Calgary Herald by Dan Healing.  Oilsands producer Cenovus Energy Inc. has sent its first shipment of crude oil to China, beating the opening of the controversial Northern Gateway pipeline by about five years.  *   Duluth News Tribune.  New pipeline from North Dakota’s booming oil patch to Minnesota….

Yesterday, the Subcommittee Congressman Don Young, Alaska, HR 3973, Native, energy, lands act, Photo by Dave Harbouron Indians and Alaska Native Affairs held a legislative hearing on H.R. 3973, the Native American Energy Act that promotes and encourages increased energy production on tribal lands by reducing government barriers and streamlining burdensome procedures.  “For too long, the Federal Government has stood in the way of Native Americans looking to develop their lands for energy production,” said Subcommittee Chairman Don Young (NGP Photo).    *    Senator Lisa Murkowski, Photo by Dave Harbour, Obama BudgetToday, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (NGP Photo), provided an opening statement at the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the administration’s proposed fiscal year 2013 budget for the Department of Energy.  “We all hoped – and expected – that the president would lead the way by presenting a good plan to reduce our debt and grow our economy. … “We instead received a document that largely ignores the greatest threat to our economy – the more than $15 trillion in debt that led to the United States’ first-ever credit downgrade last summer. Last year’s budget request lamented the ‘special interest loopholes’ that riddle our tax code, but this year’s proposes even more. It describes an economy ‘built to last’ and yet, is filled with proposals that have virtually no chance of passage."  
 
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) says data released by the US Department of Commerce (DOC) demonstrates the country’s urgent need for an “all of the above” energy policy including reliance on  robust domestic production.  DOC says that the nation’s trade deficit has reached its highest point since the financial crisis began in 2008 due to a reliance on oil imports.  In 2011, the U.S. imported 331.7 billion dollars worth of oil.  This staggering amount was the highest of any category and accounted for almost 60 percent of the entire trade deficit, the highest percentage since 1992.  CEA President David Holt (NGP Photo) said yesterday that, “The latest trade deficit data is a clear indication that the United States needs an energy policy that focuses on the full utilization of all our domestic energy resources."
 
In a letter to Congress on Tuesday, Alaska Representative Bob Lynn (NGP Photo) said, "Alaska’s arctic region is a treasure chest of natural resources that can benefit Alaska and the entire United States.  Responsible and safe resource development and economic development of this region is possible due to the technology and expertise of our engineers, in addition to our state environmental experience and stringent permitting process.  I urge you to oppose Congressman Gerlach’s Amendment to strip ANWR from HR7.  Clearly we have been successful over the years with increasing exploration and development on the North Slope while the wildlife has coexisted and thrived."  (See Senator Cathy Giessel’s similar ANWR support letter and Speaker Mike Chenault story on ANWR trip to DC.)

Calgary Herald by Deborah Yedlin.  A quiet breakfast took place some weeks ago at the Petroleum Club among a group of Calgary executives – some retired, others active but each one tied into the energy business either through finance or company affiliations.  The purpose was to discuss issues facing the oil and gas sector. No surprise, the primary concerns were the low price of natural gas, the latest developments for the Keystone XL pipeline and the hurdles facing the proposed Northern Gateway line to the West Coast.

Juneau Empire by Pat Forgey.   With Lower 48 natural gas prices bumping along at record lows, Gov. Sean Parnell and other Alaska leaders are looking at China and other Asian markets for developing the state’s huge natural gas reserves.  … a petroleum industry consultant this week told legislators that the state shouldn’t get its hopes too high.  “It will not be so easy,” warned Pedro van Meurs, an industry consultant located in the Bahamas who has a long history in Alaska, including in advising former Gov. Frank Murkowski and others on natural gas taxation and pipeline Norton Schwartz, USAF Chief of Staff, Photo by Dave Harbourdevelopment.  (See our earlier related story along with van Meurs’ complete slide presentation.)

 

In response to a Department of Defense decision to relocate Eielson Air Force Base’s F-16s to the Anchorage area, U.S. Senators Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski and Fairbanks Borough Mayor Luke Hopkins will meet with U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff, General Norton Schwartz (NGP Photo) on Saturday, February 18th – and host a community meeting for borough residents afterwards at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks.