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Energy Forum Summary By Ross Johnston, Executive Director. 

Venue Denali Towers North
Address 2550 Denali St, 16th FloorAnchorageAK99503,US
Starts Tue May 20 2025, 4pm AKDT
Sponsored By Enstar Natural Gas Company

Cook Inlet’s natural gas, the lifeblood of Southcentral Alaska’s electricity and heating, is nearing an inflection point—one marked not by the exhaustion of geology, but by economics, policy stasis, and technological reckoning.

At our recent energy forum titled Energy on the Edge: Future of Cook Inlet Gas, state officials, utility executives, economists, and industry leaders gathered in Anchorage to confront a future that is arriving faster than anyone would like. The meeting was both somber and spirited—part clarion call, part therapy session.

The unifying anxiety was simple: where will the gas come from next?

The Premises of Precarity

Dr. Brett Watson of the University of Alaska’s Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) opened with a gentle but unsparing economic framework. Behind the policy debates and production forecasts lies a simple, stubborn number: 70 billion cubic feet. That is the annual volume of natural gas required to keep Southcentral Alaska running. It is not an abstraction—it’s a ledger of necessity. Alaska is profoundly dependent on natural gas: it heats half the homes in the state, powers 70% of the electricity in Southcentral, and supports myriad industrial and commercial needs. And nearly all of that gas comes from Cook Inlet.

There’s still gas in the ground—perhaps trillions of cubic feet—but extracting it is increasingly uneconomical without new technology, infrastructure, or policy change. Because of rising extraction costs, particularly in the next 5-10 years, Cook Inlet gas faces what Watson and other resource economists call economic depletion. A 2018 DNR study forecast that even conservative demand scenarios will soon outstrip economically viable production, especially as costs per unit rise and producers face structural disincentives to invest.

“The stakes aren’t existential in terms of survival,” Watson clarified. “But they are existential in economic terms.”
Increased costs will ricochet across the state: higher utility bills, a heavier burden on low-income households, costlier goods and services, and intensified outmigration. The challenge isn’t about keeping the lights on. It’s about keeping Alaska competitive, livable, and just.

The Bridge and the Fork

Watson offered a metaphor for the path ahead—a trail hike through the Chugach, with a stream to cross and a forked path a few miles away. Utilities will need to make some investments to ensure short term reliability, then build a bridge across the stream (medium term, but reliable solutions including small-scale imports of liquefied natural gas). On the other side of this bridge will be two starkly different forking paths for Alaska: import large quantities of LNG or bring gas down from the North Slope via pipeline and exporting the surplus to international markets.

Both are costly, complex, and politically loaded.

“If we get it wrong,” Watson warned, “we build a bridge that leads us to a path we regret.”

A Producer’s Lament

If Watson’s tone was diagnostic, John Hendrix’s was defiant. The CEO of Furie Operating Alaska—one of the few remaining gas producers in the basin—challenged the narrative of depletion and scarcity.

“There’s gas there,” he said plainly. “We just have to develop it.”

Hendrix, a grizzled veteran of oil and gas operations from Prudhoe Bay to the Middle East, was unsparing in his critique of what he called a “false mindset” that Alaska must become a net importer of energy.

At the heart of Hendrix’s frustration is the dichotomy between producers and utilities, between risk and regulation. Utilities want long-term contracts to ensure reliability. Producers, burned by past bankruptcies and underinvestment, want commitments and pricing that reflect the true costs—and risks—of production.
“We’re risking our capital,” Hendrix said. “Utilities go to the RCA and get recovery. We get nothing unless the gas flows.”

He also highlighted the burden producers carry that renewables and utilities do not: property taxes, full royalties (12.5%), and no guaranteed cost recovery. “If I were a utility, I wouldn’t pay property tax. If I were renewables, I wouldn’t pay royalties. But I’m oil and gas—I pay both.”

Utilities Bridging Gaps

Arthur Miller, CEO of Chugach Electric Association, spoke with a stoic urgency. Chugach, the state’s largest electric utility, gets 60% of its gas from its Beluga River Unit (which it partly owns) and 40% from Hilcorp—a contract that expires in March 2028.

“No supplier has come forward with a firm offer to replace that gas,” Miller stated. Miller mentioned that it would be in the best interest for the utility companies of Alaska to coordinate their plans, but their different contract time horizons make it difficult. Chugach Electric has the shortest runway to find a solution.

