If you missed yesterday's story on ANS propane or Monday's review of the OCS-EPA issue, please consider clicking to them today.  We believe these are two of the most important Alaska developments of the year! Commentary.  The Alaska Dispatch's Rena Delbridge (NGP Photo) is among the best oil and gas reporters ever to grace our State and today she brings us the story of a marriage between the Alaska Gasline Port Authority (AGPA) and Fairbanks Natural Gas (FNG).  We wrote of this possibility yesterday in our propane commentary as an idea, a possibility, [...]

EPA Hearing News and Commentary by Dave Harbour, NGP Publisher  At what point does Shell Oil decide that its $2.3 + billion investment in Alaska's OCS is a lost cause?  Hopefully, Shell's dedication, patience and risk will pay off for its shareholders, for Alaska and for America's national security.  Shell's OCS success is critical, because as we have said here consistently, OCS (with federal-state revenue sharing) is vital to the economic survival of Alaska.  And an EPA Clean Air Act permit is critical to Shell's OCS investment moving forward in 2010. [...]

We'll Have An Exclusive North Slope Gas Story For Readers Tomorrow! Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner (FERC) Phil Moeller (NGP Photo) visited Alaska last week and told a Commonwealth North gathering Friday night that he thought of himself as "Alaska's FERC Commissioner" because of his work in a Southeast Alaska cannery during his college years.  "Because of my time here," he said, "I probably have a good idea of how Alaskans react to issues."  In other extemporaneous remarks Friday evening, Moeller downplayed the domestic gas competition for Alaska North Slope (ANS) [...]

The ADN Honored Mayor Sullivan on Sunday, 9-27-09 With a Longer Story and Obituary Point of Personal Privilege.  Our dear readers know that at times your author takes the liberty of honoring a friend.  Today, all Anchorage Citizens with a memory of several decades will appreciate the contributions of George M. Sullivan, whose great spirit passed on to heaven last night.  Readers will be able to explore George's rich personal and family history and legacy on an excellent Wikipedia page and, undoubtedly, ADN, KTUU and others will run many respectful stories.  I [...]

Daily Planet, by Jeremiah Scoby.  The administration of Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan (NGP Photo, 9-21-09) and city utilities are preparing to roll out a plan to educate local residents about energy conservation.  City Manager George Vakalis said during a meeting of Anchorage's Energy Task Force the plan would be showcased next month to put the spotlight on the possibility that the city could face brownouts or blackouts during periods of high natural gas demand during a cold snap this winter.  “The energy system came close to failure the last two of three [...]

  ADN editorializes in support of AGIA process and TransCanada progress.    *     WSJ.  Governor Sean Parnell ( NGP Photo) wants gas projects to merge.     *     ADN, by Erika Boldtad.  In his first trip out of state since he replaced Sarah Palin as Alaska's governor, Sean Parnell urged the Obama administration to consider the state's perspective as it weighs whether to allow oil exploration to go forward in Arctic waters. The Alaska Standard reviews Exxon's gas pipeline position.      *     Yesterday, the Northwest Territories’ Minister of Industry, [...]

by Steve Pratt (NGP Photo) (Note: your author's earlier views on Cook Inlet Gas pricing.) The process used by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska to approve utility natural gas supply contracts is costly and problematic.  So noted RCA Chairman Bob Pickett in opening remarks at a natural gas pricing technical conference held at the commission today.  Documents from the conference can be found at www.state.ak.us/rca with inquiry reference I-09-007. (Scroll down for more)   The announced purpose for the conference was to explore ways to make the RCA’s natural gas supply [...]