ADN by AP.  Gov. Sean Parnell (NGP Photo) says a bill aimed at building an in-state natural gas pipeline quickly is heading in the right direction.  Parnell says he wants to work with Republican Sen. Lesil McGuire (NGP Photo) on her bill to give responsibility for an in-state line to the Alaska Railroad Corp. Alaska Dispatch by Rena Delbridge.  ... there are as many plans as there are people with platforms, especially in an election year, and each leader is as passionate as ever that his or her way is The Way.  ... Former Gov. Bill Sheffield [...]

Commentary: To Solve It's Own Energy Challenges, Anchorage Will End Up Thinking Through Alaska's Overall Energy Challenges by Dave Harbour Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan's (NGP Photo-l) Energy Task Force met yesterday at City Hall to hear an update on a plethora of energy issues competing for attention in the waining weeks of the Alaska Legislature's 2010 session in Juneau. Larry Persily (NGP Photo-r), currently a staff advisor to Representative Mike Hawker (NGP Photo-r, below) briefed Sullivan, Task Force Chairman Judy Brady (NGP Photo-l) and members on a variety of bills, including [...]

Yesterday's Report On Mackenzie Delay. Representative Charisse Millett and Paul Seaton Outline Energy Alternatives Fairbanks News Miner by Joshua Armstrong.  Presentations for state and commercial natural gas pipeline projects were met with concern Monday at the Tanana Chiefs Conference convention.  After state energy adviser Gene Therriault (NGP Photo) and Denali Pipeline representative Rick Solie spoke about their respective projects, they were peppered with questions and strong feelings from Native leaders and convention attendees.  “There’s a lot of promises across the country and across the state about how well (a pipeline) is going to have an effect on [...]

Mackenzie Project Delayed Again!  Financial Post,  CBC, Calgary Herald, Vancouver Sun    ADN - AP.  Gov. Sean Parnell (NGP Photo) said miners face an uphill battle against federal regulators, and his office is "fighting with everything we've got" against the feds and "overzealous" environmental groups.   (See Governor Parnell's earlier defensive effort to oppose the Federal government's pattern of abusive rulemaking, litigation and anti-civilization initiatives:  Juneau.  Parnell challenges EPA resource rulemaking.     *    Governor fights Corps of Engineers NPRA decision.     *     Parnell opposes NOAA's Beluga designation.   [...]

"Remember the Alamo!" "Remember Pearl Harbor!" "Remember Bunker Hill!" "Remember the Maine!" "Remember 'Nuts'!" The Mexicans, Japanese, Spanish, Germans and British--once our enemies--became our friends because we prevailed.  Had we not prevailed, America's democracy would have vanished long before now.  Today, our own Federal leaders are attacking the institutions of freedom through propaganda and demonization, over-regulation, delay tactics and executive orders that evade Congressional oversight and constitute the acts of modern-day despots.   The American citizen is an endangered species, suffering economic death by a thousand cuts at the hands [...]

Calgary Herald by Shaun Polczer. Get ready, because today's going to be a Big Day for oil and gas types in Alberta. In fact, the next 48 hours promise to be a barnburner that's going to set the tone for the next decade or so as far as the importance of petroleum in this province.  Around 3 PM MST we're going to get the goods on the latest Alberta land sale, where an area the size the Netherlands is up for bid. Speculation is rampant that EnCana, Shell, Esso or all of [...]

Alaska Dispatch by Rena Delbridge.   ...two new bills hit the Senate on Monday, delivering, as promised, a major change to the state's oil and gas tax structure as a pipeline open season approaches.  The bills, SB 305 (.pdf), and SB 306, would tax oil and gas separately instead of as a combined resource. Senate President Gary Stevens (NGP Photo-l) , R-Kodiak, took the unusual step of referring the bills to only one committee. Typically, bills are sent to three for hearings.  Some lawmakers -- most vocally, Sitka Republican Sen. Bert Stedman (NGP Photo-l) [...]

We began the day yesterday with former Anchorage Mayor Rick Mystrom's briefing on an an Alaska Railroad extension that could ameliorate gas pipeline logistical costs; we ended it with the Iditarod Mushers' Banquet  (Stories and Photos coming....) Tomorrow will be another big day in Washington: tune in over the weekend and find out why before you read about it elsewhere. Alaska Dispatch by Rena Delbridge.  The state has directed an estimated $142 million toward gas line development in the past six or so years. Now Gov. Sean Parnell is asking the [...]