​ Shell, BG Group Merger Signals Huge Changes in Energy The $70 billion acquisition of BG Group by Royal Dutch Shell will set off some huge, and profitable, changes in energy... Full Story. FROM ALASKANOMICS: SEATTLE BENEFITTED BY ALASKA.  Earlier this year, the Seattle Metro Chamber released a study that shows continued growth to the Puget Sound region due to Alaska’s economic impact. The report shows that Alaska’s impact can be seen in a number of sectors including freight/cargo, seafood, passenger transportation and tourism, maritime support, refining, health care, and education. [...]

Today's Relevant Energy Links Courtesy of Consumer Energy Alliance: The Register-Guard: A roundup of local news  Fifth Street Public Market owner Brian Obie says the Eugene City Council’s planned changes to its Multi-Unit Property Tax Exemption program could derail his plans for a $54 million mixed-use project downtown. Obie signed an option on a 99-year lease with Lane County in 2013 on two acres of land on Sixth Street, in hopes of building a mixture of apartments and condominiums, shops and restaurants, and possible amenities ranging from perhaps a grocery store [...]

ADN.  A storm shut down the Dalton Highway and stranded truckers for two nights on the only road to the Prudhoe Bay oil fields on Alaska's North Slope this week as crews battled water from a river flowing over the road. For three weeks, crews have been trying to divert overflow from the Sagavanirktok River, commonly known as the Sag River, said Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities spokesperson Meadow Bailey. The Sag River runs parallel to the Dalton Highway as it approaches Prudhoe Bay. The water has been running over roughly [...]

Shell rigs head to Alaska prior to possible federal permit -  Royal Dutch Shell is bringing oil rigs Noble Discoverer and Polar Pioneer to Alaska as it anticipates possible federal approval to resume drilling activity in the Arctic waters, a spokeswoman said last week. "Any final decision to go forward with a 2015 season will depend on successful permitting, clearing any legal obstacles and our own assessment that we are prepared to explore safely and successfully," she added. Reuters (3/27) Barents Observer.   Lukoil might be about to get the Kremlin’s blessing for [...]