To manage the looming shortfall, Chugach is building a buffer: underlift agreements with Hilcorp, a gas exchange with Marathon Petroleum, investments in gas storage, and 30 MW of a new battery storage system. But those measures are temporary, bridging only a few years.

The real question, Miller echoed, is what comes after.

Imported LNG is one answer—specifically through the Kenai LNG Terminal, now under redevelopment by Harvest Alaska. The timeline matches Chugach’s need, and while importing gas is more expensive, the utility estimates a 10% increase to electric bills—a manageable, if painful, bump.
But it’s not the preferred path.

“We’d rather use Alaska gas,” Miller insisted. “But we need gas in 2028. Full stop.”

The Gatekeeper’s Dilemma: Enstar and the Clock

As president of Enstar Natural Gas, Alaska’s largest gas utility, Sims does not produce energy, nor does he convert it to electricity. He delivers it. His job is to manage expectations, hedge bets, and—above all else—ensure that gas flows to the homes and businesses that rely on it, no matter the upstream drama.
Enstar, like Chugach Electric, has a major contract with Hilcorp that expires in 2033. Unlike a utility with a power plant or a producer with a drill bit, Sims doesn’t have the option to diversify in place. If the gas doesn’t arrive, Enstar doesn’t deliver.

He pointed to the stark map of current lease ownership: Hilcorp controls most of the Cook Inlet basin. The remainder—Furie, BlueCrest, and a scattering of smaller players—are producing, but not at a scale that can replace what’s lost. Hilcorp has made clear it will not renew existing contracts under previous terms. That decision may be rational, but it is not comforting.

Like others, Sims praised Furie’s investment and commitment, but he was brutally honest about the limits of optimism. “If Furie succeeds—and I hope they do—it’s maybe 11% of the total market. We still have to find the other 89%.” By the following summer, Hendrix noted, it may produce 16%.

For Sims, the math isn’t just sobering—it’s structural. Utilities cannot build a business plan around hopes or handshakes. They need firm delivery volumes, with real molecules behind them, and an enforceable price. Producers, understandably, need assurances they won’t be undercut by LNG imports or priced out of the market after investing millions.

That is why Enstar is also pursuing LNG as a backstop. They have an exclusivity agreement with Glenfarne and plan to build a new terminal. Sims called it “a necessary insurance policy,” not a preferred path.

“If I could buy every molecule John Hendrix drills, I would,” Sims said, “and I will. But that still doesn’t fix the whole problem. We need scale, and we need certainty.”

Time, he reminded the audience, doesn’t yield to process. “We can’t bank on a North Slope pipeline. We can’t wait for federal permitting cycles. We’ve got to make decisions that protect customers—today.”

The quiet implication: failure to act isn’t theoretical. It’s logistical.

North Slope Mirage?

Talk of bringing gas from the North Slope—once a state obsession—now elicits weary nods and half-hearted hand raises.

“Who thinks a pipeline from the North Slope is coming?” John Sims asked. Five hands rose among a crowd of dozens.

The Alaska LNG pipeline has been studied, delayed, and reimagined for decades. But in the absence of shovels in the ground, utilities can’t plan on a promise. They need certainties, not aspirations.

The problem isn’t belief—it’s bankability.

The Role of Government: Keeper of the Hopper

Throughout the forum, another thread emerged: the need for better policy alignment and state leadership.

Who, exactly, is coordinating Alaska’s energy transition? Is it the Department of Natural Resources (DNR)? The Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA)? The Alaska Energy Authority (AEA)? The utilities? The Legislature?

“The hopper of opportunities is there,” Hendrix said. “But who’s keeping it?”

DNR Director Derek Nottingham acknowledged the fragmentation. His presentation highlighted recent drilling (19 wells completed in 2024 across multiple fields), and upcoming undeveloped gas projects that could add supply. But even with aggressive development, the basin’s ability to meet growing demand remains in doubt.

“We don’t have a central authority coordinating production, regulation, and consumption,” Hendrix noted off-mic. “It’s everyone managing their corner.”

Reframing the Future

As the session drew to a close, a sense of convergence emerged. No single solution will save Cook Inlet’s gas ecosystem. But neither will inertia.

