Alaska's Audacious Infrastructure Ideas

"In this most giant of all the states, with vast natural resources and an edge-of-the-world mentality, Hickel is just one of many Alaskans who dream of carving the landscape or reaping its resources on a fantastic scale...It hasn't been a great year for Alaskan schemers, of course: The state's three-person congressional delegation has been widely ridiculed for backing federal projects that critics describe as silly "bridges to nowhere," textbook examples of porkbarrel spending run amok...

Although many Americans look at Alaska and see a magnificent wilderness that should largely be left alone, many Alaskans look at Alaska and see much to be done...Even today, Alaskan leaders are backing big projects â€" including drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and creation of one of the world's biggest gold mines, near Bristol Bay â€" despite widespread environmental opposition."