Natural Resources
Alaska's birthright. Responsible development of our natural resources is the key to lasting prosperity.
Alaska is one of the most resource-rich places on the planet. Our oil, gas, minerals, timber, and seafood are the foundation of our economy and the source of the Permanent Fund that benefits every Alaskan. These resources belong to Alaskans, and it's time we develop them on our own terms, with our own people, and for our own prosperity.
For too long, outside interests, from federal agencies to environmental organizations headquartered thousands of miles away, have blocked Alaska's ability to develop its own birthright. As Governor, I will fight that overreach at every turn. We can responsibly develop our resources and protect the environment that makes Alaska Alaska. It's not an either/or, it's both.
Critical Minerals
The world is in a race for the minerals that power the modern economy, lithium, cobalt, copper, rare earths, and Alaska has vast untapped deposits of all of them. The Ambler Mining District alone holds some of the most significant mineral deposits in North America. Developing these resources responsibly will create thousands of jobs, generate billions in revenue, and put Alaska at the center of a critical global supply chain. I will prioritize access, permitting reform, and investment attraction to make Alaska a mining leader.
Timber and the Southeast Economy
Alaska's Tongass National Forest is the largest national forest in the United States, and for decades, federal management decisions have devastated the Southeast Alaska economy. Responsible timber harvesting is not just an economic issue, it's a community survival issue for towns like Ketchikan, Sitka, Wrangell, and Craig. I will fight federal overreach on Tongass management and advocate for a level of timber harvest that keeps communities alive and working.
Fighting Federal Land Grabs
The federal government controls roughly 60% of Alaska's land. That gives Washington, D.C., enormous power over Alaska's economic destiny, and too often, that power is exercised against Alaskans' interests. From ANWR to the NPR-A to the Tongass to countless smaller battles, federal agencies routinely block development, impose restrictions without community input, and override state and local decisions. As Governor, I will use every available legal and political tool to fight for Alaska's land rights and resource sovereignty.
Environmental Stewardship
Responsible development means leaving Alaska better than we found it. I believe in holding industry to the highest environmental standards, using best available technologies, and ensuring that communities near development projects have a meaningful voice in decision-making. Our fisheries, wildlife, clean water, and wild spaces are irreplaceable assets, both for Alaskans who live here and for the tourism economy that depends on them. Stewardship and development are not opposites. Done right, they reinforce each other.
Keeping Decisions in Alaskan Hands
Resource management decisions that affect Alaskans should be made by Alaskans. That means pushing back on federal overreach, insisting on state primacy wherever legally possible, and elevating the voices of Alaska communities, including Alaska Native communities, in every major resource decision. No decision about Alaska's land, water, or minerals should be made in Washington without Alaska having a meaningful seat at the table.
Matt's Natural Resources Commitments
Support responsible timber harvesting in the Tongass
Develop Alaska's critical mineral deposits
Fight federal land grabs and overreach
Keep resource decisions in Alaskan hands
Balance environmental stewardship with economic growth
Prioritize Ambler Road and mining access
Elevate Alaska Native voices in resource decisions
Attract investment while protecting what makes Alaska special
"Alaska's resources belong to Alaskans. Let's develop them for Alaskans, responsibly, boldly, and on our own terms."
— Matt Heilala