Calgary Herald by Deborah Yedlin.   …the statements by ARC Financial’s Peter Tertzakian as well as the speech delivered by former deputy prime minister Jim Prentice would have left a sense of urgency when it comes to the need to diversify markets for Alberta’s oil production.  (Note: Friday’s meeting of  Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird with newly appointed U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.)

This special edition of the Cruthirds Report (Requires Subscription) provides highlights and observations from the “Three Interconnections Meeting: Facing the Future With Interconnection-wide Planning” that was held in conjunction with the 2013 NARUC Winter meetings on Feb. 6-7, 2013–that featured Alaska US Senator Lisa Murkowski as Keynote Speaker.  

Doc Hastings (below), the Alaska (below), North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Texas Delegations Respond to the State of the Union Speech–On the Heels of Senator Lisa Murkowski’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee Statement Yesterday.  Energy and the Economy Are the Big Concerns!  -dh

 

 
“During tonight’s State of the Union address, the President once again spoke about job creation and economic growth, but continued to ignore the economic opportunities that exist through energy production on federal lands and the responsible management of our Nation’s natural resources.  Tonight’s speech was further indication that during his second term, President Obama will ensure his Administration is more aggressive in its unilateral pursuit of new regulations and policies that will impede economic recovery.  By circumventing Congress through administrative fiat, the Obama Administration has the ability to lock up large swaths of public land from multiple use economic activity, slow federal energy production even further, and impose burdensome new layers of red tape that will destroy job creation potential for millions of American’s still looking for work.
 
“The President may continue to talk about the need for all-of-the-above energy, but we have learned over the last four years that actions speak louder than words.  The Obama Administration has closed off millions of acres of public lands and waters to American energy production, offered the fewest offshore lease sales in the history of the program, and caused energy production on federal lands to significantly decline. Meanwhile, the private sector and individual states—not President Obama and the federal government—can take credit for America’s recent increase in oil and natural gas production. It’s simply difficult to take President Obama seriously when he talks about job creation while flatly ignoring one of America’s largest potentials for job creation.” 
Q.  Why are heating oil prices are high, and what should we do about it?
A.  Increase the supply from Alaska, Canada and the Lower 48.   -dh

 

 

Alaska Senator Mark Begich’s (NGP Photo) Response to President Obama’s speech:
 
Mark Begich, US Senate, state of the union speech, Alaska oil and gas, Photo by Dave Harbour"… When it comes to energy, all Alaskans know that not only does America have the potential to control our own energy future, but Alaska’s vast energy resources are a key component to getting there.  I was specifically pleased to hear the President recognize the value of revenues generated from oil and gas production, but before we start creating new ways to use those funds, we need to make sure that the communities directly impacted from production are taken care of first.  That is why I just reintroduced my Alaska-focused revenue sharing bill to ensure that Alaska gets its fair share – just like the Gulf Coast states.  The President said himself that he would “keep cutting red tape and speeding up new oil and gas permits” – I will hold him to that and look forward to continued progress working with the Administration and developing Alaska’s vast energy resources…."