Alaska Journal of Commerce by Tim Bradner.  … 2013 could be pivotal for Alaska’s oil and gas industry.

Comment.  We cannot maintain our lifelong tradition of proclaiming, "Happy New Year", today.  This is because we have seen and delivered to faithful readers convincing proof that in these last four years America has become a different country and will never again be what our parents and forefathers envisioned.  On a brighter note, we can earnestly celebrate the hope and everlasting peace that may come from being personally prepared for the ‘new normal’ physically and spiritually.  Amen.  -dh

Petroleum News by Kristen Nelson.  A bill to expand AGDC’s authority was introduced last year by House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, and championed by one of the co-sponsors, Rep. Mike Hawker, R-Anchorage. House Bill 9, 32 pages in length, passed the House in March of 2012, but failed to find traction in the Senate.  Chenault and Hawker told a Dec. 20 meeting of the Alaska Legislature’s Joint In-State Gas Caucus that a bill based on HB9 would be pre-filed for the upcoming 2013 Legislature.  Hawker said the new bill, currently 42 pages in length, expands on HB9, and is intended to provide AGDC “with the greatest possible power to advance that in-state natural gas pipeline.”

Petroleum News: Chevron raises hopes (Full story) Chevron has made one of the boldest moves yet to turn Canada’s LNG export hopes into reality by taking over control of the Kitimat LNG project that has been stonewalled by its inability to secure long-term buyer contracts. In a radical overhaul of Canada’s most advanced LNG venture, Chevron will buy….