Mark will work at the national level for the same results he has helped achieve as Anchorage’s mayor: 9,200 new jobs in five years, 20 straight years of economic growth and lower property taxes for most Anchorage property owners between 2006 and 2007. Mark Begich also helped pull together more than $1 billion in public and private sector funding to create the biggest building boom in recent Anchorage history. Mark will put this same results-oriented, practical vision to work in the U.S. Senate to create new jobs and expand Alaska’s economy by launching a new energy economy for Alaska, investing in infrastructure, expanding research and development programs at the University of Alaska, and focusing on workforce development. The global economy affects Alaska more than ever. Mark Begich is ready to lead Alaska in this economy, creating new opportunities for Alaska families and communities.

Launch Alaska’s New Energy Economy

Alaska has some the best renewable and non-renewable energy resources in the world. Alaska has an unprecedented opportunity right now to develop these resources and launch a new energy economy for our state that will create good-paying, reliable jobs for decades to come. Developing these resources will expand Alaska’s economy in every region of the state and help reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil. As senator, Mark Begich will work across party lines to launch a bold, new comprehensive energy initiative for Alaska that includes:

• Pioneer New Sources of Renewable Energy. Mark supports an aggressive target of producing at least 25% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2025. He will push for expanded federal tax incentives for renewable energy development and accelerated depreciation for capital investments in renewable energy generation, transmission and small distributed generation. He will also push for grants and low-interest loans for public utilities to help buy down their debt if they transition to more efficient and renewable generation.
• Pursue Responsible Oil and Gas Development. Mark has always supported and pushed for responsible development of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Mark will also push for new incentives for more accelerated lease sales in the National Petroleum Reserve- Alaska. NPRA development will create new jobs in the state and add more oil to the trans-Alaska pipeline. NPRA represents one of the best, near-term development prospects where the industry and Alaskans have already worked out a responsible development plan. And, Mark will hold industry accountable for carrying this out.
• Bring the Benefits of a Gas Pipeline to All Alaska. Alaska is in a better position now more than ever to provide families and businesses in our state and the nation with cleaner-burning energy through the Alaska natural gas pipeline. As U.S. senator, Mark will work with producers, pipeline companies and the state administration to ensure that any Alaska gasline project puts Alaskans to work by including Alaska-hire provisions, funding training centers and apprenticeship programs, and using Alaska businesses. Mark also supports a strong revenue-sharing program from gasline revenues with all Alaska communities to fund essential public services and provide property tax relief.
• Focus on Energy Efficiency. Buildings consume approximately 70 percent of the nation’s electricity. Mark will push for a new national Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund to help retrofit public buildings with energy efficient technology, cutting energy costs and saving taxpayers money. Mark also will fight for a new federal funding program that rewards schools that adopt sustainable, high-performance building and reconstruction standards. Sustainable schools use an average of 30 percent to 50 percent less energy compared to conventional schools – freeing up money for more teachers and smaller classes. These new energy efficiency programs will also create thousands of good-paying jobs that cannot be exported overseas.

Invest in Alaska’s Infrastructure

As Alaska turns 50 this year many of our public roads, bridges, and ports are in disrepair and not up to federal safety standards. Deferred preventative and routine maintenance for Alaska’s roads and bridges is over $1 billion. The Alaska Marine Highway System requires approximately $50 million per year in vessel replacement, refurbishment, or recertification. Having well-maintained public infrastructure is critical to attracting new business to Alaska. Without adequate infrastructure to quickly move goods and people, we cannot launch Alaska’s new energy economy and may see our current economy stagnate.  The State of Alaska estimates the cost for road and bridge upgrades to enable gas pipeline construction alone will be over $2 billion. Making a major investment in our public infrastructure now will create thousands of new jobs and lay down the backbone of our new energy economy. To do this, Mark Begich will:

• Establish a National Infrastructure Bank. Mark supports bipartisan proposals for a new financing system to rebuild our public infrastructure, including roads and highways, bridges, drinking water and wastewater systems, and public transportation systems. The American Society of Engineers estimates that an investment of $1.6 trillion over five years is required just to bring our current infrastructure to an acceptable level. The federal Highway Trust Fund – the largest source of road money in Alaska – will run out of money in 2009 to fund the nation’s road and bridge needs. The Bank would work with state and local governments on financing packages that could include direct subsidies, direct loan guarantees, and long-term tax-credit bonds.
• Rebuild the Marine Highway System. The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) serves 30 communities in Southeast, Southwest and Southcentral Alaska and carries more than 300,000 travelers and 90,000 vehicles a year. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of AMHS employees, the system faces many challenges: seven of eleven AMHA ferries are older than 30 years and were not designed for fuel efficiency. As U.S. senator, Mark will commit to building a 21^st century, fuel-efficient marine highway system that offers comparable access to Alaska’s coastal communities as enjoyed by communities along Alaska’s land based highway system.
• Create Alaska Climate Change Adaptation Fund. The Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska estimates that climate change may cause more than $6.1 billion in damage to Alaska’s roads, ports, airports and coastline. Mark supports national climate change legislation if it makes federal funds available for regions dealing with the effects of climate change.

