Fairbanks: AK Defense Forum, Events, and Energy Ratings

August 27, 2025

Hey Neighbors,

Summers in the Interior are short, beautiful and packed with barbeques for family and friends, fishing, attending the Midnight Sun Run activities, watching Gold Panner baseball games and making trips to the Salmon Bake and the Tanana Valley State Fair. My legislative office was also quite busy as we held multiple Picnics in the Park and door knocking to hear from you our friends and neighbors. The legislature was also called back into a special session by Governor Dunleavy where we successfully overrode two vetoes to add money to the base funding for K-12 schools and passed a transparency bill to see how much money the state is receiving for our oil royalties. We also watched as the federal level of funding was reduced for Denali Care starting in 2027 and will impact up to 40,000 Alaskans, also federal funding for Public Broadcasting was eliminated which will cut KUAC by nearly 1/3! We now head into fall as the leaves change colors and prepare for Winter. Make sure boilers are tuned up, cars are winterized and plants are pulled up before the first official freeze. Check out my e-newsletter on other pertinent current issues!

National Defense Showcased in Fairbanks

The Alaska Defense Forum returns to Fairbanks this week at the 8 Star Event Center, bringing together top military decision makers in the state for three days to discuss the Alaska role in national security. Alaska is the northernmost state in the union, and we are uniquely positioned for national defense, such as being situated at the crossroads of the Bering Strait and the Great Circle Route, two major international shipping lanes. These global concerns underscore why Alaska remains a cornerstone of U.S. defense strategy and why the discussions at the Forum are so critical.

Topics at the forum range from energy to supporting military families. I will participate in a panel focused on how the legislature can better support military families and veterans. While most people think of military defense in terms of how many soldiers can be mobilized to an area and how quickly, they forget that the soldier is a whole person. If our soldiers’ families aren’t supported back at home, they will not be able to be an effective fighting force. We always thank soldiers for their service, but do we ever thank the families for their dedication?

As the Senate Co-Chair of the Joint Armed Services Committee in the legislature, I am proud to have the district host such an important forum. The discussions that will take place at this event will shape defense posture and partnerships in the years ahead.

Ambassador Sfraga to Kick Off Arctic Leadership Lecture Series

The Arctic Leadership Lecture Series returns this week with a virtual talk from Ambassador Mike Sfraga, who many in our community know from his long career in Arctic policy and leadership at UAF. The event will take place on Thursday, August 28, from 5:30 to 7:00 PM via Zoom and is free and open to the public. As the nation’s first U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs and former interim Chancellor of UAF, Dr. Sfraga brings decades of experience and insight into both domestic and international Arctic strategy. The lecture is hosted by UAF’s Department of Political Science and Arctic & Northern Studies Program and will explore leadership in the North and what the future of the Arctic means for Alaska. Whether you’re a student, UAF Faculty, or a fellow constituent, I encourage you to tune in if you have an interest in Arctic issues, public service, or northern leadership.

A Night with Tradeswomen at Alaska Works

Alaska Works Partnership is hosting a casual evening filled with light refreshments, good conversation, and community connection. This gathering will highlight tradeswomen who have taken the skills they’ve gained working in the field and used those experiences to mentor others, organize efforts, and lead in their trades. The event will take place here in Fairbanks on Wednesday evening from 5 to 7 pm at Alaska Works Partnership, located in Building A at 3580 Cartwright Court. Alaska Works Partnership, Inc. is proud to sponsor this event, continuing their work in workforce development and training right in our own backyard.

This is not a formal program or presentation but rather an opportunity to connect with local tradeswomen, learn from their stories, and consider the possibilities within the trades for yourself or someone you know. Whether you are curious about the trades, contemplating a career change, or simply want to support the hardworking women in our community, this event is for you. Bring a friend, ask questions, share your own experiences, and let’s support each other as a community.

Home Energy Ratings and the DEC

In January, the Alaska Department of Conservation announced a revision to its air quality plan requiring anyone selling property in the Fairbanks/North Pole area to have a home energy rating conducted before listing. Since residential heating is the largest source of local air pollution, the agency argued this stipulation would enable home buyers to recognize the importance of efficient heating systems. DEC officials continued by saying this was a compromise measure and less demanding than imposing an inconvenient Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel mandate.

When this was announced, the Greater Fairbanks Board of Realtors immediately voiced its opposition to the plan. They maintained the argument that requiring an energy rating on a home before it is sold was an example of government overreach, would be an undue burden on home sellers and realtors, and wouldn’t even improve air quality. I met with the GFBR in Juneau and discussed this matter extensively and was concerned about what this mandate would do for the Fairbanks/North Pole home market. With only one person qualified to give an energy rating and no program currently in place to train more technicians, this mandate would have created a bottleneck in the home market.

The DEC and EPA has announced the removal of the proposed regulation requiring a home energy rating. While I agree that we need to improve the air quality in Fairbanks, we do not attain that goal by forcing every home on the market to have an energy rating. While an energy rating can inform a new home buyer of the costs to heat the home, it does not mitigate the need to heat that home. To mitigate air pollutants in our area, homeowners need to evaluate their ability to convert their heating source from wood-burning stoves to oil or gas. To that end, the Fairbanks North Star Borough has an incentive program where individuals will receive money to switch to clean-burning stoves.

My Staff and I are Here for You

As always, I will continue to keep you updated on what I’m working on in Juneau throughout the session. If you have any questions about anything going on in the Capitol or at home, feel free to give me a call or shoot me an email – as always, my staff and I are working for you. We will assist you with the issues important to you and your family.

Working Hard for Fairbanks Families,