(Comment: We note that COP is one of Canada's and one of Alaska's largest producers, that China has been an increasingly active investor in Canada, and that China has tested Alaska's investment waters.  If the Government of Canada approves COP's asset sale to China, we may expect to see more interest in Chinese investments in North America, including Alaska.  See our Story of Chairman Wu Bangguo's visit to Anchorage (NGP photo, w/Governor Sean Parnell).  -dh)  Maritime & Energy.  Chinese firms have been scouring the globe for investments in energy assets to [...]

See Our Earlier Oil/Gas/Cruise Ship Tax Policy Comment Alaska Dispatch by Rena Delbridge.  Senators may have tightened up the title of a gas tax bill to curtail monkey business in the House, but that hasn't smoothed the bill's progress before representatives.  Now an afternoon hearing is delayed until the full House Resources committee can meet with Attorney General Dan Sullivan (NGP Photo-l), who has briefed two members already with information panel chair Rep. Craig Johnson, R-Anchorage, thinks will smooth out disagreements.  (Our Comment: While well intended, this bill would have the effect of increasing [...]

KTUU Story by Ted Lamb.  Our commentary: As the Legislative Session winds down, leaders have constructed an in-state, ANS gas pipeline plan.  We ask them to consider one question: "What signal does that send to potential investors in Cook Inlet gas exploration, development and storage projects?"  -dh ADN by Tim Bradner (NGP Photo).  State and community leaders have finally focused on the serious threat we face with pending natural gas shortages in Southcentral Alaska, and it's about time. AJC by Tim Bradner.  Preliminary estimates of what it might cost to build a [...]

  Reuters by Yereth Rosen.  The cost estimate for that 1,700-mile project is $32 billion to $41 billion, according to the TransCanada-Exxon Mobil open-season plan. Those companies have received FERC permission to start a 90-day open season on April 30.  Denali President Bud Fackrell (NGP Photo) said the company has 'a really high-quality design and execution plan' and believes its $35 billion estimate is well supported.  'We have to give confidence to the shippers that we know what this project is going to cost. We feel very good about that,' Fackrell [...]

This Morning, Denali Will File Open Season Plans With FERC   At noon yesterday, NorthRim Bank founder and chairman, Marc Langland (NGP Photo) hosted a large community luncheon briefing at the Denaina Convention Center in Anchorage to discuss an "Alaska Economic Overview", prepared by bank economist Mark Edwards (NGP Photo), supported by private economist Dan Dickinson (NGP Photo-r).   Immediately afterward, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (NGP Photo) convened a 'roundtable' of stakeholders to discuss implications to Alaska of implementation of the Endangered Species Act.   ...story in progress....       [...]

Beware a Divided and Storm-Tossed Ship of State by Dave Harbour If Rena Delbridge is right (NGP Photo), and she always seems to be, her Alaska Dispatch article yesterday reveals the tip of an iceberg that could well sink Ship Alaska.   For our ship of state to have a chance of traversing a deep sea amid many economic and social storms--raging nationally and here at home--we must work together.  Working against each other could let our vulnerable vessel slip broadside into a deep trough before the coming seas. Absent [...]

State Senate Leader Further Erodes Investment Climate: Producers Would Pay $2 Billion More/Year When/If Gas Pipeline Flows! -dh Senator Murkowski's Thursday Speech Video   Yesterday morning, while speaking to a 7:30 a.m. crowd at the Resource Development in Anchorage, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (NGP Photo, w/RDC President Wendy Lindskoog) raised her vibrating Blackberry and announced that the Environmental Protection Agency had, in wake of President Barack Obama's OCS proclamation this week, approved Shell's Chukchi Sea Clean Air Act permit. Shell Alaska's Vice President, Pete Slaiby smiled as eyes turned on him [...]

FERC Approves TransCanada's Open Season Plan (See Edmonton Journal) Text of President Obama's OCS Speech Commentary: We have provided an editorial on this subject to a national publication and will either display it here if it is not printed or reprint it after publication.  The bottom line is that the President's announcement yesterday has the effect of re-establishing moratoria areas that burden the economy, society and even the environment (as the recent moratoria study demonstrated).  Some areas he purports to include in leasing plans, will really just be put through a [...]