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Alaskans win again on energy

Jael Holzman
Jul 18, 2023
Senator Lisa Murkowski

Murkowski in June. Photo: Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Alaska's congressional delegation scored another energy win with Pentagon funding to jump-start a graphite mine.

Why it matters: The Alaskans have gotten federal support to demonstrate that mining can occur in the state even though the Biden administration may have killed Pebble Mine.

Driving the news: The Defense Department yesterday announced a $37.5 million agreement to use Inflation Reduction Act money for a study needed to build a graphite mine outside of Nome, Alaska.

  • Graphite One, the company building the mine, must complete the feasibility study to move forward with the project, as it's usually a prerequisite to starting the permitting process.
  • Sen. Lisa Murkowski told us fighting for Graphite One was a big priority of hers after she got President Biden to clear the Willow oil project.

What they're saying: “I congratulate the team at Graphite One, and I thank the Department of Defense for recognizing the immense value of this project," Murkowski said in a statement.

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