OCS YES! Consumer Energy Alliance Rally, 3-2-15.

This video documents yesterday's rally and news conference, held in conjunction with a Federal Government OCS lease sale hearing at the Dena’ina Center in downtown Anchorage.

Consumer Energy Alliance-Alaska Executive Director Anne Seneca organized the program and introduced speakers supporting a responsible, OCS five-year leasing program.  

Approximately 100 "OCS Yes" supporters filled a room in the convention center before attending the formal BOEM event afterward in an adjacent room.  For more details, see yesterday's notice.  

Following is a listing of speakers included in the video:

  • David Holt, president of Consumer Energy Alliance.  Holt, a frequent speaker at Alaskan energy events told his audience that, "Alaska energy is under assault."  He said a robust federal lease sale program is needed in Alaska and other OCS areas around the country.  Without that commitment, he said, energy supply is at risk when energy is the "fabric of the US economy."
  • Former Lieutenant Governor Mead Treadwell pointed out that the 5-year leasing plan BOEM proposes is inadequate.  He said that with regard to natural resource issues, the federal government, "…is paddling against us."  
  • Carl Portman, longtime Deputy Executive Director of the Resource Development Council for Alaska reminded the audience that the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) upon which Alaska's economy rests, is 3/4 empty.  He said that reasonable on- and off-shore development could sustain Alaska's economy for decades, that energy is the "lifeblood" of Alaska's economy.  He noted that with the country still importing a quarter of its oil, Alaska's potential production could lead the U.S. faster to energy independence.
  • Executive Director of the Alaska Trucking Association, Aves Thompson, represents 200 corporate members that, in turn, are the backbone of about 3,000 family and corporate owned trucking businesses in the state.  He said that OCS development is vital to his members for several reasons, including the fuel that powers equipment, the fuel Alaska needs and the fuel the country needs.  He said the BOEM is obligated to move its process forward to assure dependable energy supplies and went on to discuss Alaska's vast potential and trucking demographics.
  • Angela Cernich introduced herself as a wife, mother, grandmother, small business owner and Alaska Native with a rich family background (Owner, Arctic Branding and Apparel).  She said that employment is essential to the survival of Alaska and that energy development and care for the environment does and can co-exist.  Referring to the efforts of the federal government to block resource development in Alaska, she asked, "Can you imagine if Texans were told not to develop their resources?"
  • Alaska AFL-CIO President Vince Beltrami emphasized the number of jobs OCS development could produce in both Alaska and Nationally,  He also noted the importance of Alaska training programs funded by the state operating budget and how citizens should encourage the Legislature to not cut those Department of Labor training program items.  He said he will be urging the Obama Administration to approve Alaska OCS leasing that would extend the life of TAPS–a critical energy link for America.
  • The Rally's last speaker was Deputy Executive Director of the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce, Andy Rogers.  He said that the 5-year leasing planning process was needed but that to be truly effective business looks for long term certainty–supporting critical long term investment decisions.  

    (Note:  your writer once served on the national CEA board of directors and remains a supporter of the organization to this day, along with other groups represented at the rally.  -dh)