It could be presidential politics responding to higher-than-usual gasoline prices, or it could be a presidential revelation.
Whichever it is, President Obamas decisions authorizing annual lease sales in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, extending some Alaska offshore oil leases and speeding the permitting process for drilling are welcome news for this state and the nation.
The United States needs to increase its oil production while taking steps to reduce consumption. This nations economy relies on oil and will remain dependent on oil for a long time, even as the nation increases its use of alternative energy sources.
And what better place to find the oil we need than in the place that has a lot of it Alaska.
Alaskas political leaders have, like many of their predecessors, rightly criticized federal political and bureaucratic sluggishness regarding oil development in the 49th state. Even so, Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich, Rep. Don Young, and Gov. Sean Parnell each praised, in varying degree, the presidents decisions.
Now, as with any pronouncement from a government official, we must wait for the words to turn into something real.
Alaskas elected officials, even though they offered the appropriate praise, must monitor President Obamas administration to make sure the presidents words lead to increased oil production.