Here are some new video and audio messages dealing with the investment climate issue; they are posted on the Alaska Support Industry Alliance webpage.
Fairbanks News Miner by Matt Buxton. With legislation backing the Fairbanks natural gas trucking project near the finish line, some lawmakers are asking about the alternatives. The question came from Rep. Lindsey Holmes (NGP Photo) during a Thursday morning House Finance Committee meeting on legislation that would put $355 million of low-interest loans, bonds, grants and tax credits behind a project to bring North Slope liquefied natural gas and propane to Fairbanks starting in 2015. “Is this going to provide more affordable gas to the Interior than an alternative of importing LNG and either trucking or railing it up to the Interior?” Holmes asked. “If the goal is to get affordable energy to an area that is really distressed, is this a more affordable option than the alternative?”
Legislation: Last night the Senate Resources Committee voted to pass HB 4, the Alaska intrastate gas pipeline legislation while; today, the House Finance Committee takes up the production tax reform bill, SB 21.
Today’s Consumer Energy Alliance links:
The Hill: Alberta premier heads to DC to press Keystone pipeline – Alison Redford, premier of the Canadian province of Alberta, will be in Washington, D.C., next week to make the case for the proposed Keystone XL oil sands pipeline. Redford will appear at the Brookings Institution on April 9 to discuss “the Alberta-U. S. energy relationship, environmental efforts undertaken by her administration, and the Keystone XL pipeline,” an advisory states.
New York Times: Obama Tells Donors of Tough Politics of Environment – Appearing at the home of an outspoken critic of the Keystone XL pipeline, President Obama on Wednesday night told a group of high-dollar donors that the politics of the environment “are tough.” Mr. Obama appears to be leaning toward the approval of the pipeline, although he did not specifically mention it to the donors. But he acknowledged that it is hard to sell aggressive environmental action — like reducing pollution from power plants — to Americans who are still struggling in a difficult economy to pay bills, buy gas and save for retirement.
Politico Pro: EPA yanks 2011 biofuel standard – EPA is backtracking on its 2011 renewable fuel standard for cellulosic biofuel, acquiescing to a January ruling that tossed its 2012 standard that was created using the same methods. The decision marks another win for oil industry groups that say the RFS puts an unfair burden on industry. EPA is required to project volumes of renewable fuel each year that refiners, importers and blenders must use. When the industry doesn’t meet those volume mandates, they must purchase credits.
The Fiscal Times: How the U.S. Blew Up the Global Energy Market – The energy business and politics are intertwined in Russia, more so than in any other country in the world. Since Putin took office as president, Russia has used its energy industry not just to build its wealth, but to exert its political will. So when two Russian energy executives tell the world not to worry about American industry, they’re sending a political message. As the U.S. shale industry grows, it makes Russia less and less important to vulnerable countries like Poland, who are at Russia’s mercy. It also takes away potential customers, as the United States looks to explore markets that were targets of companies like Gazprom.
Houston Chronicle: Penn State launches ‘world’s premier’ energy center – Pennsylvania State University is gunning to become the global beacon for natural gas research and learning, seeking to fill what the school says is a gap in study of the booming domestic fuel. Penn State has announced the launch of the Institute for Natural Gas Research, which it plans to develop into “the world’s premier academic institute” on the production, transport and use of natural gas. The school says it also will focus on water and environmental issues related to natural gas development.
Associated Press: Pipeline pitched to ship Bakken oil across Wyo. – A company proposes to build a nearly 500-mile pipeline that would feed oil from North Dakota’s booming Bakken oil field into another pipeline in eastern Wyoming. The 12-inch pipeline would cost $300 million. Initial capacity would be 50,000 barrels a day but the pipe could handle up to twice that. Oil would begin flowing in August 2014. The pipeline is proposed by Hiland Crude, a subsidiary of Oklahoma-based Hiland Partners. The Casper Star-Tribune reports Hiland Vice President Jim Suttle discussed the pipeline with Converse County commissioners in Douglas on Wednesday.
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