Winter at our heels, oils at our hearts.

• Author: Cutler, Debbie
• Position: From the Editor

Winter is nipping at our heels, and that is a positive for the oil industry. That is when ice roads can be developed across delicate tundra without harm to the environment. That is when exploration and development of our oil and gas resources rolls into full steam. That is when dollars are spent by big oil in Alaska.

Nearly everyone who lives in Alaska knows oil pays most of the way for State government through contributions to State revenue coffers, provides more jobs than most industries, and offers the highest wages. We are a resource-based state, and oil is at the economic forefront of all industries.

According to a recent Resource Review, put out by the Resource Development Council for Alaska Inc., "Royalties and taxes on oil production have accounted for nearly 90 percent of Alaska's annual unrestricted general-fund revenues." The article, based on a report by the Information Insights (an economic research group based out of Fairbanks) and the McDowell Group, went on to state that, not surprisingly, 9.4 percent of all employment in the state and 11.2 percent of all wages, are related to the oil industry.

"The industry generated 12 percent of the private-sector jobs in Alaska last year and 21 percent of private-sector payroll," the report stated. "In 2007, 41,744 people were employed directly and indirectly in Alaska as a result of industry activity."

And wages are premium. The average company in the oil industry paid a monthly wage of $12,737, about 3.5 times greater than the statewide average of $3,627, the report stated.

THEN THERE'S PALIN

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