The Department of Corrections this week reported the 18th death of an inmate this year, tying the record for the highest number of annual in-custody deaths in at least the past decade.

Kane William Huff, who had been imprisoned at Goose Creek Correctional Center near Wasilla, died Dec. 11, according to a DOC statement. Huff, 46, was serving a sentence for a 2018 conviction on two counts of sexual abuse of a minor, according to online court records. DOC officials said he had been in custody since 2015.

Huff was found unresponsive in the prison’s infirmary, where he had been housed, said Department of Public Safety spokesman Austin McDaniel. Alaska State Troopers, who handle in-custody death investigations, have closed their investigation and are awaiting autopsy results from the State Medical Examiner Office, McDaniel said. Troopers don’t believe Huff died by suicide or that foul play was involved, he said.

The last time as many people died in state custody was in 2022, when a record seven inmates also died by suicide, according to a department snapshot of deaths since 2015.

The Department of Corrections began consistently keeping inmate death statistics in 2001, said spokesperson Betsy Holley. The department also posts data showing in-custody deaths since 2015. That year, 15 people died while in DOC custody.

The state’s official count for 2025 doesn’t include the death of 36-year-old William Farmer, who died in a hospital in January after he was severely beaten by his cellmate at the Anchorage Correctional Complex the month before.

An upward trend of in-custody deaths in the past several years has alarmed some prisoner rights advocates and prompted state lawmakers to ask Department of Corrections officials to address the deaths in multiple hearings this year. The department has also found itself under fire for inmate suicides.

This year, at least four inmates have died of natural or expected causes, such as disease or a medical event, while at least five have died by suicide, according to information provided by Alaska State Troopers.

Officials have also said that a Spring Creek Correctional Center prisoner died of an overdose in April.

Another inmate, 53-year-old Jeffrey Foreman, died in July after being restrained by guards after an altercation with his cellmate at the Anchorage Correctional Complex.

[Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly described the year the Department of Corrections started consistently keeping inmate death statistics. It was 2001, not 2015.]

Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines expect to begin running some of their planes partly on biofuel produced in Hawaii early next year.

The sister airlines owned by Alaska Air Group also plan to invest in a joint venture between several companies including fuel refinery operator Par Hawaii trying to establish Camelina sativa, also known as false flax, as a major crop in the state for producing
sustainable aviation fuel and feed for cattle and chickens.

Hawaiian and Alaska, which are publicly announcing the plans today, say the related ventures will expand their use of sustainable aviation fuel that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps the state meet a goal to have 100% of energy generation from renewable sources by 2045.

“As Hawaii’s airline, we have a responsibility to reduce our environmental impact while continuing to provide essential air service that connects our communities and strengthens our economy,” Alanna James, sustainability innovation director at Hawaiian and Alaska, said in a statement. “Our company has a long-term strategy to reach net zero carbon emissions, and sustainable aviation fuel is essential for us to get there.”

Hawaiian began working with Par
Hawaii in 2022 to study the commercial viability of locally produced sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF. That work became integrated with Alaska when Alaska Air Group completed its $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian in September 2024.

Meanwhile, Par Hawaii, a subsidiary of Houston-based Par Pacific Holdings Inc., has been working over the past few years to convert part of its Kapolei fuel refinery to produce a variety of renewable fuels to be used for electricity generation as well as for air, ground and marine transportation.

Par Hawaii initially invested $90 million to develop the facility, and in October sold a 36.5% stake in the project to a joint venture between two Japanese companies, Mitsubishi
Corp. and ENEOS Corp., for $100 million.

The project will be the largest renewable fuels manufacturing facility in the state, with a capacity to produce about 61 million gallons of fuel annually ideally from locally grown oil-­producing crops but also from imported plant and waste oils.

Par Hawaii’s renewable fuel production plant is designed to make up to 60% SAF, and is expected to begin operations and deliver its first fuel to Hawaiian and Alaska sometime between January and March.

However, almost all off the fuel produced at the facility initially will be renewable diesel that Par Hawaii plans to sell on the West Coast of the mainland.

