Prudhoe Bay

He left office with a secure place in history, and a proud role in getting an oil pipeline built from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez.

Energy companies have made new discoveries elsewhere south and west of Prudhoe Bay—most recently, the Talitha Field, which could yield 500 million barrels or more.

The discovery of oil at Prudhoe Bay in 1968, followed by two oil shocks in the 1970s, sparked support for exploration and production in the region.

Apparently the the March 2006 Prudhoe Bay oil spill, the worst in Alaska's state history, was no big fuss to Governor Palin.