit the website.

We look forward to your budget solutions and thank the Fiscal Policy Study Group for their hard work!