Sen. Begich Optimistic About Oil, Gas Exploration and Development in the Arctic

Sean Doogan’s exclusive interview with U.S. Sen. Mark Begich.

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By Sean Doogan

Story Created: May 19, 2011 at 4:40 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Aug 6, 2012 at 11:12 AM AKDT

Oil and gas exploration

  • President Obama’s vision for Alaska and energy development, recent speech
  • Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar, "moratorium" on drilling
  • Disconnect between president’s plans and his departments
  • National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPRA)
  • Energy projects on hold
  • Improving coordination and accountability efforts for exploration in the Arctic
  • Alaska as part of domestic oil solution

OCS coordinator

  • Legislation gathering interest, moving forward
  • Begich believes NPR-A and Chukchi Sea exploration, either one or both, could occur by end of 2012
  • Begich wants to “hold Obama’s feet to the fire;” accountability for OCS and Arctic exploration
  • Challenges and benefits of being a pro-development democrat

Move for bipartisan legislation

Alaska’s approach to renewable energy and oil and gas development

  • Enormous resources in heavy oil—wasn’t addressed at State Legislature
  • The “right incentives not in place"

Anti-drilling on principle and understanding the facts—lobbying of “narrow-minded ways”

Pressure from constituents; price of gas at the pump

Influence of social media as a tool to reach, communicate with constituents


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