{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-welcomes-reestablishment-of-doe-arctic-energy-office-at-uaf", "Sullivan Welcomes Reestablishment of DOE Arctic Energy Office at UAF", "2020-09-18", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=48", "scraper", "Announcement is part of a larger renaissance of Arctic research and activity\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) welcomed an announcement yesterday by Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette that the Department of Energy (DOE) will be reestablishing its Arctic Energy Office (AEO) on the campus of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks (UAF). The AEO will drive coordination and collaboration on DOE\u2019s many activities in the Arctic region including: international cooperation on Arctic issues, research on methane hydrates, and development of advanced micro-grids and nuclear power systems, such as small modular reactors.\n\n\u201cRealizing America\u2019s role as an Arctic nation involves bringing more vessels, more research, more ports, and more personnel to the region\u2014to Alaska\u2014and the reestablishment of the Arctic Energy Office is an important development as we work to make that vision a reality,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cI commend Secretary Brouillette and Senator Murkowski for their work to bring this Arctic office back to life, and I look forward to the vital scientific research and coordination that will serve Alaskans, the nation, and our global partners as a result.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe United States is an Arctic nation, and the region continues to play an essential role in meeting our Nation\u2019s energy needs, as well as those of our friends and allies,\u201d said Secretary Brouillette. \u201cDOE\u2019s Arctic Energy Office will grow to strengthen and coordinate our work in energy, science, and national security and help build an Arctic future of prosperity and increased opportunity.\u201d\n\nConsistent with DOE\u2019s overall mission, the AEO will focus on energy, science, and national security. Rather than belonging to a particular program area, the AEO will report to the under secretary of energy, and coordinate DOE\u2019s Arctic activities across the enterprise, bringing together DOE\u2019s wide range of assets, stakeholders, and equities to serve communities and U.S. interests in the region.\n\nThe office will be reestablished with three interim staff equipped with a wealth of experience across the energy, science, and national security spheres. More information on the office is available at: https://energy.gov/arctic/arctic-energy-office\n\nSenator Sullivan has worked tirelessly to bring more resources, vessels and personnel to support Arctic activities and research in Alaska:\n\nIn the 2018 Coast Guard Authorization Act, Senator Sullivan secured a provision that facilitates the construction of a viable home port in Ketchikan for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) research vessel Fairweather, which conducts hydrographic surveys and other maritime research responsibilities in Alaska\u2019s waters.\n\nIn July, the Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included a Sullivan provision to establish a new \u201cTed Stevens Arctic Center for Security Studies,\u201d the first Department of Defense (DOD) regional center in the Arctic and the first new DOD regional center since 2000. The center would be located in Alaska and would support defense strategy objectives and policy priorities through a unique academic forum, while also fostering strong international networks of security leaders.\n\nIn the FY 2019 NDAA, Sullivan secured a provision authorizing the construction of six new Polar-class icebreakers for the Coast Guard, and contracts have been awarded for the first two. Sullivan has also pressed senior Trump administration officials on the importance of home-porting the new icebreakers in Alaska.\n\nIn May, the Army Corps of Engineers completed the Chief\u2019s Report for the Modification Feasibility Study on the Port of Nome project, which would be America\u2019s first deep draft port in the Arctic. The study, a precursor to constructing the project, based its justification upon authorization language from a Sullivan provision in the 2018 America\u2019s Water Infrastructure Act.\n\nAlso in the FY 2019 NDAA, Sullivan included a provision requiring each branch of the Armed Forces to produce its own strategy for the Arctic region. In July, the U.S. Air Force released the first such document which Sullivan called the \u201cmost robust U.S. Arctic strategy document to date.\u201d\n\nIn July, Sullivan visited the R/V Sikuliaq, a 261-foot oceanographic research vessel home-ported in Seward, Alaska, that is owned by the National Science Foundation and operated by UAF\u2019s College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. Sullivan has worked to ensure as much of the maintenance and construction of vessels, like the Sikuliaq, as possible is conducted in Alaska and by Alaskans at some of the world-class facilities in communities like Seward and Ketchikan.\n\nIn December 2019, Senators Sullivan, Lisa Murkowski and Angus King (I-Maine) introduced S. 3080, the Strategic Arctic Naval Focus Act of 2019, legislation directing the federal government to recognize the importance of the Arctic region to America\u2019s national and economic security interests, and to put forward a strategy for the U.S. fleet\u2019s ability to operate in the Arctic and respond to challenges.\n\nIn December 2019, with Senator Sullivan\u2019s co-sponsorship and assistance, the Senate Commerce Committee marked up the Arctic Shipping Federal Advisory Committee Act, Senator Murkowski\u2019s legislation to address the impacts and opportunities of increasing shipping and maritime traffic. The legislation establishes a 15-member federal advisory committee to develop recommendations for how the United States can lead in ensuring that shipping in the Arctic is safe, secure, and reliable.\n\n# # #\n\nNext Article Previous Article", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:28:51Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-welcomes-reestablishment-of-doe-arctic-energy-office-at-uaf"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.998753122985363, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}