Still, Par Hawaii President Eric Wright said in a statement that the company didn’t think progress to produce SAF would be as quick after the 2022 study began with Hawaiian.

“With renewable fuel
production coming online in early 2026, it’s exciting to see the results of our team’s hard work,” he said. “These fuels will have up to 80% lower carbon emissions compared to conventional fuels. This would not have been possible without a shared vision for our islands and our great teamwork.”

When renewable fuel production begins early next year, the feedstock will be from canola oil along with used cooking oil and rendered animal fat imported from Canada, according to Par Hawaii.

Hawaiian and Alaska, the latter of which set an ambitious goal in 2021 to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, already use some SAF, but not any produced in Hawaii.

SAF is a “drop-in” fuel, meaning it works with existing airplane engines and fuel infrastructure. Current use, however, is limited to a maximum 50% blend with conventional jet fuel made from petroleum, and 100% SAF use may be several years away.

To make SAF in Hawaii
using local feedstock, Honolulu-based natural resources conservation firm Pono
Pacific is leading work to establish Camelina as a major crop from which oil can be extracted for Par Hawaii’s renewable fuel production facility.

Pono Pacific in 2023 collaborated with the Hawai‘i Agriculture Research Center to test 50 non-GMO Camelina varieties to see what would grow best in different conditions around the state.

According to the announcement by Hawaiian and Alaska, Camelina crop trials were conducted by Pono Pacific on four islands in partnership with Aloun Farms, Maui crop producer Mahi Pono and Meadow Gold Dairy. Pono Pacific also has worked with Hawaii cattle and livestock operators to explore the use of Camelina seedcake after oil extraction as animal feed.

Early next year, Pono
Pacific plans to accelerate its work on Camelina, which the company said can reach maturity in eight to nine weeks, is pest-resistant and can be grown in rotation with food crops.

“Camelina represents
a rare opportunity for Hawaii to build a true circular-­economy model around
renewable fuels,” Chris
Bennett, Pono Pacific vice president of sustainable energy solutions, said in a statement.

“We will explore food crops that can be grown alongside Camelina to increase food security as well,” Bennett added. “It’s a win for our economy, a win for local agriculture, and a win for the environment — an example of how Hawaii can lead the way in innovative, homegrown climate solutions.”

Regardless of whether Pono Pacific’s expectations for Camelina are realized, Hawaiian and Alaska are slated to become the first customers of locally
produced SAF under their
arrangement with Par
Hawaii.

How much SAF the two airlines have committed to use is not being disclosed. James described the initial amount as “relatively small.” She also noted that SAF is two to three times more expensive than regular jet fuel, and that the supply is
limited.

The two airlines consume more than 200 million gallons of jet fuel in Hawaii annually, with transpacific flights representing the vast majority of that use.

James said there will need to be strong collaboration across airlines, fuel and feedstock producers, investors, government and others along with supportive policies that include state incentives to grow the SAF industry and reach decarbonization goals.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation in October finalized a plan to largely eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from ground, air and ocean transportation vehicles in the state by 2045, and acknowledges that achieving the goal will result in higher costs for industries and consumers.

HDOT’s plan includes a priority to establish state tax credits to incentivize the import, production and use of SAF for long-haul and interisland flights.

The report notes that other states have credits ranging from 75 cents to $1.50 per gallon.

“For SAF to be deployed in Hawaii at the scale needed to achieve significant strides towards decarbonization, similar policies are essential,” the report states.

HDOT’s goal is to reach 50% SAF use by 2035, followed by 75% in 2040 and 100% by 2045.

Ed Sniffen, HDOT director, said in a statement that the agency applauds Hawaiian and Alaska airlines, Par
Hawaii and Pono Pacific for achieving what he described as an “important step to establish a locally based, lower-emissions supply chain for aviation fuel that supports our state’s clean energy goals.”

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Alaska lawmakers are divided over whether new legislation is needed for a liquified natural gas pipeline, with the state’s energy consultant calling it “essential” while some legislators say existing laws are sufficient.