Expand Economic Opportunities in Rural Alaska

As mayor of Anchorage, Mark Begich has always argued that you cannot have a strong urban Alaska without an equally strong rural Alaska. Rural Alaska faces tremendous economic challenges today – skyrocketing energy prices, high cost of living, limited Internet access and restricted transportation routes. As U.S. senator, Mark will build on the strengths of rural Alaska to expand economic opportunities and create vibrant, sustainable communities by:

• Affordable Access to High-Speed Internet Services. One of the fundamental building blocks to access the new economy is access to the Internet. Rural Alaska should have the same opportunities as urban Alaska to enjoy the benefits of the Internet, which brings access to information, schooling, job training, health care and economic opportunities. Mark Begich supports wise use of the national Universal Service Fund to ensure affordable high-speed Internet services in rural areas.
• Lower Energy Costs. Rural Alaska is home to some of the best renewable energy resources in Alaska. Developing more efficient renewable generation system based on a mix of renewable and diesel energy systems will not only lower energy costs but also create new jobs in Alaska villages. It will also make small entrepreneurial businesses viable.
• Expanded Alaska Native Education Opportunities. Mark Begich understands the critical role education plays in stimulating strong economies. In rural Alaska, this means building an education system that embraces Alaska Native cultures and integrates traditional ways of knowing to teach math, science, history, analytical skills, and further development of Alaska Native language immersion programs.

Help Alaska Small Businesses Cut Energy Costs& Save Money

A small businessman since he was 16, Mark will work to expand opportunities for small business, which comprise the backbone of a prosperous Alaska economy.

• Support Clean Energy Manufacturing. Mark will support expansion of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program to include grants to small manufacturing firms to identify and implement new clean energy manufacturing technologies.
• Cut Small Business Energy Costs. Mark will call for new loan programs that help small businesses reduce energy costs through energy efficient technologies and switch to renewable energy and fuel sources.

Encourage New Entrepreneurs Through a Strong University

Strong universities build strong, economically-diverse communities. More and more Alaskan high school students are staying in Alaska for college. These students are more likely to stay here and start businesses, enter professions, contribute to the economy, and enhance the quality of life in Alaska. Alaskans deserve continued support for a university strong in academics, research and teaching, career and technical education, and support for students. As U.S. senator, Mark Begich will push:

• Increase Funding for Scientific and Technical Research. Funding for scientific and technical research has stagnated under the current administration. Strong research programs not only enhance our University but also expand the Alaska economy. Mark will push for increased federal research funding, including funding for a new energy research block grant program that focuses on renewable energy and energy efficiency innovation.
• <New Partnerships to Expand Federal Agency Research in Alaska. Too much Alaska research being conducted by federal agencies is based outside of Alaska in Corvallis, Seattle, and Portland. Mark will fight to base this research in Alaska by Alaskans. This should also include home-porting research vessels working in Alaska waters. It should also include expanded partnerships with the University of Alaska for economic and climate change research by the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Geological Survey.

Develop Alaska’s Workforce

Alaska faces severe shortages of trained workers for resource development, construction, health care, aviation and other jobs that require some post-secondary education but not a four-year degree. As U.S. Senator, Mark Begich will support:

• Invest in Career and Technical Education: Without a major investment in career and technical education, good-paying jobs, such as construction of the gas pipeline, will not go to Alaskans. Mark will fight for increased funding for middle and high school career and technical programs and teacher recruitment.
• Build the New Energy Workforce. Mark favors new federal support for vocational education programs that train workers to construct, operate and maintain renewable energy generation plants and transmission systems. Mark will also push for new funding to expand the number of trained workers who can conduct home energy auditors, install energy-efficient technologies, build energy-efficient homes and businesses, and maintain alternative energy vehicles of the future.

Responsible Resource Development

Alaskans have shown they can responsibly develop the state’s resources without hurting the environment and without degrading the land or water so important to Alaskans. The federal government needs to do much more to help build, promote and encourage wise development of the state’s timber, fisheries, mining, and tourism industries. Federal agency jobs dealing with management of lands, programs and resources in Alaska should be located in Alaska. For example, hundreds of federal fisheries management and ocean research jobs related to Alaska fisheries are still in the Lower ‘48. They should be here. And, the federal government could help with more international marketing programs, incentives for value-added businesses in Alaska, and working closely with the private sector to identify good projects that create jobs in Alaska. Mark Begich will also push federal agencies – as the state’s largest landowners – to do much more to expand tourism opportunities and renewable energy development on federal lands. He will work hard to ensure that more of the economic benefit of the enormous federally managed fisheries off Alaska’s coast actually accrues to Alaskan fishermen and Alaska’s economy.