Governor Sean Parnell today named Kip Knudson as the director of state and federal relations in the governor’s Washington, D.C. office. Knudson, of Anchorage, is currently the external affairs manager for Tesoro Alaska. John Katz (NGP Photo), who has served as the governor’s director of state and federal relations for more than 30 years, is retiring at the end of the year.

Edmonton Journal by Gary Lamphier.  But talk is cheap. In reality, when it comes to pursuing new export markets, Canada moves at glacial speed. Far more slowly than Asian nations, which have gone global in a big way, and are transforming their economies at lightning speed even as the western world faces years of slow growth.  Meanwhile, other resource-rich nations, from Russia to Australia to Venezuela, are already moving into China, South Korea and other Asian markets far more aggressively than Canada, with huge future expansion plans of their own.

Alaska Dispatch by Ben Anderson.  Alaska used to dream big, just like the Russians are doing now. A special irony in that excerpt from Popular Mechanics is the mention of "abundant natural gas," as Anchorage seems perpetually caught in a battle to keep the city supplied with heat and electricity. Not to mention Alaska’s own long-held dream of getting a natural gas pipeline — any natural gas pipeline — beyond the study phase.

Wall Street Journal by James Mulva.  Even after 103,000 jobs were added during September, unemployment remains at 9.1%. Counting those who have given up the job search or accepted a part-time job, economists calculate actual unemployment at a staggering 16.5%. Where will the growth come from that can help get people back to work?  Tne source is the natural gas industry, which is already generating jobs by the thousands, all without government subsidy. And it can generate even more, if we unleash this resource’s full potential.  More than 600,000 Americans already explore, produce, store and transport natural gas, according to consultancy IHS Global Insight. For example, …

ADN/AP.  KENAI — A Conoco Phillips spokeswoman says the company plans to move one last shipment from its Kenai liquefied natural gas plant before idling the plant in early November. The company, which recently bought Marathon Oil Corp.’s minority interest in the plant, has repeatedly extended operations at the facility. In February, officials said they planned to idle the plant after more than 40 years in operation, citing market changes. They said there was no longer a business case for continued exports. The wind-down was expected to take several months.But the plant has continued to fill short-term contracts to Asia.  Conoco Phillips’ spokeswoman Natalie Lowman said Wednesday that after the last shipment, the plant will be in preservation mode until spring, when officials plan to revisit their options for the facility.