“A successful project will likely require suitable enabling legislation from the state legislature, among other key prerequisites,” state-contracted energy consulting firm GaffneyCline, hired by the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee for up to $200,000 in April 2024, says in a document made public for the first time Monday.

The 62-page document, presented to the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee last month, concludes that legislation is essential for the pipeline to be viable but more needs to be done to get the project across the finish line.

“A detailed economic model of the project is required before the legislature can take an informed view as to the appropriate degree of government take that the project can sustain, and how this could evolve over time,” the document states.

Alaska’s News Source reached out to Glenfarne Tuesday for comment on who presents the economic model and when that model could be presented. Spokesperson Tim Fitzpatrick referred on the report for GaffneyCline.

“We will continue to work closely with the legislature to discuss policy issues that may affect Alaska LNG and work collaboratively on solutions that enable Glenfarne to provide Alaskans with affordable energy security as rapidly as possible,” he said in a statement.

The document’s release comes amid optimism from pipeline developers and federal officials but growing skepticism from some state lawmakers.

During a November Legislative Budget and Audit Committee which discussed the same topic, House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, NA-Dillingham, left believing “the upcoming 2026 legislative session could be dominated by policy measures related to advancing the Alaska gas line project.”

“We don’t have any of this,” Edgmon said last month, relating to laws GaffneyCline says are essential.

Rep. Mia Costello, R-Anchorage, former House minority leader and co-chair of the Alaska Gasline Caucus, said she believes legislation for the pipeline is not needed, citing previous legislative involvement.

“Large scale LNG projects around the world are successfully developed through commercial agreements, private capital, and existing regulatory processes not legislative intervention,” Costello said in a statement. “Alaska already has established permitting, taxation, and regulatory framework capable of supporting energy development. Legislative involvement risks introducing political uncertainty, delaying timelines, and discouraging investors who prioritize stability and market driven decision-making.”

However, Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage, told Alaska’s News Source the policy measures currently in place are more than a decade old, created for a different project, and don’t easily mesh with the task in front of them today.

“When project leadership … and financial models change, it’s our responsibility to revisit the policy framework that governs the state involvement, and that’s what we’re going to do as a legislature,” Gray-Jackson said.

Legislative action?

The asks pipeline developers want in those policies could be steep.

On the list of asks is a concept called “fiscal stability,” essentially a promise if Alaska changes its tax or regulatory policies later, the state would make up any financial losses to investors, according to a GaffneyCline presentation shown to lawmakers on the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee.

Those guarantees can mean a “tax freeze” — locking in the current tax system for the life of the project — potentially 20-30 years, according to GaffneyCline’s presentation to lawmakers. If Alaska later raises taxes or imposes new regulations, the presentation said the state would have to compensate investors to maintain their original profit expectations.

Another ask is the lowering of property taxes for the pipeline, something GaffneyCline’s November presentation said could cost the project $1 billion and add 9% to the cost of delivered gas.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy plans to introduce a bill to lower property taxes for the pipeline, spokesperson Jeff Turner confirmed Tuesday. No other LNG bills are planned at this time, he added.

Time crunch

Whatever the legislature decides to do, they’ll need to do it quickly. The regular session convenes Jan. 20, and for the following 120 days, the process to create a package of policies and framework addressing LNG issues will likely be front of mind.

That comes after Glenfarne Alaska LNG set expectations in October that construction for the pipeline will begin in late 2026 and be operational by mid-2029.

“What Alaskans should take away from the report is that we need to hope for the best, but prepare for the situation not moving as fast as Glenfarne and the other players are thinking,” Gray-Jackson said.

Lawmakers have signaled a mixture of optimism for what the pipeline could create, but it comes with skepticism, too. Gray-Jackson said she was “cautiously optimistic.”

“Frankly, I don’t know where we’re at as far as the legislature is concerned because we haven’t gotten any real answers from Glenfarne,” Gray-Jackson said.

A Glenfarne spokesperson said last month they are active in providing information to the state legislature.

