Why We’re Opposing a Constitutional Convention
The Launch Alaska team strives to facilitate innovation in Alaska, catalyzing infrastructure projects that create jobs, lower the cost of energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and generate broad benefits for our entire state. This work requires strong networks and a stable economic and political landscape. It also compels us to advocate for these conditions — which is why Launch Alaska has joined Defend Our Constitution, the strongly bipartisan coalition urging a ‘no’ vote on the upcoming ballot question “Shall there be a Constitutional Convention?”
Alaska voters will weigh in on the question this November. It is automatically asked every 10 years, and Alaskans have voted ‘no’ on this issue every time it has come up in the past. If approved this year, it would lead to a complete overhaul of our state’s founding document, costing millions and taking valuable time away from building our economy and preparing Alaska to compete in the industries of tomorrow. This undermines every facet of our work.
“When faced with the choice of spending precious time and funding, Launch Alaska would rather use those resources to undertake ambitious infrastructure and development projects that create jobs and strengthen our state.”
We support startups in the energy, transportation and industry sectors as they deploy projects in Alaska, creating jobs and helping protect our communities from the negative effects of climate change. Bringing projects across the finish line takes years, and having willing partners in the private and public sectors is key. Project partners require stability and predictability as far as regulations, permitting timelines and project economics. When it comes to attracting capital, innovative projects and entrepreneurs, retaining talent, and ultimately making progress on climate, our state’s ability to compete depends on stability.
A constitutional convention would be deeply destabilizing. It would throw things into limbo for at least four years while the document is nitpicked and torn apart by special interest groups, costing the state millions of dollars at a time when we should be focused on building the future. The gears of the many federal agencies providing needed authorizations or funding for infrastructure projects could grind almost to a halt as those agencies try to resolve how their statutes, regulations, and permits mesh with the state’s new constitution. Alaskans can avoid these problems by rejecting a constitutional convention and instead using the existing constitutional amendment process, which has allowed the state to make specific changes 28 times already.
When faced with the choice of spending precious time and funding, Launch Alaska would rather use those resources to undertake ambitious infrastructure and development projects that create jobs and strengthen our state. And when it comes to the government frameworks that influence every aspect of Alaskans’ lives, years of uncertainty is the last thing our economy - and our fight against climate change - needs.
We join many other nonprofit organizations and alliances in our membership in the Defend Our Constitution coalition, including several chambers of commerce, industry and local government advocacy groups, and more. We encourage you to learn more about the ballot measure on the coalition’s website, and reach out to us with any questions about its effects on Alaska’s clean energy economy.