Short-term, the region needs aggressive storage, flexible contracts, and policy support to incentivize new exploration.

Medium-term, imported LNG may be unavoidable. The infrastructure is being readied. The cost impact—significant but not catastrophic—is a political hurdle, not a technical one.

Long-term, the fork in the trail remains: an import economy or a pipeline reality.

And beyond even those binary choices lies the promise—and complexity—of decarbonization. Electric utilities like Chugach have set ambitious goals: reduce carbon intensity by at least 35% by 2030, 50% by 2040, so long as rates and reliability are not compromised. That’s a fine line to walk—especially when you’re also bracing for an energy crunch.

However, decarbonization doesn’t mitigate the supply needs of the natural gas utilities that heat our homes.

Conclusion: Bridging To The Fork

Utilities like Chugach and Enstar are already navigating the bridge—patching together underlift agreements, investing in storage, exploring renewables, and preparing for LNG imports. They are managing the immediate crossing, step by cautious step, with one eye on the current and the other on the shoreline ahead.
But the real decision doesn’t belong to them alone. At the far end of that bridge lies a fork in the road—one that Alaska as a state must confront. Will we invest in the infrastructure and policy coordination needed to become a long-term energy exporter, unlocking North Slope gas and leveraging our vast reserves? Or will we accept the role of importer, dependent on volatile global markets for the fuel that powers our economy and warms our homes? Perhaps we will cross our fingers for a future technology that simply doesn’t exist yet.

This is not just a question of engineering or pricing. It is a question of identity—of sovereignty, resilience, and economic direction.

The bridge can only carry us so far. What matters now is whether we choose a path that ensures energy security for the next generation—or simply delay the decision until the options disappear.

The stream is rising. The fork is near. And our time horizons, as ever, are getting shorter.

If you benefit from this information, join Commonwealth North as a member.  You will not only be supporting future conversations but adding your voice to the mix. 

Reference Material

Forum Recording – YouTube

ISER Slides

FURIE Slides

Chugach Electric Slides

Lessee Map

Enstar Slides

DNR Slides

 

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — For decades, Alaska’s economy has rested on a “three-legged stool” of petroleum, private industries like mining and fishing, and federal spending. But as oil revenues wane and federal policies shift, economists warn that the state’s reliance on Washington’s largesse is growing — and with it, new vulnerabilities.

At a virtual economic forum hosted by the Commonwealth North, University of Alaska Anchorage’s Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER), and Build Alaska’s Future on May 1, 2025, leading economists delivered a nuanced assessment of Alaska’s economic trajectory. Titled “How Shifting Federal Dollars Impact Alaska’s Economy,” the event underscored the state’s heavy reliance on federal funds, the growing role of the Alaska Permanent Fund in state revenue, and the challenges posed by federal policy shifts under the current administration.

The Economic Pie

Alaska’s economy, valued at approximately $70 billion with a population of about 730,000, is uniquely tethered to federal spending, which injects an estimated $13 to $14 billion annually—roughly one-fifth of the state’s economic activity. Dr. Scott Goldsmith, Professor Emeritus at ISER, framed the discussion with his “three-legged stool” model, comprising petroleum, basic-sector private industries (e.g., mining, tourism), and federal spending. While petroleum’s role has diminished, federal dollars have become increasingly critical, with Alaska ranking third nationally in per capita federal expenditures at approximately $25,000 per resident in FY 2022.

“Federal dollars are big, growing in importance, and more significant than most realize,” Dr. Goldsmith said, noting their historical stability. He outlined five key streams: civilian departments ($1.5 billion in wages), military spending ($4.7 billion), grants to governments ($6 billion, the highest per capita nationally), payments to individuals like Social Security ($2.2 billion), and loans or insurance.

However, the forum highlighted a significant shift in state revenue dynamics. As petroleum revenues have declined, the Alaska Permanent Fund has emerged as a cornerstone of state finances, providing a growing share of revenue to offset fiscal vulnerabilities and stabilize the economy amid federal uncertainties.

A Flat Economy with Emerging Strengths

Dr. Brett Watson, an ISER assistant professor specializing in natural resource economics, provided context for Alaska’s economic performance. March 2025 a new record high level of seasonally adjusted employment. Real GDP and employment have returned to pre-recession (2015) levels. Alaska’s recent growth has outpaced the nation, with 6.3 percent employment growth from 2022 to 2024, nearly double the national average. This comes as the oil sector’s decline has decoupled the economy from petroleum, particularly for state government revenue which is now increasingly reliant on federal dollars and Permanent Fund returns.

