Federal Energy Secretary touts Trump’s policies at annual oil & gas conference

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - The Alaska Oil and Gas Association (AOGA) wrapped up the second day of its annual conference in Anchorage Thursday with record attendance.

AOGA President Steve Wackowski credited the numbers with a growing optimism that Alaska’s oil and gas industry is moving forward, especially with projects on the North Slope.

“We’ve got some pretty incredible projects that are now increasing that through-put through the pipeline,” Wackowski said. “We’ve got Pikka coming online, Hilcorp has done incredible work at Milne Point, Conoco has Coyote that they just brought online to first oil and then we are looking at Willow.

“So, we are seeing this resurgence on the North Slope of oil coming down [the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System] and I think it’s really created excitement around our industry.“

Day 1: AOGA conference starts with optimistic tone

Conference goers also came to hear the nation’s top energy official speak. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright talked about President Trump’s push to develop more energy resources in Alaska.

“I bring a message from President Trump and really from the globe, and it’s a giant thank you,” Wright said. “Thank you, Alaska, the world depends on your resources.”

Wright called Alaska a “poster child” for how past federal policies have, in his words, “strangled resource development in the state,” adding industry officials and legislators may still have to fight to make sure pro-development policies continue with the next administration.

“The world needs more energy, Alaska is a powerhouse,” Wright said. “I think you could have an incredible several years, several decades coming with just some common sense policies to set Alaskans free.”

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, who was also at the conference, urged attendees to vote for Alaskan lawmakers who support resource development, saying the state’s energy future will depend on the next governor as well as state legislators.

Dunleavy was not successful in getting lawmakers to approve legislation that would move a liquified natural gas pipeline forward, but Wackowski said the industry wants to work with whoever can do that, adding “we are not giving up hope yet.”

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