What factors are driving Alaska's recent oil industry resurgence, according to the article?

Alaska's oil revival is driven by new geological discoveries suggesting greater crude potential than previously expected, combined with more accommodating federal policies under the Trump administration—including an executive order signed hours after inauguration to unlock oil, gas, and mineral resources, and the lifting of Biden-era drilling restrictions in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska—along with streamlined permitting plans for oil projects.

Why did industry leaders like John Kurz initially leave Alaska’s North Slope, and what has changed to bring them back?

John Kurz left Alaska’s North Slope in 2009 because crude production had plummeted to 567,000 barrels per day—less than a quarter of its peak—and concerns mounted that the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) might cease operation due to waxy buildup from slow-moving crude; he returned in 2023 to lead Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., reflecting a broader resurgence fueled by renewed confidence in Alaska’s oil potential and supportive regulatory shifts.

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