Collectively, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management manage more than 55 million acres of public lands in Alaska’s arctic region. These lands hold vast oil and gas, mineral, wildlife, and scenic resources.
Join Commonwealth North to hear from the senior managers of public lands in Alaska’s Arctic. They’ll provide a survey of lands under their purview in the Arctic region, a review of any plans or initiatives for those lands, a review of oil and gas activities, and provide project status updates.
SPEAKERS
Deputy Commissioner Sara Longan (confirmed) Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Chad Padgett (confired) State Director Bureau of Land Management U.S. Department of the Interior
REGISTRATION: The program is free of charge but please register to receive login details.
Arctic Policy Study Group The Arctic Policy Study Group typically meets weekly on Wednesdays (usually at 8 a.m.) throughout the summer and early fall. Please join us to explore the issues critical to the region and our state.
Submit Questions in Advance If you have questions pertinent to the session topic, you can submit those in advance to exec@commonwealthnorth.org. Include “APSG 09/02/2020” in the subject line.
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.
We will have a briefing from Ocean Renewable Power Company on their efforts to commercialize run of river and tidal hydropower in Alaska and internationally.
Speaker: Stuart Davies, CEO, ORPC
The program is free of charge, but please register to receive your 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.
Join us for a presentation by IHS Markit about their recent analysis of Alaska’s competitiveness in oil and gas markets both domestically and internationally. It also addresses Alaska’s future competition for investment. The study was commissioned by the American Petroleum Institute.
Speaker: Irena Agalliu, Vice President, IHS Markit
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.
Arctic Policy Study GroupThe Ocean Between Us:
Governance and Cooperation in Arctic Waters
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
8:00 am - 9:00 am
OnlineThis program has sold out.Video will be made available after the program.
With ever increasing human activity and rising geopolitical tensions, the interests of arctic nations and states converge in the Arctic Ocean. What governance structures are in place to regulate activities in arctic waters? How can stakeholders establish efforts to dissipate tensions and ensure cooperation in the arctic?
Join Commonwealth North and the Polar Institute at The Wilson Center for a discussion about the future of Arctic Ocean governance, the Central Arctic Oceans Agreement, perspectives on international cooperation, Alaska's role in cooperative efforts, and international fisheries issues that impact Alaska.
MODERATORMichael Sfraga (confirmed)
Director, Polar Institute
The Wilson Center
SPEAKERAmbassador David Balton (confirmed)
Senior Fellow, Polar Institute;
Former Ambassador for Oceans and Fisheries, U.S. Department of State
THANKS to our Arctic Collaborator and Session Host:
Arctic Policy Study Group
The Arctic Policy Study Group typically meets weekly on Wednesdays (usually at 8 a.m.) throughout the summer and early fall. Please join us to explore the issues critical to the region and our state.
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.
With five to seven days of food supply on store shelves, finely-tuned just in time inventory systems, shifting consumer demands, and long, vulnerable supply chains, maintaining food supplies in Alaska is a constantly evolving strategic and tactical dilemma. This session will focus on how large retailers and shippers maintain food supplies and react to disruptions in the system.
Speakers:
Bob Ripley, General Manager, Dimond Costco – confirmed
Eddie Walton, Director of Railbelt Logistics, Matson – invited
The program is free of charge but please register to receive login details.
Alaska’s Arctic and the New Great Power Competition
Wednesday, August 12, 2020
8:00 am – 9 am
Online
Through increased economic and military activity, Russia and China continue to assert interest and presence in the Arctic. How then does the U.S. respond and what implications does that response have for Alaska’s Arctic region?
Please join Commonwealth North and our collaborators the Arctic Domain Awareness Center and The Polar Institute at The Wilson Center for a discussion about the implications of the New Great Power Competition for Alaska’s Arctic.
Moderators
Randy “Church” Kee, Maj Gen, USAF (Ret) (confirmed)Executive Director, Arctic Domain Awareness CenterUniversity of Alaska
Michael Sfraga (confirmed)Director, Polar InstituteThe Wilson Center
SPEAKERS
Shannon R. Jenkins (confirmed) Senior Arctic Advisor, Office of Arctic PolicyUnited States Coast Guard
Michael J. Smith (confirmed) U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionDepartment of Homeland Security
David W. Martin, Jr. (invited) Alaska CommandU.S. Air Force
REGISTRATION:The program is free of charge but please register to receive login details.
The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development administers a portfolio of Child Nutrition Programs. This session will provide an overview of those programs, including the under the authorization of the US. Department of Agricuture’s Food and Nutrition Service. 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.
On November 3, 2020, Alaskans will consider an initiative that would make sweeping changes as to how elections are conducted in our state:
“An Act Replacing the Political Party Primary with an Open Primary System and Ranked-Choice General Election,and Requiring Additional Campaign Finance Disclosures”.
This program will feature Katherine Gehl, co-author of the recently published, “The Politics Industry: How Political Innovation Can Break Partisan Gridlock and Save Our Democracy”.
Following Ms. Gehl’s remarks, we will hear analysis of the election reform initiative from Alaska attorneys Scott Kendall and Chad Hutchison.
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.
Arctic Policy Study GroupSurface Transportation in Alaska's Arctic RegionWednesday, July 29th8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.Online
Alaska’s Arctic “is a vast territory with a relatively small population, characterized by long distances and almost no road system, where transportation occurs mainly by airplane and boat.” This session will explore several proposed surface transportation projects in the Arctic.
Speakers:
Arctic Strategic Transportation and Resources (ASTAR): Jeff Bruno, DNR
Ambler Access: Jeff San Juan, AIDEA
Alaska Department of Transportation Northern Region: Ryan Anderson
The event is free of charge, but please register to receive your login details.
The Arctic Policy Study Group meets weekly on Wednesdays at 8 a.m. throughout the summer and early fall. Please join us to explore the issues critical to the region and our state. 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.
Energy Action CoalitionEmerging Renewable Energy Initiatives in AlaskaIsaac VanderburgCEOLaunch AlaskaFriday, July 10thNoon-1pmOnline
Isaac will discuss Alaskan renewable energy project initiatives and a future outlook for the potential of renewable energy technology in the state.
Launch Alaska’s mission is to accelerate the resource revolution. This means supporting companies who are decarbonizing and electrifying food, water, transportation and energy systems. Through an intensive 8 month program, Launch Alaska pairs startups with decision makers in Alaska to validate technologies and scope projects for deployment. Startups work with investors, policy wonks and customers in a collaborative and structured program—all focused on getting solutions to the companies and communities who need them most.
Isaac was previously the State Director for the Alaska Small Business Development Center and is a member of the Commonwealth North board of directors.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.