1. Lowering Cost of Fuels in Alaska: A Feasibility Study
English 212: Technical Writing
Ian Anderson
August 2012

2. Introduction Criteria Methods Results Conclusions Recommendations
Overview
Introduction
Criteria
Methods
Results
Conclusions
Recommendations

3. Introduction
Alaskans all around the state rely on fuel for basic survival
Produces 9% of the nations crude oil
Consumes 0.7% of the nations total energy
Six operable refineries supplying two separate ports
Second highest average price in the nation for gasoline and diesel fuel
The US currently imports 45 % of its crude oil
Lack of multiple suppliers creates an oligopoly (a state of limited competition)
Crude oil prices set in a global market

4. Introduction
United States Geological Services thinks the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve (ARWR) might contain around 10.6 billion barrels.
ANWR's neighboring land, the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPRA), has been placed at an expected 9.3 billion barrels

5. Criteria
Do Alaskan citizens support opening ANWR and similar areas to development?
Do long time Alaskan citizens support opening ANWR and similar areas to development?
Do Alaskan residents believe opening ANWR and similar areas to development would lower the cost of fuels?

6. Methods
Searched the USGS website for factual estimates pertaining to ANWR and NPRA
Researched the negative effects that high oil prices have on Alaska's citizens
Went to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) website and compared Alaska's oil production to Alaska's oil usage
Researched peer reviewed articles in the UAA Consortium Library’s online database with the keywords “oil prices Alaska”
Using the internet, I entered the keywords “Alaska gasoline market”, which led me to an article titled Why Gas Costs So Much in Oil-Rich Alaska
I distributed a questionnaire to find out Alaskan citizens perception of ANWR development

7. Results
I believe one of the most pertinent questions that needed to be answered in this study was if opening ANWR was generally supported by Alaskan citizens. I found that more males supported opening ANWR (3-2), and more females supported keeping ANWR closed (5-6). However, as a combined percentage of the public, the results were exactly even (8-8).

8. Results
A major factor that must be determined is how local Alaskans feel about this issue. More specifically, I would like to target those that claim they were raised in Alaska. This graph shows that out of my survey participants, the majority of those raised in Alaska favor opening ANWR. Seven supported opening ANWR (blue) and four want it to remain closed (orange).
64%
36%

9. Results
Nearly 43% thought that opening ANWR would most likely not lower the price of fuels. This figure shows that roughly 56% of those surveyed believe that opening ANWR would lower fuel prices. Four were positive it would lower prices (yellow), five believed it might lower prices (orange), and seven thought that it probably would not lower prices (blue). 7 5 4
Participants

10. Conclusions
Crude oil prices are set in a global market, well outside the power of one state.
Alaskan residents are generally undecided about opening ANWR to development. The results were split exactly even (8-8)
More than half of the participants (9-7) believed that opening ANWR would or would possibly lower the cost of fuels.
Only 16 residents participated in my questionnaire, not nearly enough of a sample group to make any assumptions.
Determining the success of the program would only be evident after the numbers are crunched and the plan in underway.
My official determination is non-feasible until further information can be gathered.

11. Recommendations Re-distribute the questionnaire on a massive scale
Convince people to participate by attaching the questionnaire to the application for the permanent fund dividend (PFD). Require completion of survey to receive PFD.
If questionnaire is not required to complete, offer reward for completion, and attach to application as discussed. Reward money could be covered by the oil companies if overwhelming support meant possibly opening ANWR to development.