Municipality of Anchorage, Mat-Su Borough and utility leaders call for urgent action on Alaska energy policy

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Mayor Suzanne LaFrance today joined Matanuska-Susitna Borough Mayor Edna DeVries, ENSTAR Natural Gas Company President John Sims, and Matanuska Electric Association CEO Tony Izzo to address the growing threat posed by declining Cook Inlet natural gas supplies, rising energy costs and the need for a reliable long-term energy solution for Alaska.

During a joint press conference at Anchorage City Hall, the leaders emphasized that the issue is no longer distant or theoretical. The availability and cost of natural gas affect home heating, electric generation, municipal operations, businesses and essential public services throughout Southcentral Alaska and the Railbelt.

The group urged state leaders to act with urgency during the current special session to advance a durable, affordable long-term energy solution for Alaskans.

"Anchorage residents, businesses and public services depend on reliable, affordable energy. The declining supply of Cook Inlet natural gas and rising costs are a direct concern for our community, particularly as we prepare for the winter months," said Mayor Suzanne LaFrance. "We are working with our utility and municipal partners to prepare for near-term risks, but Alaska also needs decisive action on Alaska LNG and other long-term solutions to protect our residents and support our economy."

"There is one project that will reduce the price of energy in the next ten years. That is the Alaska LNG project. There are no other options that we can have that will have the potential to reduce the price of energy. We have to have the ability to look down the highway, as opposed to the stop signs directly in front of us. That has been Alaska's problem for far too long," said ENSTAR Natural Gas Company President John Sims.

"Alaska LNG represents to our Borough citizens as well as the whole State of Alaska - an opportunity to strengthen Alaska's economy, improve energy security, create jobs and investment for future generations," said Matanuska-Susitna Borough Mayor Edna DeVries.

"Despite living in one of the most energy-rich states in the country, Alaskans have faced decades of unnecessary energy uncertainty. The result is higher energy costs and increasing risks to the reliability of our energy supply," said Matanuska Electric Association CEO Tony Izzo. "Now is the time for leaders to break this cycle and move beyond short-term decisions to take clear, decisive action to build a stronger future for Alaska."

The leaders agreed that Alaska must address immediate reliability concerns while moving forward with a long-term solution that provides dependable energy, protects consumers from escalating costs and supports economic growth for future generations.

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Contact: Emily Goodykoontz [email protected] 1 (907) 205-6683

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