“Glenfarne is making rapid progress on Alaska LNG and regularly meets with legislators to provide updates and discuss important state and local policy considerations,” Glenfarne communications director Tim Fitzpatrick said. “We appreciate the legislature’s continued engagement to help make Alaska LNG a success for the state.”

“I understand the potential, huge, multi-generational impact of the state, as well as being very positive,” Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, told Alaska’s News Source following the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee meeting in November.

“Concentrating on the benefit of the project that we know, if it’s successful, it’s going to be very beneficial, and if it’s unsuccessful, it could be detrimental for generations.”

“Will the project even come unless we present the right scenario?” House Majority Leader Chuck Kopp, R-Anchorage, asked Nick Fulford, GaffneyCline senior director and global head of gas and LNG.

“You mentioned the buyers want 20–30 years of stability … our fiscal framework might be a little bit out of alignment, if I’m hearing you correctly,” Kopp said.

“If those things are all true, our needs, our situation, us being out of alignment, we’re going to have to look at possibly a reality that this line doesn’t even get [built],” the representative added.

Federal permits completed

The project completed 20 federal permits and environmental reviews last week, according to the Permitting Council, clearing what the governor called “the last major regulatory hurdle.”

“Alaska LNG received the major federal permits needed to proceed in 2020,” Fitzpatrick said. “Some of these permits have a five-year renewal cycle, which was completed last week and all of Alaska LNG’s major permits are current and in effect. Glenfarne has an ongoing process to maintain permits and authorizations for Alaska LNG.”

With the permits cleared, the pipeline inches toward a final investment decision (FID). Natural Gas Intelligence, a natural gas news provider, described an FID as “the last step of determining whether to move forward with the sanctioning and construction of an infrastructure project.”

A source familiar with the pipeline developments previously told Alaska’s News Source to expect an FID early next year.

“Alaska LNG will strengthen our economy, create long-term jobs, and provide reliable energy to Alaskans and our global partners for generations to come,” Dunleavy said.

“I am thrilled to see the Alaska LNG project finish federal permitting actions ahead of schedule,” said Permitting Council Executive Director Emily Domenech in the press release.

“This combined effort reflects our commitment to the State of Alaska and to achieving President Trump’s energy dominance agenda.”

Domenech visited the state alongside the congressional Natural Resources Committee in August, when Dunleavy signed a deal with the Trump administration aimed at bringing more resource development investment will come to Alaska.

LNG, however, was not heavily discussed at the meeting.

“Completing federal permitting for Alaska LNG ahead of schedule shows how the Trump administration is restoring America’s Energy Dominance by cutting unnecessary delays and unleashing our abundant resources,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in the release. “This project strengthens U.S. energy security, creates jobs for Alaskans, and reinforces our commitment to a permitting system that works at the speed of American innovation.”

National momentum

The federal push comes as as GaffneyCline’s presentation said both LNG supply and demand are expected to boom globally. Liquefaction, or the process of turning gas into liquid, is expected to increase by 42% by 2030, reaching about 594 million tons per year.

This summer, Dunleavy vetoed several bills and cut more than $100 million from the state budget, largely due to reduced state revenues from oil price declines.

“The oil situation has deteriorated,” Dunleavy said in a video statement before his budget was revealed. “The price of oil has gone down; therefore, our revenue is going down.

“Basically, we don’t have enough money to pay for all of our obligations. So, as a result of that, you’re going to see some reductions in this year’s budget.”

The pipeline project has support from both the state and federal levels. President Donald Trump has pledged to ensure an LNG project gets built “to provide affordable energy to Alaska and allies all over the world.”

On Jan. 20, Trump signed the “Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential” executive order, which the administration says prioritizes “the development of Alaska’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) potential, including the sale and transportation of Alaskan LNG to other regions of the United States and allied nations within the Pacific region.”

Despite the optimistic timeline, Alaska has seen multiple LNG pipeline proposals fail over the past two decades due to financing challenges, regulatory delays and market conditions.

Environmental groups and some Alaska Native groups have also raised concerns about the pipeline’s potential impact on wildlife and traditional lands.

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