ALERT: On Friday we editorialized about a little advertised ‘listening session’ planned by Federal officials tomorrow in Anchorage regarding Arctic offshore oil and gas exploration and development.  In the Friday piece, we asked questions that our readers may well want to explore tomorrow.  

We have located this note that the agencies are ‘reaching out to stakeholders’.  We believe readers can be sure the Feds are talking with NGOs and groups opposed to energy developmen (i.e. Here is an example).  We therefore encourage our readers to attend tomorrow’s ‘listening session’.  

We also note that while Anchorage will be accorded one listening session and Barrow will be provided with two, Fairbanks and Juneau will receive no opportunity to be heard this week on matters that will directly impact the lives of all Alaskans.  

We further hope the room is full of Democrat and Republican elected officials who wish to testify on behalf of their citizens!  -dh

Frontier Airlines, Wilderness Society, boycott, enemy of Alaska's economy, oil and gas, ANWR, Alaska National Wildlife RefugeCommentary: This Frontier Airlines logo appears on the Wilderness Society website wherein the airline is referred to as a partner in keeping the Arctic National Wildlife Range (ANWR) closed to oil and gas activity–even though research has shown that the small percentage of land affected would have virtually no affect on bird and animal populations.  "Our work aims to protect the refuge from oil drilling," the partners say on their webpage.  

We also note the Wilderness Society — with support from its ‘partners’ has taken it upon itself to rename the lawfully named "National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska", the "Western Arctic Reserve." The Joseph Goebbels-like stragegy of groups like this would seduce Americans into believing NPR-A is an ‘Arctic Reserve’ rather than a ‘Petroleum Reserve’.  This, in turn, provides cover to environmental activist allies in the Interior Department for their recent efforts to restrict areas of oil and gas exploration in the the Nation’s National Petroleum Reserve.   It is an activist conspiracy designed to manipulate and misdirect the ‘rule of law’.  -dh

The Wilderness Society/Frontier Airlines position is also in violation of the intent of Congress which, in the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, directed that a sliver of ANWR be used for reasonable oil and gas activity in the national interest.  Since the state of Alaska’s government and economy depend on reasonable oil and gas activity; and, since Frontier Airlines, a minor transportation player in the state, wishes to serve Alaska; and, since Frontier supports those dedicated to destroying Alaska’s economy; and, since Alaska’s oil production contributes to America’s economy at large; we, therefore, believe it logical should readers decide to choose other means of transportation than Frontier for travel both to Alaska and within the other states.  -dh

News From Around North America:

Calgary Herald by Dan Healing. Sweeping changes that could include breaking up the company have been announced by troubled Penn West Petroleum Ltd.

Forbes: Increased Demand For Shale Natural Gas Is Good For Us All – A new report from Barclays Capital predicts a “Tectonic Shift” in demand for natural gas in the United States by 2020. While this report will no doubt be used by the prophets of “peak gas” theory as ammunition for the construction of new strawman fright scenarios, the reality is this is nothing but good news for the American public.
 
Houston Chronicle (Editorial): Move over, OPEC
Things are getting interesting vis a vis OPEC and the U.S. shale industry. The once-omnipotent oil cartel is taking serious notice of the impact of the shale boom on global oil prices and markets. As well it should. Increased shale oil production domestically is pushing the U.S. toward potential energy self-sufficiency by 2018, analysts predict. Boosts in shale oil production in this country already are cutting deeply into OPEC’s share of the U.S. oil market.
 
Oklahoman: Survey shows most Americans support Keystone XL pipeline – Seventy percent of Americans are in favor of the Keystone XL pipeline, according to survey numbers released Tuesday by the American Petroleum Institute. The telephone survey of 1,000 registered voters across the country was conducted last week by Harris Interactive.
 
The Hill: Oil and gas lobby says State Department considering Keystone hearing – The State Department is looking to hold a public hearing in Washington, D.C., on the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline this summer, the American Petroleum Institute (API) saidTuesday. The department recently held a Keystone hearing in Nebraska, which covered its draft environmental review of the project.
 
POLITICO: Amendments could sink bipartisan energy bill – The pent-up demand for Senate energy legislation may doom the few bills on the topic that seemed to have a chance of passing. Exhibit A: Sens. Jeanne Shaheen’s and Rob Portman’s bipartisan proposal to promote energy efficiency, which may be close to coming to the Senate floor. While the bill has drawn bipartisan support, backers worry that the bill could become a magnet for divisive messaging amendments on topics like climate change, the Keystone XL pipeline and ethanol.
 
Houston Chronicle: Large oil firms hit record U.S. spending in 2012, as profits drop – The Ernst & Young analysis found that independent energy companies, those that explore for and produce oil and natural gas but do not have refining operations, are driving the pursuit of domestic oil and are investing larger and larger shares of their profits in future projects.