By DAVE BRONSON and JOSHUA CHURCH
May 21, 2026 – Alaskans were promised progress on a gas line for decades.
Instead, we got studies, consultants, task forces, press conferences, political excuses, and legislative paralysis while energy prices continued rising and Alaska families continued paying the price.
At some point, we need to say the obvious: the political establishment failed.
More than 60% of Alaskans believe the state is on the wrong track because they can see what is happening around them. Young families are leaving. Housing costs are rising. Businesses struggle to expand. Communities are losing population. Meanwhile, one of the most resource rich places on earth cannot deliver affordable long term energy to its own people.
That is unacceptable.
The Legislature cannot continue governing as if there is unlimited time left to figure this out. Southcentral gas shortages are no longer some distant theoretical problem. Interior Alaska families have already spent years being crushed by some of the highest heating costs in America.
Alaska needs action.
The gas line should be treated as an economic survival project for the future of this state. Affordable and reliable energy impacts every part of Alaska’s economy:
Housing costs.
Utility costs.
Manufacturing.
Mining.
Military expansion.
Business investment.
Household affordability.
Population retention.
Virtually everything.
Without affordable energy, Alaska becomes increasingly unaffordable for working families and increasingly unattractive for investment.
The frustrating part is that Alaska has the resources. What we lack is political urgency and leadership willing to force projects across the finish line.
For years, politicians have delayed difficult decisions while the government continued growing, bureaucracy expanded, and opportunities slipped away.
Alaskans are tired of it.
This state was built by people willing to think big, work hard, and build infrastructure that future generations could benefit from. Alaska did not become successful because previous generations were afraid to act.
We need leadership willing to fight for development again.
Fight for affordable energy again.
Fight for economic growth again.
Fight for Alaska families again.
The gas line is not just another project anymore.
It is a test of whether Alaska still has the ability to build major things at all. It’s a test of whether families will continue for generations here or move.
Alaska’s future depends on the answer.
One thought on “Dave Bronson: Alaska cannot survive another decade of excuses”
Dave, talk of a gasoline was common starting back in 1976, before the TAPS was even completed. The theme at the time was to build another 48 inch line along side the oil pipeline, using the same right of way. That was 50 years ago.
But the markets didn’t support a gas line. And they still don’t today. Gas, being a plentiful and fungible commodity, is available all over the world. You need buyers who are willing to enter long-term contracts. At the price of between 50 and 90 $$billion to build an Alaska gas line, including liquification and regasification plants, the economics just doesn’t work out. Added to that, is the constant bickering of how Alaska is going to take its “fair share” in revenues…..volumetric tax or property tax. Alaskans are terribly misinformed about this. And the Legislature, with all of its small-brained leaders, will only kill a prospective deal.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but a gas pipeline in Alaska will be debated and delayed for another 20 to 50 years.
But I’m still voting for you.