Alaska Says It's Ready to Power America: 'We Have Our Own Greenland'

Alaska is flexing its muscles as America’s cold-weather powerhouse, with state officials saying they’re ready to fuel the country’s energy needs—no matter what happens with those Greenland ambitions.

Adam Crum, Alaska’s Department of Revenue Commissioner, made it crystal clear at a recent finance conference in Florida: the Last Frontier is sitting on a treasure trove of natural resources, and it’s more than eager to get moving on them. Crum praised former President Trump’s approach to energy policy, saying his administration gave Alaska a major boost by rolling back restrictions and greenlighting key projects, like the 211-mile Ambler Access Project. That project, which slices through the Brooks Range, is set to unlock copper, zinc, and other minerals in a remote Arctic region—not exactly your average neighborhood development.

According to Crum, Trump’s executive order in his latest term was a game-changer for Alaska, making the state the only one with a presidential directive tailored just for them. That move, Crum argues, gave Alaska’s economy a much-needed shot in the arm.

Crum is bullish about what’s next, saying Alaska is "on the precipice of an energy boom," with large-scale oil projects and a natural gas pipeline in the works—all while eyeing critical minerals desperately needed by the U.S. economy. Forget waiting for Greenland; Crum insists Alaska is already America’s answer, touting the state’s proven track record of responsible resource development. He even highlighted how the state has managed to increase caribou numbers alongside massive oil pipelines. (Honestly, only in Alaska can oil and wildlife be frenemies.)

The message to outside critics? Alaska’s got its own standards and doesn’t need lectures on responsibility. Crum says locals demand that companies coming to Alaska are both profitable and clean—a win for the environment and the economy. As he put it, Alaskans are hunters, fishermen, and conservationists by nature, and they want to keep their land thriving while creating jobs.

On top of oil and minerals, Alaska holds valuable antimony deposits—a resource dominated by China, but crucial for everything from technology to military supplies. Crum argues that tapping into these domestic resources is smart strategy, reducing U.S. dependence on less-friendly nations.

With all that on the table, Alaska seems ready to be the country’s energy MVP—Greenland or not.