The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly will meet on Thursday, August 27, and several items before the Assembly could have long-term implications for Interior residents, local taxpayers, public lands, energy policy, and community health.
Among the most notable are a proposed data center moratorium, a policy position on a future North Slope natural gas pipeline, continued litigation over the taxable value of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, salmon and bycatch policy, expansion of the Tanana Valley State Forest, and Fairbanks air quality.
Data centers: proposed support for a statewide moratorium
Resolution 2026-25 includes support for a moratorium on the permitting, leasing, or construction of new commercial data centers on state-owned or municipal lands in Alaska.
The resolution says the moratorium should remain in place until the State of Alaska and local governments develop standards addressing electrical demand, water consumption and shortages, environmental impacts, noise, air quality, land-use pollution, and other public-interest considerations. The same moratorium language also appears among the Borough’s federal legislative priorities.
If adopted, this would make data center regulation one of the Borough’s formal legislative priorities for 2027.
A future North Slope gas pipeline
The resolution also addresses a potential natural gas pipeline from the North Slope to Southcentral Alaska. The Borough states that any natural gas pipeline of any diameter running from the North Slope to Southcentral should include a spur serving Fairbanks, either as part of the original project or as a fully funded addition after completion of the main line.
It also calls for “postage stamp” rates, meaning Alaskans served by the pipeline would pay the same price for gas regardless of location. This would place the Borough on record in favor of ensuring Interior Alaska is included in any future large-scale gas infrastructure project.
Salmon, bycatch and bottom trawling
Resolution 2026-25 includes support for state and federal legislation and international agreements to ban bottom trawling, reduce bycatch, and improve salmon returns to Interior rivers. The resolution states that healthy salmon populations are important to subsistence, personal-use, sport and commercial fisheries, as well as the cultural and economic well-being of Interior Alaska.
Expansion of the Tanana Valley State Forest
The Assembly is also considering support for expansion of the Tanana Valley State Forest. The resolution says expansion should protect public access, promote sustainable timber harvest, improve wildlife habitat, and preserve hunting, fishing, trapping, and subsistence opportunities. It also calls for future management to balance conservation, recreation, public access, and economic use. The resolution does not identify specific lands for expansion.
Fairbanks air quality and PM2.5
The federal legislative priorities include a request that EPA exempt vehicle emissions from certain PM2.5 control-strategy requirements or classify them as de minimis (meaning too small a contributor to require the same level of regulatory control). The Borough argues that transportation conformity requirements can restrict or delay highway projects even though vehicle emissions represent a relatively small share of local PM2.5 pollution. This would place the Borough on record in favor of changing how vehicle emissions are treated under federal air-quality requirements.
Other notable priorities
Resolution 2026-25 also includes support for:
- increased funding for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons cold cases and public information campaigns;
- continued development of the Alaska Long Trail;
- restoration of the Governor’s Roads and Highways Advisory Board;
- a permanent increase in the Base Student Allocation to at least $7,768 with an inflation adjustment;
- continued funding for the Ruth Burnett Sport Fish Hatchery;
- and $3 million in state funding to help Fairbanks host the 2028 Arctic Winter Games.
If adopted, Resolution 2026-25 will be sent to the Alaska Interior Delegation, Governor Dunleavy, and Alaska’s congressional delegation as the Borough’s formal statement of legislative priorities for 2027.
How to follow the meeting
The Assembly meets Thursday, August 27 at 6:00 p.m. at the Mona Lisa Drexler Assembly Chambers, 907 Terminal Street in Fairbanks.
Assembly information: https://www.fnsb.gov/171/Borough-Assembly
Public testimony and participation information: https://www.fnsb.gov/415/Stay-Connected-with-the-Assembly
Residents can attend in person, submit written comments, or find information about remote testimony through the Borough.
Photo by Emily Sullivan