Adam Crum: US Energy Costs Would Go Down Substantially If Alaskas Resources Were Fully Tapped
Energy costs across the U.S. \u201cwould probably go down substantially\u201d if the U.S. sharply increased mining and production of Alaska\u2019s natural resources, according to Adam Crum, commissioner for the Alaska Department of Revenue.\xa0\nGeographically, Alaska is by far the largest U.S. state at more than 663,000 square miles. It is also among the most natural resource-dense states in the nation.\xa0\nAlaska became a state in 1959, and under its Statehood Act, it is \u201cmandated that the mineral resources and the subsurface rights were collectivized by the state so that the state could actually collect the royalties and production taxes off of that to fund the government,\u201d Crum explains on \u201cThe Daily Signal Podcast.\u201d\nWhile other states, such as Texas and North Dakota, can have \u201cindividual farmers who actually have mineral rights, nobody has that in Alaska,\u201d he said, explaining that his state was \u201cset up to be a resource-development state since inception.\u201d\xa0\nOne of the world\u2019s largest zinc and lead mines can be found in northwest Alaska and has now \u201cbeen producing for over 40 years and has provided very extensive jobs,\u201d according to Crum.\xa0\nThe mine has allowed the local indigenous population in northern Alaska to \u201cnot only have an economy to stay there, but you have this town now, it's about 4,000, 5,000 people of primarily Inupiat Eskimos living up there. They get to benefit from this, and they can still get to live a subsistence lifestyle,\u201d Crum explains.\xa0\nAsked about the environmental effects of mining and drilling in Alaska, the revenue commissioner said life expectancy has increased in native communities where natural resources are being extracted as industry has strengthened local economies and increased the quality of life.\xa0\nCrum joins \u201cThe Daily Signal Podcast\u201d to discuss the vast natural resources Alaska has to offer.\xa0\nAlaska House of Representatives Speaker Cathy Tilton joins the show after the conversation with Crum to discuss the greatest challenges facing America\u2019s most northern state, and\xa0to share some of Alaska\u2019s best-kept secrets.\xa0\nEnjoy the show!