Alaska & Canada Both Suffer From Political Obstacles To O&G Prosperity

Canadian Press — Canada’s environment minister won’t say if the country can meet its climate change commitments and at the same time green-light new pipeline projects.

Catherine McKenna told reporters today after a luncheon speech to the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations that Canada needs to de-carbonize its economy but stressed it won’t happen overnight.

The Canadian government has come under increased pressure to explain how it can increase development of Alberta’s oilsands and also meet its ambitious greenhouse gas emission targets.

Quebec and Canada are reviewing TransCanada’s Energy East pipeline proposal that would see 1.1 million barrels of oil a day move from Alberta and Saskatchewan to New Brunswick.

Fairbanks News Miner by Matt Buxton. The former mayor of the Fairbanks North Star Borough faced skepticism about his qualifications during a Monday confirmation hearing for the state gasline board.

Members of the Senate Resources Committee praised Luke Hopkins’ record as borough mayor but some worried he lacked the experience necessary for the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation’s board.

Hopkins was appointed to the position by Gov. Bill Walker as a part of reshuffling of its board and has been serving on it since December.

“I have not built a pipeline, I will say that on the record,” Hopkins said during one of the exchanges.

About the Author: wpnorthern

Dave Harbour, publisher of Northern Gas Pipelines, is a former Chairman of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska, a Commissioner Emeritus of NARUC, NARUC's Official Representative to IOGCC and Vice Chairman of NARUC's Gas Committee. He served as Gas Committee Chairman of the Western Conference of Public Service Commissioners. He also served as commissioner of the Anchorage Bicentennial Commission and the Anchorage Heritage Land Bank Commission. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree: English, at Colorado State University, a Master of Science Degree: Communications-Journalism at Murray State University and graduated from Utility Regulatory School for Commissioners at Michigan State University. He served as a Vice President for Communications and Public Affairs at Alaska Pacific University, taught bank marketing classes at the University of Alaska and was an English teacher at Los Alamos High School. Harbour served in ranks of Private - Captain during a 4-year assignment with the Army in Korea, Idaho, Georgia and Fort Meade and received the Meritorious Service Medal among other commendations. Harbour is also a past Chairman of the Alaska Council on Economic Education, the Alaska Oil & Gas Association Government Affairs Committee, the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, the Export Council of Alaska and the Department of Commerce's District Export Council. He is a past President of the Alaska Press Club, American Bald Eagle Foundation, Consumer Energy Alliance-Alaska and Common Sense for Alaska. Harbour was instrumental in founding the American Bald Eagle Research Institute (UAS), the Alaska Support Industry Alliance, the Downtown Anchorage Business Partnership, and Arctic Power. He also served as CEO of several small Alaska organizations, including the Anchorage Parking Authority and Action Security, Inc. Harbour is also Chairman Emeritus of the Alaska Oil & Gas Congress. Harbour's wife, Nancy, is a professional, performing arts administrator and his three boys, Todd, Benjamin and William work in the fields of environmental management, energy marketing and medicine.