Watson noted that the oil sector, once a dominant force, has weakened significantly, with production down 15% to 479,624 barrels per day and prices falling 30% from $105 in March 2014 to $72.50 in March 2025.

Despite this, sectors like healthcare and construction have driven post-pandemic recovery, fueled largely by federal spending. However, national economic headwinds—a first-quarter GDP contraction, pessimistic consumer and business surveys, and trade-driven recession forecasts—threaten Alaska’s stability. “If the country slides into recession, Alaska will struggle to avoid one,” Watson warned, citing exposure to commodity price volatility and federal policy shifts.

Permanent Fund Bolsters State Revenue

A key development discussed at the forum was the growing role of the Alaska Permanent Fund in sustaining state finances. As outlined in the forum’s slide deck, state petroleum revenue has plummeted, dropping from historic highs to a fraction of its former contribution. In contrast, federal spending and Permanent Fund earnings have risen sharply. The Permanent Fund, established in 1976 to save oil revenue for future generations, now generates significant income through investments, with its market value exceeding $80 billion in 2025.

In recent years, the fund has contributed over $3 billion annually to the state budget, surpassing petroleum revenue in some fiscal years. This shift has provided a buffer against the volatility of oil markets. However, Goldsmith cautioned that the state’s fiscal situation remains unsustainable long-term due to persistent budget deficits and liquidity concerns with the Permanent Fund’s spendable portion. “The Permanent Fund is a lifeline, but it’s not a cure-all,” he said.

Federal Workforce Reductions Threaten Stability

Dr. Brock Wilson, an ISER research assistant professor focused on labor economics, addressed the looming impact of federal workforce cuts. Drawing on a New York Times dataset, he noted that a proposed 12% reduction in the 2.4 million civilian federal workforce could result in a 2% to 4% cut in Alaska’s federal civilian jobs, which number around 16,000 and account for 3.2% of the state’s labor force—the third-highest proportion nationally. In Q3 2024, federal civilian workers earned an average monthly salary of $8,641, ranking third among Alaska’s industries for pay.

Key agencies like the Department of the Interior, Air Force, and Army are major employers, with 53% of federal workers concentrated in Anchorage Municipality and 21% in Fairbanks North Star Borough. Wilson highlighted data gaps, noting that he is awaiting payroll data via a Freedom of Information Act request to assess regional and agency-specific impacts. “We’re piecing together a puzzle in the dark,” he said, emphasizing the uncertainty’s toll on local economies.

Infrastructure and Supply Chains Face Headwinds

Dr. Mike Jones, an ISER research assistant professor specializing in transportation and supply chains, discussed challenges to Alaska’s infrastructure projects. The state has secured $8.5 billion from the Biden-era Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, including $81.2 million for rural airports and $16.8 million for the Alaska International Airport System in FY 2024. However, federal workforce reductions have created an “implementation crisis,” with agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) struggling to administer grants and ensure compliance.

Rural programs, like the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, face disruptions, while alternative energy grants worth $700 million are vulnerable. 

Jones cited Senator Lisa Murkowski’s remarks at a recent infrastructure symposium, where she noted a lack of clarity on committed funds and staffing shortages that leave project managers without points of contact. “If a multi-year project is delayed, it may never happen,” Jones warned, particularly for rural initiatives. Additionally, trade disruptions from a 10% across-the-board tariff, with over 100% on Chinese goods, are driving cost increases. Alaska’s off-road communities, where 80% of non-food retail goods are imported, face heightened risks, and marine cargo shippers to the state have reported that volumes are already slowing.

Policy Shifts and Economic Opportunities

The forum explored how federal policy changes, including executive orders from President Trump, could reshape Alaska’s economy. Watson highlighted an order to “unleash Alaska opportunity” by easing restrictions on resource development in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPRA) and the Ambler mining district. Projects like Willow and Pikka are driving construction jobs. Dr. Watson advocated for well-staffed permitting agencies to unlock resource development, citing Nevada’s efficient mining permits. 

