Americans Overwhelmingly Favor OCS Development – Inuvik, NWT Doldrums…Pending Mackenzie Joint Panel Decision – Alaska Gas Civil War?
We Continually Focus On U.S. OCS (with revenue sharing) Because Of The Greatest Prospects For New Production Supporting Oil And Gas Transportation Systems And Alaska's Economy! We Keep Another Steady, Concerned And Objective Eye On The Leadership Required To Meet the Awesome Tax, Regulatory And Fiscal Challenges Which Are So Critical To Onshore Investment As Well. -dh 1. Houston Chronicle. A new Rasmussen Reports survey that found roughly seven out of 10 U.S. voters support offshore oil drilling. According to the poll, just 20 percent oppose drilling for oil [...]
Breaking News: Cook Inlet Gas Plant Interruption of Service for Fairbanks With Unknown Impacts On Southcentral Consumers….
Potential Gas Supply Disruption! Anchorage's Mayor, Dan Sullivan (NGP Photo), began his administration this summer with a goal of addressing energy supply issues. His hard work and planning will pay off when any sort of disruption of service occurs. This particular disruption may have more effect on Fairbanks natural gas customers than those in Southcentral Alaska, but highlights the importance of emergency preparations. -dh
North Slope Borough Does Not Support Anti-OCS Lawsuit – Canadian/Alaska Gas Pipeline History
1. Historical Highlight: Who Was Justice Thomas R. Berger? More on the Mackenzie status: Intelligence Daily, and Fuel Space (See yesterday's links, too.) 2. Comment. We received an Alaska North Slope Borough (NSB) news release late yesterday. We compliment Mayor Edward Itta (NGP Photo) and the NSB on a decision to not join in current lawsuits designed to stop or further delay 2010 exploration plans for the Beaufort Sea. "I believe we can ultimately get to a plan that works for industry and satisfies our deepest concerns," Itta said. We respect the Mayor's [...]
Enviros and North Slope Anti-Development Forces Again Threaten Alaska OCS – Mackenzie Report Imminent
CBC by FP. A major stumbling block in the decades-long effort to build the $16.2-billion Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline could be cleared at the end of this month. “We’re told the Joint Review Panel will be releasing its report at the end of this month, on December 31,” Bob McLeod (NGP Photo), the Northwest Territories' Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, said in an interview in Calgary Tuesday. * Green Life. A panel examining the social and environmental effects of a delayed Arctic natural gas pipeline is expected to meet [...]
Governor Parnell Announces Budget – See Denali’s FERC Status Report – Mackenzie Report Due – Feds Strike Again With Ocean Policy Draft
1. Governor Sean Parnell (NGP Photo-l, and Photo-r with Chamber Chairman Tony Izzo) appeared before the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce yesterday to announce his budget proposal to the Alaska Legislature. The Governor commented on an in-state natural gas pipeline project (see ADN report below). He also continued to exercise his leadership on the economy, specifically the OCS issue. He spoke to the high volume of anti-development initiatives produced by the White House during Obama's first year in office (See the latest, Item #6, below). He noted that his Washington representative, John Katz--who [...]
IS ALASKA LOSING GROUND IN THE COMPETITON FOR OIL & GAS INVESTMENT DOLLARS?
1. Is Alaska losing ground in the world competition for oil and gas investment? Of course she is. Poor, foolish Alaska...thinking everyone would always come to her court no matter how high her taxes, how burdensome her regulations, how remote and hard to access her resources from the markets. See our earlier editorial. Then, link to this stunning story reflecting the British Columbia-Alberta competition which Alaska has tried earnestly to ignore, until the last week or so. -dh Financial Post, by Carrie Tait -- British Columbia fired the latest [...]
The Much Anticipated, Alaska Regional Integrated Resource Plan
The Much Anticipated, Alaska Regional Integrated Resource Plan "Public comments are welcomed on the RIRP Draft Report. Please send those comments electronically to May Clark at mclark@aidea.org by Wednesday, January 6, 2010. The comments will be sent to Black & Veatch for consideration." Jim Strandberg, Project Manager (NGP Photo) Alaska RIRP Draft Report - December 4, 2009 This outline provides a description of what is included in each part of the draft report and a link to each part. (Word version of this outline) If you have difficulty [...]
