The Polar Adventure Tanker in Valdez, Alaska
The tug-of-war over Alaska’s energy economy
Alaska has been engulfed by a lack of consistent policymaking and highlights the challenges financing energy projects in the US
Former President Joe Biden did seemingly everything he could to kill energy development in Alaska. Current President Donald Trump appears dedicated to using the power of the federal government to restore the nation’s 49th state to one of the most prolific oil producers in the union. The opposite approaches taken towards Alaska by the two men to have occupied the Oval Office since 2016 helps illustrate why it has become increasingly difficult to finance major energy projects in the US over the past decade. The policy tug-of-war between Democrat and Republican administrations has damaged the ability of corporate management teams and major financial institutions to have confidence in the consis
Also in this section
19 January 2026
Newfound optimism is emerging that a dormant exploration frontier could become a strategic energy play and—whisper it quietly—Europe’s next offshore opportunity
16 January 2026
The country’s global energy importance and domestic political fate are interlocked, highlighting its outsized oil and gas powers, and the heightened fallout risk
16 January 2026
The global maritime oil transport sector enters 2026 facing a rare convergence of crude oversupply, record newbuild deliveries and the potential easing of several geopolitical disruptions that have shaped trade flows since 2022
15 January 2026
Rebuilding industry, energy dominance and lower energy costs are key goals that remain at odds in 2026
