Tuesday, June 2nd 2015 Port of Seattle Commissioners P.O. Box 1209 Seattle, WA 98111 Dear Commissioners Albro, Bowman, Bryant, Creighton and Gregoire, As elected officials, business owners, community leaders, and Alaskan residents, the undersigned groups represent a wide swath of the state of Alaska. We understand firsthand that Alaskan energy, and oil and gas in particular, is critical to the well-‐being of every Alaskan resident and business. It contributes ~90% of state revenue, represents 1/3 of Alaskan jobs, and constitutes roughly half of the state’s economy. Simply put, the health of Alaska is intricately tied to development of the state’s energy resources. It should therefore be no surprise that Alaskans overwhelmingly support energy development, including offshore in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, which is home to an estimated 23.6 billion barrels of oil, enough to provide every licensed driver in the West Coast states with nearly 14,000 gallons of gasoline. Beyond Alaska and the West Coast region, in addition to fueling cars and trucks, this resource helps feed, clothe, and house hundreds of millions of Americans all across the nation. It is thus also not surprising that, as reflected in recent public polling, Americans in states as far away as New Hampshire, South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, and Iowa strongly support development of Alaskan energy resources. Indeed, as a federal advisory committee comprised of industry, academic, NGO, and government representatives recently concluded in a report requested by U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, new development of Alaskan energy in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas must begin ramping up now to ensure the nation’s long-‐term energy security. Importantly, Alaska is committed to working with the federal government, the energy industry, and others to ensure that innovation drives environmental improvement and energy development. However, those who present a false choice between energy development and a healthy environment and simply seek to prohibit the ability to access our resources present a position that is as ill-‐founded as it is unwise. If acted on, such a stance threatens to drive up energy prices for all Americans, negatively impacting jobs and slowing our economy. An 11th-‐hour effort organized by those opposed to Alaskan offshore development is now underway to force the revocation of the terms of the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 5 lease with Foss Maritime. The signed lease provides a staging area for exploration equipment over the next two years. With the opportunity associated with the 2015 exploration season just around the corner, and with the country still dependent on foreign energy imports, Alaskans and citizens across the United States deserve far better than to be held hostage by extremists’ viewpoints in the state of Washington. Significantly, the situation at hand is about far more than just energy, with the Port of Seattle having played a critical role in closely linking the economies of Alaska and Washington State. In that regard, many other economic powerhouse sectors in the Alaska region that depend on operational certainty and predictability in the Pacific Northwest, such as the tourism and seafood industries, are also closely monitoring the ongoing developments and wondering whether their activities at the port might be next on the target list if anti-‐development groups are successful in this instance. We are thus at a critical juncture with regard to both U.S. Arctic exploration and the future state of economic ties between Alaska and the Seattle area. The response of elected and public officials at all levels, including state and local, will play a crucial role in determining whether Alaska, the Seattle region, and the nation at large are able to realize the benefits associated with our abundant energy resources and historically close ties between Alaska and the Puget Sound region. For the benefit of this and future generations, it is our sincere hope that officials in Washington State respond with leadership and reason. To that end, we thank you for your recent vote in support of Foss’ use of Terminal 5 and encourage your continued support in honoring the terms of the lease agreement.
Respectfully, Anne Seneca, President, Consumer Energy Alliance Alaska Representative Mike Hawker, Anchorage Representative Steve Thompson, Fairbanks Representative Bob Lynn, Anchorage Representative Shelly Hughes, Palmer Representative Cathy Tilton, Wasilla Senator Mike Dunleavy, Wasilla Representative Lynn Gattis, Wasilla Senator Lesil Mcguire, Anchorage Majority Leader Charisse Millett, Anchorage Senator Bill Stoltze, Chugiak Representative Ben Nageak, Barrow Senator Charlie Huggins, Wasilla Representative Tammie Wilson, North Pole Senator Cathy Giessel, Anchorage Speaker Mike Chenault, Nikiski Senator Johnny Ellis, Anchorage Representative Liz Vazquez, Anchorage Senate President Kevin Meyer, Anchorage Representative Gabrielle LeDoux, Anchorage Jason Brune Allison Griffith Jacob Harrison Erin Double Sherry Thompson Steve Willford Randy Main Fenton J Earl Shamra Fournier Greg Carl Jeremy Price Al Guettinger Allen Hippler Colin Seneca Jason Everage Stephen Hesson Rose C Smith Stewart Emery Amy Peloza Ashley Robbins Sherri Hedges John Jolly Curt Nielsen Daniel E Young Bryan Clemenz John Earls Portia Babcock Jeff Heard Mervin Gilbertson Louie Oliva David Pease Stephen Lewis Julie Anderson Francy Bennett John Shillinger Basil Stewart Kellen McGilvray Susannan Cloyed Gary Greener Kris Koopen Arianna Briske Eric Dompeling Irving Langmaid Linda Whitworth Kurt Newman Kate Johnson Kari Chance Steve Pratt Dave Heston Steve Hartmann Steve Nolan Alan Hoza Jason Warberg Greg Buscher Rick Pollock Andy Collins Ken Hall Hans Rodvik Helvi Sandvik Mary Kuffner Chris Lee Kimberley Gray Carl Horning Robert Coleman Kirk Fisher Michael Satre Jeffery Casey Charlie Spires Dave Harbour Tammi Alexander Juanita Young Scott Scheffler Matthew Lindsey Joey Crum Kelly Droop Amanda Heard Wendy Oliva Mary Ann Pease Kay Wright Tracy Green Drue Pearce Stefani Pickett Bethany Marcum Charlotte MacCay Tim Kraus Linda Hay Will McKenzie Robert Maxand Daniel Kurka Michele Liu Gerald Van Bruggen Sandra Yi Claire Hall Gwendolyn Shephard cc: Seattle City Government Mayor Ed Murray Council President Tim Burgess Councilwoman Sally Bagshaw Councilman John Okamoto Councilwoman Jean Godden Councilman Bruce A. Harrell Councilman Nick Licata Councilman Mike O’Brien Councilman Tom Rasmussen Councilwoman Kshama Sawant