8 | Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation
investing more than $27 million in new in-
frastructure by 2016. Suffice it to say that
the present demand for natural gas is fueling
both competition and collaboration among
a range of industry experts.
COLD CAPABILITY
For other industries, the focus has less to do
with heating, but takings advantage of Fair-
banks cold climate. Anumber ofmanufactur-
ers come to Fairbanks for cold weather test-
ing of their products. As Dodson says, “We
have the most reliable cold and most afford-
able opportunities for cold weather testing …
winter comes here sooner than anywhere else
in the United States and we’re accessible by
road, rail or air.” He says this provides both
a cost-effective and expeditious solution for
testing products and making whatever ad-
justments are necessary before winter reach-
es the rest of the country. “They can come
here and get feedback in time to deliver it to
their manufacturing units,” says Dodson. He
indicates that not only companies like Boe-
ing have come to Fairbanks to test their 787
aircraft, but also a variety of other automo-
