RDC is absolutely committed to meeting the membership’s objectives and expectations through our programs, advocacy work and outreach efforts.

A prime example is the RDC Board outreach trip in September to visit communities and a variety of businesses in greater Fairbanks, Healy and Denali. Participants certainly gleaned a new perspective about the Interior’s business landscape. Our thanks go to many Interior friends who made the trip a resounding success with topnotch hospitality and a robust exchange of ideas and information.

The trip began in Fairbanks with an opportunity to hear from legislators Jay Ramras and John Harris who represent districts hard hit by rising energy costs. The consummate host, Representative Ramras served up a delicious breakfast at Pikes Landing before making an energetic pitch for an in-state line bringing North Slope natural gas to Fairbanks and Southcentral Alaska with potential export opportunities.

Next, we traveled to the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) campus where engineering professors in mining and oil and gas outlined the excellent academic programs available in our own backyard. Mining professor Rajive Ganguli said his student-to-professor ratio is 6-1 and the post-graduation job placement rate is nearly 100%. Please keep these important resourcesupporting programs in mind when considering donations to the University of Alaska system.

John Binkley hosted lunch aboard the Riverboat Discovery. Fairbanks community and
business leaders joined us for an exceptional opportunity to network and swap business news.

Oil and gas dominated our afternoon. First, Dan Britton, President of Fairbanks Natural Gas, led our members on a fascinating tour through the liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility and discussed a proposed project to truck gas from the North Slope to feed Fairbanks consumer and business needs. We explored the Fairbanks Pipeline Training Center with Jim Sampson and Brett Helms where Alaskans train to work on the Trans Alaska Pipeline and other pipeline projects. Finally, a visit to Flint Hills refinery with Jeff Cook gave members a better understanding of fuel refining operations and challenges.

We ended the first day with a focus on tourism as gregarious host Bernie Karl welcomed members to Chena Hot Springs Resort. While the Alaska tourism industry overall struggled in 2009, Karl’s operation saw an up-tick in business. Our group thoroughly enjoyed the ice museum and hot springs, along with a lesson in geothermal energy. Karl harnesses energy from moderately hot water to generate electricity that heats resort facilities. Geothermal also supports a commercial greenhouse built and operated in partnership with UAF.

The second day brought us to Usibelli Coal Mine in Healy where we toured the clean coal facility and the mine that produces low sulfur coal for in-state and export markets. Joe Usibelli, Jr., and Alan Renshaw showed us a mining operation which lies juxtaposed to previously mined areas that have been restored, offering proof that resource development and environmental stewardship can go hand-in-hand.

We ended our outreach trip with an overnight at the McKinley Chalet Resort and a visit into Denali National Park with Park Superintendent Paul Anderson. We headed back to Anchorage
aboard the Alaska Railroad, which provides direct Park access to more than 300,000 visitors each year. Aboard the train, Holland America served up an excellent gourmet dinner. The company also provided comfortable transportation for our travel throughout the Interior.

Along with outreach, RDC has pursued a wide range of advocacy efforts this year, as noted in this newsletter, and the pace of advocacy is about to accelerate. Our annual convention is just days away and the state legislative session is around the corner. As we build our federal
and state legislative priority lists for 2010, I invite our members to forward their proposals to Jason Brune for our legislative committee’s review.

In addition, the board and staff always welcome new ideas to create or improve our programs, advocacy and outreach efforts. RDC’s value to the membership lies in the collective work we do to educate and advocate responsible resource development.

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