Arctic Alaska's role in future United States energy independence

Abstract

For decades, Arctic Alaska has provided US mainland states with plentiful oil supplies. As reserves in the Prudhoe Bay fields decrease, however, the USA has been forced to consider new options to guarantee the nation's energy security. While debates continue to rage about its reliance on foreign oil, increased prices, consumption levels, and climate change, the USA is now contemplating whether predicted new discoveries might actually allow it to become an exporter rather than importer of oil and gas in the near future. This paper considers the role Arctic Alaska might play in helping secure future US energy security and independence. It also considers what other options exist for securing the State of Alaska's own future post-Prudhoe Bay.

Acknowledgments

The author wishes to thank Timothy Heleniak and the two anonymous reviewers for their advice on the paper. Also, many thanks to Olivier Rey-Lescure, cartographer at the University of Newcastle for his assistance with the maps in this paper. Likewise, the author also wishes to thank the EIA, OFC and ISER (UAA) for permission to reproduce their maps and table in this article.