Weeks before Alaska gets a new governor, its economic development arm goes on a spending spree

A $25 million investment in a nuclear energy startup. Another $36 million for a controversial mining road. And up to $75 million for a new state-owned company promoting broadband. Those are among the multi-million-dollar decisions that GOP Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s appointees and state officials have made as part of a spending blitz by Alaska’s economic development arm just weeks before Dunleavy leaves office. The spending announcements have totaled more than $200 million since August — and reflect an aggressive push by state officials to advance projects that could come under fresh scrutiny after Dec. 7, when Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins is set to become Alaska’s next governor. “We’re trying to push everything forward, Mr. Chair, as our mission statement tells us to do — and frankly, as our Alaska Constitution tells us to do,” the executive director of the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, Randy Ruaro, told board members at a Nov. 6 meeting.

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