Conversely, proposed cuts to Medicaid, which delivers $3 billion annually to Alaska (75% federally funded), could devastate healthcare access and rural hospitals. Jones emphasized healthcare’s role in employment growth, with educational and health services adding 3,000 jobs from March 2019 to 2024. Goldsmith warned that Medicaid reductions would have cascading effects on the state’s healthcare infrastructure. 

On the energy front, Jones noted that over $700 million in Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) awards for alternative energy projects, such as microgrids for isolated communities, are at risk. A proposed natural gas pipeline has federal support but may not serve remote areas like Togiak, underscoring the need for localized energy solutions.

Navigating a Complex Future

Moderator Mead Treadwell, a former Alaska lieutenant governor, facilitated audience questions on stabilizing Alaska’s economy. With Alaska’s congressional delegation holding key roles on appropriations and authorization committees, panelists offered priorities. Goldsmith advocated protecting grant programs for highways, airports, and Indian Health Services, while Watson emphasized efficient permitting for resource development, citing Nevada’s mining permits as a model. Wilson and Jones stressed workforce transition support and contingency plans for programs like the Alaska Bypass Mail system, critical for rural economies.

The growing senior population, up 60% in the last decade, will increase demand for Social Security and Medicare, complicating budget negotiations. Meanwhile, the Permanent Fund’s rising contribution offers a fiscal cushion but requires careful management to ensure long-term viability. “We’ve started this recovery,” Jones said optimistically. “The challenge is sustaining it amid federal and global uncertainties.”

As Alaska grapples with lower oil prices, potential federal cuts, and trade disruptions, the forum underscored the need for strategic advocacy and resilience. Alaskans face a critical juncture to balance immediate needs with long-term fiscal stability in a rapidly changing economic landscape.

 

Watch the forum here

Download Slides Here

ANCHORAGE — At a Commonwealth North forum on April 23, 2025 at the Anchorage Museum Theater, educators and policymakers confronted the deepening crisis in Alaska’s public schools, from vanishing teachers to crumbling classrooms.

Yet, the state’s tight-knit communities emerged as a beacon of hope, with panelists — including the education commissioner, a school board vice chair, a charter school principal, and the 2024 Alaska Teacher of the Year — urging Alaskans to stay engaged to secure a brighter future.

Their discussion laid bare the stakes: without urgent action, Alaska’s schools risk collapse, threatening the communities and professions they sustain.

A Funding System on the Brink

Alaska’s education funding formula, tied to the Base Student Allocation (BSA), has not kept pace with inflation, leaving school districts struggling with rising energy, health care and salary costs. Carl Jacobs, vice chair of the Anchorage School District (ASD) board, labeled the system “fundamentally broken,” pointing to a mismatch between the state’s fiscal year budget cycle and Municipality of Anchorage’s calendar-year budget. Jacobs shared that ASD is required to approve an annual balanced operating budget by the first Monday in March. These factors, added together, inadvertently promote budgetary guesswork pending erratic one-time state funding, resulting in resource allocation challenges and staffing instability.

Deena Bishop, Alaska’s Commissioner of Education, noted that while total education funding has risen, the state’s share is shrinking as local contributions grow, especially in incorporated areas. Over the past decade, 15,000 students have shifted to correspondence programs, which receive 90 cents per dollar, draining district revenues. Governor Mike Dunleavy’s legislation seeks to ensure full funding for these students.  Bishop stressed that money alone won’t suffice without policy reforms.

Brandon Strauch, principal of Rilke Schule German School of Arts and Sciences, a charter school in Anchorage, stated that his school’s budget, historically 80% staffing and 20% rent, is unsustainable: a 2024-2025 reserve fund of $1.6 million will lose $600,000 in FY25-26 and $700,000 in FY26-27, leaving just $300,000. “This is not a sustainable system,” Strauch said. A new ASD partnership will lower rent, currently $738,000, but challenges persist. Strauch emphasized Rilke Schule’s community-driven approach: a $225 student activity fee funds supplies, parent organizations support after-school programs, fund raisers provide additional funds, and parents contribute 3,500 recorded volunteer hours annually, likely half their total effort.

