Linking Alaska’s Resources to Alaska’s People 52 2024 Meet Alaska Conference & Trade Show 1984. You could write a book with that title. A book with a look into the future. We did. In January 1984, the first Meet Alaska gathered in Anchorage, to look at Alaska’s future opportunities and challenges. And the need for teamwork between Alaskans, both oil producers and the many industries that support them. That book is the summary of the proceedings at that first event. It gives a compelling look back at where we were, how far we’ve come and, in a few cases, how we seem doomed to repeat the past. Here and on the following pages, we share some of the telling comments from presenters at that event, the men who started Alaska in the direction we live today. Harold Heinze, president of ARCO Alaska Inc. was that event’s keynote speaker His opening remarks are as true and forward looking today as they were 40 years ago: “All of us understand that nowhere in the United States are the petroleum, mining, and support industries as critical to a state’s overall economy as in Alaska. We also know that Alaska’s potential for new oil, gas and mineral discoveries is about the best in the country. Ironically…nowhere in America is state and federal policy so influential in our natural resource development. And…the rest of the nation doesn’t look at Alaska very realistically. “Unless all of us recognize the need to communicate and work together in some kind of favorable relationship or partnership, we aren’t going to keep the private sector going… “All of us in this room also know that Alaska is a government state. WE started out s a ward of the federal government. The governments collectively own about 87 percent of all the land in the state. Therefore, the resource industries and support industries should become more knowledgeable of the requirements and needs of the government sectors. “The challenge facing us is how to get the public sector, private sector and government sector to work together.” “There are a number of other issues that impact the petroleum and mining industries, like infrastructure, markets, costs, etc., but I’ve zeroed in on the two I think most import – taxes and land access! “As a support industry alliance, I recognize that you have more political muscle in your little finger than we as companies have in our whole bodies. You support industries need to hang in there, streamline your operations and be competitive. Governor Bill Sheffield Sheffield had taken recent criticism for among other things asking the Department of Interior to delay oil lease sales on Alaska’s Outer Continental Shelf. He devoted much of his speech to asserting support still for the oil industry. “I thought I saw additional security as I entered the hotel this morning; at least I asked for some. At least I thought I might 40 years ago … a look back at the first Meet Alaska SHEFFIELD
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