Commonwealth North will host a panel of experts to report on the value, income, and prospects of the State of Alaska’s key natural resource, financial, and enterprise corporation assets. As shareholders of “Alaska Inc.”, the citizens of Alaska have a vested interest in how these assets are performing. This briefing is especially critical now as Alaska prepares to meet evolving fiscal realities.
Former Lt. Governor Mead Treadwell will moderate the program. Guest speakers include Corri Feige, Commissioner of Natural Resources, Lucinda Mahoney, Commissioner of Revenue; Jim Johnsen, President of the University of Alaska; and Tom Boutin, CEO and Executive Director of the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority.
This signature Commonwealth North program tracks the performance of Alaska’s assets – and asset managers – and is an opportunity for you to review and evaluate the annual progress of our common wealth. The event is limited to 100 attendees, so registration is required. It’s free for CWN members, $5 for non members. You will receive a password after you register.
How to Zoom You can join us from any computer, smart phone, or tablet. 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. Please log in at 11:55am. You will also have the option to dial in by phone for audio only. You will receive a link and phone number to join the meeting after you register.
On Friday, we will host Representative Jennifer Johnston to give us a recap of the legislative session focused on the budget that was passed over the weekend.
The event is free of charge but limited to 100 people. Registration is required. You will receive your password by email after you register.
How to Zoom You can join us from any computer, smart phone, or tablet by clicking the link below. If you plan to connect by tablet or smartphone, I recommend visiting Zoom.com prior to Friday’s program to download the app. You can watch this tutorial for more information. Please log in at 7:55am.
Larry Persily will join us to discuss the changing global oil markets and what they could mean for Alaska. Larry is a longtime Alaska journalist, who has served in state, local and federal government positions related to oil and gas and taxes. He is currently an oil and gas columnist for the Alaska Journal of Commerce and serves as the Atwood chair of journalism at UAA.
The program is free but we are limited to 100 people so registration is required. You will receive a link and password after you register. You will also receive a phone number for the option to connect with audio only.
How to Zoom You can join us from any computer, smart phone, or tablet by clicking the link below. If you plan to connect by tablet or smartphone, I recommend visiting Zoom.com prior to Friday’s program to download the app. You can watch this tutorial for more information. Please log in at11:55am.
Join Commonwealth North online for a spirited debate about the future of the Permanent Fund. Ralph Townsend, Director of UAA’s Institute for Social and Economic Research, and Craig Richards, Chair of the Permanent Fund Board of Trustees, will debate the best way to manage the Permanent Fund to ensure its sustainability for future Alaskans.
You will get to vote for the most convincing argument to determine the winner.
We will be hosting the event with the online videoconference program Zoom so you can join us by video from computer, tablet, or smartphone. You also have the option to dial in by phone.
The event is limited to 100 so registration is required. It’s free for CWN members, $5 for non members.
On Friday, we will host Legislative Finance Director Pat Pitney to give us an update on the State’s revenue forecast in light of the rapidly changing global economic situation. The meeting will be hosted online via the teleconferencing program Zoom.
The event is free of charge but limited to 100 people. Registration is required. You will receive your password by email after you register.
How to Zoom You can join us from any computer, smart phone, or tablet by clicking the link below. If you plan to connect by tablet or smartphone, I recommend visiting Zoom.com prior to Friday’s program to download the app. You can watch this tutorial for more information. Please log in at 7:55am.
Due to the impacts of Covid-19 on our lives and our economy, it is more important than ever for Alaskans to be well informed and to communicate with one another about public policy issues. Commonwealth North will be continuing our mission to educate Alaskans about the critical issues facing our state and identifying effective solutions. In the near term however, we will be migrating many of our meetings to Zoom, a popular online video-conference service. On Friday, we will host Alaska journalist Tim Bradner to give us the latest news from the legislative session and the policy issues now being debated in Juneau.
How to Zoom You can join us from any computer, smart phone, or tablet by clicking the link below. If you plan to connect by tablet or smartphone, I recommend visiting Zoom.com prior to Friday’s program to download the app. You can watch this tutorial for more information.
Unfortunately, we are postponing Wednesday’s forum due to the changing travel plans of our keynote speaker.
Mark your calendar for our forum on April 1st when
Professor Ralph Townsend, director of UAA’s Institute of Social and
Economic Research, and Craig Richards, chair of the Alaska Permanent
Fund Board, will have a coin-toss debate about the future of the
Permanent Fund.
We look forward to seeing you at future Commonwealth North events.
Bob will discuss the Bradley Lake hydroelectric power generation station and the Battle Creek Diversion and their contribution to Railbelt energy strategies. He will also discuss the SQ Line which was damaged this summer during the wildfires.
The Bradley Creek Diversion Project will divert runoff into Bradley Lake. The project will enable the facility, which currently produces some of the lowest cost power between Homer and Fairbanks, to increase its annual output by about 10% (enough to serve almost 5,500 homes) for the next 80 years. The project is currently underway and is planned to be commissioned by summer of 2020.
Deputy Commissioner Mike Barnhill will dial in from Juneau to discuss the funding status of the State’s retirement systems, what guidelines the State uses to determine funding sufficiency, and what the administration recommends to ensure pension obligations are within best practice parameters.
Julie Estey, director of external affairs for Matanuska Electric Association, will give us a briefing on the establishment of the Railbelt Reliability Council, the legislation being considered, and the potential impact on the delivery and cost of electricity to Alaskans.
Last year, six railbelt utilities signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create a Railbelt Reliability Council to enforce common reliability standards, coordinate joint planning, and explore ways to reduce costs. This agreement follows a 2015 letter from the Regulatory Commission of Alaska to the Legislature recommending a number of reforms to the Railbelt electrical system. This year, the Legislature is considering SB 123 and HB 151 which contain statutory changes related to the creation of a Railbelt Reliability Council and oversight authority by the RCA.