Alaska Investment Climate Commentary and Updates
Notice to Alaska's Governor, Legislature and 49th State Thought Leaders Respectfully: 1. Repeal the cruise line head tax law. This may seem unrelated to Northern Gas Pipelines, but if Alaska doesn't rid itself of its current, pirate mentality, we have no meaningful economic future...only government control. At the very least, repeal all of the illogical statutory and regulatory requirements accompanying the tax. Kudos to Steve Hites, Skagway Street Car Company, Inc. -dh 2. Repeal the misnamed, confiscatory, predatory and suicidal "Alaska's Clear and Equitable Share" production tax; or, at least, [...]
Obama Names Larry Persily Alaska Gas Pipeline Federal Coordinator
Comment. Of all the bad news flowing from Washington D.C. these days, today's appointment of Alaskan Larry Persily (NGP Photo) as the Obama Administration's new Alaska Gas Pipeline Federal Coordinator is a shot of good news. We hope that the infusion of smart, trustworthy Alaskan appointees like Mr. Persily and other recent Department of Interior appointees will provide wise insight to Washington's insiders who, until now, seem intent on destroying Alaska's and America's economy as noted in yesterday's editorial. -dh
Governor Race Heats Up – And It’s All About Gas Pipeline and Tax Policy // Could TransCanada Price Hike Produce ‘Death Spiral’?
ADN by Sean Cockerham. Former state House Majority Leader Ralph Samuels (NGP Photo) announced Tuesday he's running for governor next year. That sets up a Republican primary fight among Samuels, Gov. Sean Parnell and Anchorage attorney Bill Walker over Alaska's relationship with the oil industry. Samuels was a big critic of the 2007 increase in taxes on oil companies pushed by then-Gov. Sarah Palin. Parnell supported it as Palin's lieutenant governor and still does. On Tuesday, Samuels described the vote to increase oil taxes as a "feeding frenzy." "As governor I'll work [...]
American/Alaskan Economy and Citizens Are Endangered Species!
Comment. Yesterday, the world heard that the U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS) had conditionally approved Shell Oil Company's 2010 Chukchi Sea Plan of Exploration. Amid the celebrating, however, one notes that the Federal Administration strategy to invoke death by a thousand cuts is alive and well. For example, while MMS conditionally approves, the Environmental Protection Agency still dallies and evades a timely granting of an air quality permit--which can still stop Shell's multi-billion dollar investment in Alaska's OCS. (To her credit, Senator Lisa Murkowski (NGP Photo) responded that, "Shell Oil is in [...]
Alaska Gas Pipeline Infighting? – Legislators Concerned About Alaska’s High Oil Taxes!
ADN Editorial. Has a bureaucratic turf war undermined the Parnell administration's effort to promote an in-state natural gas pipeline? That's the allegation from state Rep. Jay Ramras, a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor. He claims in-state gas line coordinator Harry Noah resigned because his efforts were thwarted by other staff who are more keen on the big gas line through Canada. In particular, Ramras complains that key officials on the governor's gas line team seem to have ruled out one in-state option, a bullet line from northern gas fields to [...]
TODAY: Law Seminars International, 5th Annual Conference: “Energy in Alaska”
Attend the Law Seminars International, 5th Annual Conference: “Energy in Alaska”, December 7 & 8, Egan Civic & Convention Center, Anchorage. The conference features: Michael C. Dotten, Esq., Program Co-Chair, David Marquez, Program Co-Chair, Tom Roberts, Esq., Heather H. Grahame, Esq., Svend Brandt-Erichsen, Esq., Joseph Balash (NGP Photo-r), Hon. Robert M. Pickett (NGP Photo), Mark D. Myers, Ph.D., Robert I. Shoaf, Esq., Kate Lamal, Todd G. Glass, Esq., Ethan G. Schutt, Esq., Sean Skaling, Joseph J. Perkins, Jr., Esq, Steven Findlay, Joseph M. Oglander, Esq., Bradford G. Keithley, Esq., Steven C. Borell, P.E.