Sen. Murkowski sees US energy dominance on horizon

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) said on Tuesday that global U.S. energy dominance has become “a real and legitimate policy goal” in light of innovation and technological advances over the last decade.

Murkowski, the chairwoman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, delivered her remarks during a hearing that she convened on Tuesday on U.S. energy and resource security.

“We are in the midst of a significant surge in oil and natural gas production, with renewables also making a noteworthy contribution,” Murkowski said. “And we have taken steps to open up our markets, especially by lifting the ban on the export of domestic crude oil, which by all accounts stands as a smart, timely, and beneficial move.”

And, as the United States continues to move away from energy scarcity and isolation, Murkowski said she sees Alaska and the Arctic resource playing a critical role.

“My home state of Alaska is the most resource-rich state in the nation, and we stand ready to help strengthen our energy security,” Murkowski said. “While we currently account for 6 percent of total U.S. energy production; we have the opportunity to do so much more. Given recent discoveries both onshore and offshore in Alaska, along with our long-standing efforts to produce in our National Petroleum Reserve, the non-wilderness portion of ANWR, and our offshore Arctic, we have ample opportunity to refill the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and contribute to the security and prosperity of our nation.”

Murkowski also highlighted the need to make mineral security a priority going forward so that U.S. energy technologies, manufacturing, and infrastructure aren’t reliant on mineral imports from unpredictable sources.

“We are becoming more and more reliant on minerals for everything from smart phones and solar panels to advanced defense systems,” Murkowski said. “Our mineral security has fallen dramatically, year after year. We have to pay greater attention to this threat, and we have to take steps to resolve it now.”