SUBCOMMITTEE ON INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE AFFAIRS
Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly Chambers, 809 Pioneer Road, Fairbanks, Alaska
Thursday, April 5, 2012
10:00 a.m. Alaska Time

• Press Release - Alaskans Testify Increasing Energy Prices Harm Way of Life, Federal Barriers Obstructing New Energy Development (4/5/2012)

OVERSIGHT FIELD HEARING ON:

• "Federal Laws and Policies Affecting Energy Prices in Rural Alaska and their Effects on Native Villages"

Watch the Archived Hearing Webcast:

OPENING STATEMENT:

The Honorable Don Young
Chairman

WITNESSES AND TESTIMONY:

Panel I

Sarah E. Obed
Government Relations Director
Doyon, Limited
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Jerry Isaac
President and CEO
Tanana Chiefs Conference
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Elaine Brown
Energy Director & General Manager
Nuvista Light and Electric Cooperative
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Melody Nibeck-Edgmon
Tribal Energy Program Manager
Bristol Bay Native Association
(Truth in Testimony Form)

The Honorable Edward Alexander
2nd Chief
Gwichyaa Zhee Gwich’in Tribal Government

Chris Rose
Executive Director
Renewable Energy of Alaska Project
(Truth in Testimony Form)

BACKGROUND:

The purpose of this oversight field hearing is to hear the effects of Federal Laws and policies on energy prices in Native Villages and rural Alaska, and what effect they are having on sustaining a good quality of life. Environmental regulations and lawsuits continually frustrate even modest efforts to improve access, create jobs, and keep prices of electricity, fuel, food, and general commodities down in Alaska’s rural areas. Committee Members will hear from witnesses on the need for a true all-of-the-above energy approach that would allow Alaska Natives to harness every energy resource available to lower prices, create jobs and lessen dependence on unstable foreign energy.