The ADN asked candidates, "Are you satisfied with the level of federal environmental regulation and oversight of offshore oil and gas drilling and shipping to prevent a major spill in Alaska? If not, what do you want to see changed?  We think there should have been more outrage expressed by aspiring leaders that Federal bureaucrats are clearly doing everything possible to shut down Alaskan oil and gas activity -- both on- and off-shore.  See the economic impact of new OCS activity in Alaska in this study conducted by Northern Economics [...]

Platts.  Natural gas pipeline companies have spent $2.3 million on US political campaigns ahead of Tuesday's federal elections, a modest $100,000 increase from the 2006 mid-terms, even as Congress considers tightening pipeline safety oversight and curbing carbon emissions. The industry gave $1.3 million, or about 57% of the total, to Republican candidates and $934,000, or 41% of the total, to Democrats, according to the latest filings tracked by the Center for Responsive Politics. The sector has favored Republicans in every election cycle since 1994.  (Comment.  The entire energy sector should [...]

ADN by Elizabeth Bluemink.  Recent drilling results indicate that the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska contains roughly a tenth of the oil that federal scientists had previously estimated, the U.S. Geological Survey announced Tuesday.  Read  more: http://www.adn.com/2010/10/26/1519692/report-slashes-estimate-of-amount.html#ixzz13ZWUADTH  (Comment: Since we have lost trust in the integrity and competence of the Barak Obama Administration, we cannot eliminate the possiblity that such USGS conclusions are political statements designed as pretext to further restrict access to the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.  -dh) News Miner, Governor Sean Parnell (NGP Photo) Q&A.  Should the state continue funding a study of in-state [...]

Personal note: ...just returned to my gentle readers after a weekend in Walla Walla for a Whitman College "Parents Weekend"  -dh Fairbanks News Miner. Q&A by John Brown.  We can own and build a large diameter gas line to tide water that allows us to retain all options associated with our natural gas. We need to start on both projects tomorrow.  (It always amazes me how easily politicians can say "We" when they are referring to someone else's money.  See our earlier editorial.    -dh)

OneNewsNow.  “The Obama administration may have lifted the moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, but it may not do enough to retain jobs and keep prices down. Several nations are stepping up efforts to become self-sufficient when it comes to oil and gasoline, including Cuba. Dan Kish, an energy policy expert with the Institute for Energy Research (IER), explains what is now at stake. "It's not just Cuba -- it's Brazil, it's the United Kingdom, it's Norway, it's Venezuela, it's Africa," he exclaims. "Every place in the world except [...]

  BOEM Skeptic I Am - Comment I Will  -Yoda (NGP Photo) Commentary and Call To Action by Dave Harbour Yesterday BOEM (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, etc.) provided us with an advance copy of a flyer (i.e. subject to change) announcing yet another set of public hearings scheduled for Alaska in November: 11-1, Kotzebue; 11-2, Point Hope; 11-3, Point Lay; 11-4, Wainwright; 11-5, Barrow; 11-9, Anchorage. These hearings are for the purpose of getting input on a draft supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) relating to Chukchi Sea Sale 193. [...]

ADN Poll of Governor Candidates: Question: What is your position on the federal loan guarantees for an Alaska natural gas pipeline?

  National Post.  A panel that studied the environmental and social impact of a US$16.2-billion Canadian Arctic gas pipeline is rebuking Ottawa's efforts to reject many of its recommendations in a dispute that is delaying the line's regulatory decision. In a lengthy letter to Environment Minister Jim Prentice's office, Robert Hornal, chairman of the Mackenzie gas project's joint review panel, said the 176 recommendations in his panel's key report must be preserved .... AP by Dan Joling.  Alaska gubernatorial candidates answered questions for Anchorage high school students Monday that ranged from [...]

Here is a report on last week's successful ENERGY DAY in the Capitol! 

Sympatica.  The independent panel that reviewed the proposed Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline has blasted the federal and N.W.T. governments for rejecting many of its recommendations. CBC.  DNA found on a mocking and anonymous April letter might provide the key to identifying a pipeline bomber in northeastern B.C., police say.  There have been six bombings in the Dawson Creek area since October 2008, all aimed at Encana Corp. wellheads or pipelines.