June 15, 2026 – As Alaska lawmakers race toward the June 19 deadline for the special legislative session on the Alaska LNG project, supporters are taking their case directly to the public with yet another rally backing the massive natural gas development.
A community rally in support of Alaska LNG is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in Kenai, marking the third major public demonstration of support for the project this month. Similar events were held in Fairbanks earlier in June and in Anchorage on Saturday, where labor leaders, business owners, and energy advocates urged lawmakers to approve legislation intended to improve the project’s financial viability.
The Kenai Peninsula rally will take place from 4 pm to 6 pm at Davis Block & Concrete in Kenai, with a formal program beginning at 5 pm.
Scheduled speakers include Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche, Kenai Mayor Henry Knackstedt, Reps. Justin Ruffridge and Bill Elam, Glenfarne Vice President of Pipeline Construction Doug Fletcher, and Regina Davis of Davis Block & Concrete. Community leaders, business owners, labor representatives, and Alaska LNG supporters from across the peninsula are expected to attend.
The event comes as the Alaska Senate continues debating legislation designed to reduce taxes on the project during its construction phase, when developers will be spending billions of dollars building infrastructure but generating no revenue from gas sales.
Supporters of the legislation argue that construction-phase tax relief is essential to making the project competitive with other global LNG developments seeking investment capital. They note that the project would still pay taxes once gas begins flowing, but that imposing significant property taxes during construction could increase financing costs and undermine the project’s economics before a single cubic foot of gas is sold.
Democrats have complained about the impact on local government revenues and whether Alaska is giving up too much potential tax revenue.
The legislative debate is occurring against a rapidly approaching deadline. The special session called by Gov. Mike Dunleavy is scheduled to end June 19, leaving only a few days for senators to decide whether to advance the House-passed legislation or allow it to die without a vote.
There is a procedural effort known as the Rule of 11 that could prevent the matter from even being voted on, thus preventing senators from having to go on the record for or against the LNG project.
The issue is a test of whether Alaska is serious about moving forward with a project that could bring an estimated 12,000 construction jobs, billions of dollars in private investment, and long-term supplies of North Slope natural gas to Alaskans.
“The Kenai Peninsula has been at the center of Alaska’s energy industry for decades, and the Alaska LNG project represents a significant opportunity to build on that legacy,” rally organizers said in announcing the event. “The project can create thousands of construction jobs, generate new opportunities for businesses and support long-term economic growth.”
The growing series of rallies highlights the increasing pressure being placed on lawmakers as the clock ticks down on the special session. Labor unions, local elected officials, contractors, and business organizations have all publicly urged the Senate to approve the tax changes, arguing that Alaska has spent decades discussing a gasline and now faces a rare opportunity to move the project toward construction.
Photo above: Anchorage rally for the gasline.
