Regulatory Commission of Alaska.  Today the Commission's hearing room should be full as all those interested in the failing, Cook Inlet natural gas supply scenario will convene to discuss whether the Commission should open a Regulations Docket addressing pricing provisions in natural gas supply contracts.  We will comment frequently and at length on this process in coming days, since decisions made here will have big impact on many Alaskan energy issues(See our 7-13-09 comment).   One is drawn to the wisdom of having the RCA simply fall back on its 2001, Union Oil-Enstar gas supply precedent.  And, it [...]

...will begin showing up Wednesday afternoon following a number of meetings and conference calls.     -dh     PNA via ADN.   North Slope production dropped 17 percent from May to June as the trans-Alaska oil pipeline took its first planned summer timeout for maintenance work June 20-21. North Slope production dropped below 300,000 barrels per day over that weekend.      *         Calgary Herald by Kelly Cryderman.  More than 20,000 old oil and gas wells across the province have been sitting abandoned or inactive for more than a decade without being cleaned up, worrying landowners and [...]

Friends:  Today your author finishes a two day seminar in Victoria with the Oxford Club following last week's meeting with the the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners.  This afternoon, the Victoria Clipper (fast ferry) will deliver me back to Seattle and early Tuesday Alaska Airlines will return me to Anchorage.  You'll have gas pipeline reports by Wednesday and reviews of this trip.   -dh

ADN via PNA by Wesley Loy. The state paid $193 million in cash over the past year to oil and gas explorers in exchange for tax credits they had accrued for making investments in the state, the Department of Revenue said.     *    Oklahoma State Regulatory Commissioners succeeded in urging their colleagues yesterday to adopt a resolution ... (story coming)

Financial Post by Juliet O'Neill.  Environment Minister Jim Prentice has condemned as "outrageous" the tripling of the time and cost to $18.6-million of an environmental review of the largest construction proposal in Canadian history -- the Mackenzie Valley gas project.

 7-17-09.  KTUU by Rhonda McBride (NGP Photo).  Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell (NGP Photo) has quite a resume when it comes to oil and gas. As a legislator, lawyer, lobbyist and lieutenant governor he's been on different sides of the issue.  As Sarah Palin passes the torch to Parnell, he promises to carry on her oil and gas policies aimed at giving the state more control of the industry.        *      ABC News.   Sarah Palin (NGP Photo) wrote an op-ed in today’s Washington Post attacking President Obama’s plan for a “cap [...]

  The Alaska Standard by Richard Peterson (NGP Photo, 1-01).  Perhaps a different approach is needed to get Alaska North Slope gas (hydrocarbons) to lower 48 energy markets (in a different form, i.e. transportation fuels) while also supporting a bullet line through Fairbanks to Anchorage sooner than later.  Alaska Natural Resources To Liquids (ANRTL) a long proponent of the F-T process to develop Alaska resources and reduce U.S. dependence upon imported crude oil ....    *     Wall Street Journal.  Alaska Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell said Thursday that he met with executives [...]

See special Op-ed and related stories, 6-30-09, and our 7-15-09 related story below.  -dh       7-15-09.  Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell (NGP Photo) appeared before the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce Monday along with other members of the business community.  Parnell briefed members on his succession plans.  Bill Popp (NGP Photo), President of the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation, briefed members on findings of the "Anchorage Industrial Land Assessment", providing a sober outlook on Anchorage's capacity for expansion.  Assembly Member Debbie Ossiander (NGP Photo-r) addressed the extensive history of Anchorage land [...]

7-14-09.  Former Assembly Member Allan Tesche (60, NGP Photo) passed away today following heart surgery in Houston.  Here is the ADN Story.  But here is a story that is less known.  I first met Allan in 1965 at Los Alamos High School, high on a hill above San Ildefonso Pueblo in New Mexico, somewhere between Taos and Santa Fe.  He was a well known student leader and I was the new English teacher in town.  The 1966 Yearbook pictures Allan (NGP Photo) as a member of the Senior Executive Committee [...]