Teacher Retention: A Looming Cliff

Alaska’s schools are hemorrhaging educators. Cat Walker, a 19-year STEM teacher and 2024 Alaska Teacher of the Year, warned that 40% of Anchorage School District (ASD) teachers are in their first three years, with 300 resignations by April 1, including 44 mid-year departures. Attracted by Alaska’s robust training, many leave after three years for states with pensions, she said. As a Tier 3 employee without one, Walker, alongside her educator husband, may soon depart. “I love it here, but we can’t stay without a pension,” she said, her voice heavy with inevitability.

Walker warned that overfunding charters and correspondence schools depletes neighborhood schools, limiting Advanced Placement classes, nurses, and special education support.

Carl Jacobs, ASD board vice chair, cited a Department of Education survey of 4,000 educators, pinpointing competitive salaries, affordable healthcare, and a defined benefit retirement plan as retention priorities. In 2022, 22% of Alaska’s 1,634 teachers left, 13% exiting entirely, while the University of Alaska certifies fewer than 200 new teachers annually. ASD employs stopgaps like J-1 visa teachers and rehired retirees, but these are not sustainable.

Infrastructure and Access Gaps

Infrastructure woes plague schools statewide. Walker recounted School Board member Kelly Lessens shock at Dimond High School’s missing ceiling tiles and a toilet that sprayed water, forcing her to cordon off the stall.

Statewide, conditions are graver: Sleetmute’s school faces condemnation after 19 years of unaddressed roof leaks, Venetie’s wiring is dangerously flammable, Thorne Bay’s sprinklers have been inoperable for 17 years, and Newtok’s students were sent home when bathrooms failed. Access barriers compound the crisis, with charter schools’ lack of transportation and reliance on volunteer hours excluding families without means, Walker noted.

Policy Innovations and Community Strength

Despite the grim outlook, progress is evident. Bishop praised the 2022 Alaska Reads Act, which boosted reading proficiency, with 60% of kindergartners achieving first-grade readiness in its first year, outpacing national growth. A 2023 Harvard study ranked Alaska’s charter schools as the nation’s top performers, supporting their innovative role. Dunleavy’s proposals include tribal compacting, charter school reforms, $450-per-student learning growth grants, and a research-backed cell phone ban to sharpen focus.

Jacobs highlighted ASD’s proactive steps: co-locating childcare in elementary schools to retain educators, introducing financial literacy curricula, launching the Academies of Anchorage to connect students with businesses, and ensuring minimum lunch periods to boost student physical health and academic outcomes. Jacobs also called on state lawmakers to implement a sustianable long-term fiscal plan to fund core government services citzens deserve and depend on.

Walker’s STEM programs, like a drone class with a 100% FAA license pass rate, rely on community partnerships, though securing grants is arduous. She shared the story of Kevin, a student who struggled in large classes but thrived in specialized activities, designing a police connector and phone holders for low-vision patients. Such successes, she argued, depend on small classes and targeted programs, which are at risk without funding.

A Call for Engagement

Panelists united in praising community engagement as Alaska’s greatest asset. “The people in our schools — families, students, educators — make the magic happen,” Bishop said. Strauch lauded the state’s “good people” committed to shared goals, while Walker hailed students’ resilience and urged voting to support schools. Jacobs proposed that legislators spend time in classrooms to understand needs, fostering collaboration to dispel myths about administrative spending. “The biggest investment we can make is a qualified teacher in every classroom,” he said.

If you were unable to attend—or would like to revisit the conversation—you can view the full forum recording on YouTube:

Watch the Recording

https://youtu.be/dAISIsj4KZs

We’re also pleased to share slide presentations from several of our panelists:

Dr. Deena Bishop – Alaska Commissioner of Education

View Slides

Carl Jacobs – Vice Chair, Anchorage School Board

View Slides

Branden Strauch – Principal, Rilke Schule German School of Arts & Sciences

View Slides

Catherine Walker – 2024 Alaska Teacher of the Year

View Slides

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Ross Johnston is a visionary leader whose passion for community building and transformative change has made him a perfect fit to lead Commonwealth North into an exciting future. With over 15 years of experience at the helm of Fine Point LLC, Ross has proven himself as a dynamic business leader and marketing expert dedicated to driving results and fostering economic growth across Alaska.

Throughout his career, Ross has launched innovative initiatives like North By North and Accelerate Alaska, and served as President of the American Marketing Association Alaska Chapter. His track record speaks volumes: Ross not only facilitates meaningful dialogue around Alaska’s opportunities, but he also champions the adoption of innovative solutions that drive tangible progress for our state.

The Commonwealth North Board chose Ross for his unique ability to turn ideas into action and for his deep commitment to making a difference—both in the community that raised him and in the future he envisions for all Alaskans. His leadership embodies the spirit of personal involvement and forward-thinking that we believe will inspire a new era of public policy and community empowerment.

Join us in welcoming Ross Johnston as we embark on this exciting journey to build a stronger, more vibrant Alaska together!

From Ross Johnston
“Why I Joined Commonwealth North as Executive Director”
Stepping into the role of Executive Director at Commonwealth North felt like a natural evolution of the work I was already doing—building community, facilitating conversations, and driving action around Alaska’s biggest opportunities.
But for me, it’s not just about discussion. I’m results-oriented. Alaska’s challenges demand more than just dialogue—they require real, innovative solutions that move our future forward. I want to help bridge the gap between ideas and action, ensuring that policy conversations lead to tangible outcomes that benefit all Alaskans.
This role is also deeply personal. It’s a way to give back—not just to the community and family that raised me, but also to my children, by showing them the power of personal involvement in shaping the place we call home. Just as my parents Allan Johnston & Jennifer B. Johnston have done for me.
#Alaska has incredible potential, and I’m excited to work alongside leaders, policymakers, and engaged citizens to help unlock it. Let’s build something great together.
What do you think is the biggest opportunity for Alaska’s future?
Join me in the conversation by becoming a member, https://www.commonwealthnorth.org/membership/#join

Executive Director and CEO, Deven Mitchell of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation addressed Commonwealth North following the September meeting of the Board of Trustees. Mitchell looked at the corporation’s performance and outlook, discussed the Board of Trustees recommendations for creating a true endowment structure for the fund, and responded to audience questions. You can view a recording of the session viewed here. Mitchell’s slides can be downloaded here.

Commissioner Deena Bishop and Lori Weed, School Finance Manager, with the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development spoke to Commonwealth North on Wednesday, July 17. Bishop and Weed walked through how state aid for education is determined. Using the foundation formula, adjustments, the base student allocation, and any special appropriations, Alaska school districts receive an allocation based on funds appropriated by the legislature. For a program recap, see the session recording and speaker slides linked below:

PROGRAM RECAP

Download Speaker Slides

Experts from finance, construction, and housing and homelessness NGOs joined Commonwealth North to explore the issues and policies that are impacting the availability and affordability of housing across Alaska. Preston Simmons, representing Housing Alaskans Public Private Partnership, Daniel Delfino with the Alaska Housing Finance Corp., Colleen Dushkin with Cook Inlet Housing Authority, Eric Visser of Visser Construction and the Alaska State Home Building Association and Meg Zalatel with the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness shared insights about the challenges facing Alaskans in obtaining affordable housing in a timely manner.

Download the combined presenters’ slides

Commissioner John Boyle recently addressed Commonwealth North to discuss implementation of Senate Bill 48, which authorizes the state to develop carbon management projects on state lands and sell carbon offset credits and to lease state lands for carbon management purposes. He also addresses the prospect for pending legislation that would authorize the state to develop carbon capture, utilization, and storage projects (CCUS).

Slide Deck

April 10, 2023

ICYMI: House Ways & Means

Rep. Ben Carpenter, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee addresses Commonwealth North’s Fiscal Policy Study Group. Carpenter outlines that the committee chose the work of the 2021 Fiscal Policy Working Group as a starting point for its efforts. The committee is considering legislation that would codify a spending cap and dividend solution in the state constitution. A statewide sales tax of one percent and other revenue measures are also on the committee’s agenda.

April 10, 2023

ICYMI: Reporting Alaska

A panel of Alaska journalists, editors, and news directors speak about the challenges of Reporting Alaska. The panel is moderated by Rosey Robards, executive director of the Alaska Press Club and the Alaska Teen Media Institute. Panelists include Rachel Kallander, editor of The Cordova Times; Andrew Kitchenman, editor in chief of the Alaska Beacon; Julia O’Malley, journalist, editor and writer; Larry Persily, publisher of the Wrangell Sentinel; and Lori Townsend, news director for Alaska Public Media and host of Talk of Alaska.