We thank a number of NGP readers along with interested students and other citizens for attending a special forum last night at the University of Alaska-Anchorage, "The Taxes In Our Future".  

Yesterday the Alaska Senate concluded its big oil production tax reform debate, finally voting to pass reform legislation (i.e. SB 21).  (See Historic Debate Video: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)    -dh

This morning, Alaska Commissioner of Natural Resources, Dan Sullivan (NGP Photo), briefed the State Senate In-State Energy Committee on gas pipeline project progress.  (See Video)

Dan Sullivan, Commissioner of Natural Resources, Alaska, Gas Pipeline, ANS gas commercialization, Photo by Dave HarbourSullivan focused on the major Alaska north slope (ANS) gas commercialization project,  the forward movement of the Point Thomson project (i.e. accessing about a quarter of the ANS gas reserves), and the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation.  He said that the goal of his presentation was to update senators on these projects and how they related to each other and to the Governor’s proposal for moving Liquefied Natural Gas  (i.e. LNG) from the ANS to Interior Alaska.  

Sullivan pointed out that the worldwide LNG market is highly competitive and that in his presentaitons to companies and country representatives he stressed Alaska’s advantages and the disadvantages of competing LNG export areas.  For example, he noted that unresolved First Nations issues posed obstacles to energy pipeline and export projects in Canada.  (First Nations say they will fight oilsands, pipeline).  -dh