JUNEAU, Alaska, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- The departing head of Alaska's natural gas development warned of tough times ahead for the state as lawmakers bicker over energy policies.
Henry Noah, who was picked as the director of in-state natural gas planning, told the Alaskan House Resources Committee to make up their minds on the energy directives for the state, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports.
Noah, who is stepping down because of internal divisions, said there are several lucrative possibilities for natural resources in the state, but lawmakers are prohibiting progress because of a lack of cooperation.
"I think you can argue up to this point that the dollars have been well spent, but at this point if you keep spending and no one makes a decision you just create a civil war, you just create internal civil war within state government," he said. "And there's no profit in that."
He warned that Alaska can expect tough times in the coming years as oil flow and funding for state projects decline.
Oil developers gave mixed reports on the resource potential for Alaska, with some international companies eying opportunities in the Gulf of Mexico instead.
"Until we get ourselves together, we're just thrashing ourselves at this point in time," warned Noah.
