JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska Legislature has confirmed Gov. Sean Parnell's appointees to Alaska boards and commissions, including two controversial picks. Bernard Washington was confirmed to theState Assessment Review Board on a 45-15 vote. Richard Rabinow was confirmed to the board of the Alaska Gasline Development Personal: Today we drive to Wasilla to offer comments at noon to members of the MatSu Business Alliance   Alaska's Most Under Reported News Events Opinion By Dave Harbour It's somewhat ironic that there isn't more support for balanced, economic reporting when one considers that media ratings and circulation [...]

On the online opinion pages of The Oregonian, David Holt (NGP Photo) explores why west coast states will benefit the most if the U.S. utilizes Alaska energy resources.   ...  According to the EIA, Oregonians spend more than $9 billion on petroleum products each year. Energy consumption in Oregon continues to increase, but Oregon only produces about one-third of the energy it uses.  ...  The state has therefore been highly dependent on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) and would be highly vulnerable should the pipeline cease operation. More than 80 percent [...]

This Morning at 8:30 a.m. Alaska Time (12:30 EST), the House Finance Committee met for its gas pipeline/oil production tax hearing.   U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (NGP Photo) today commented on the Department of Energy’s (DOE) announcement that ConocoPhillips’ non-Free Trade Agreement (FTA) liquefied natural gas (LNG) export license has been approved. “I’m glad ConocoPhillips will be able to add to Alaska’s 40-year history of supplying natural gas to Japan,” Murkowski said. “Today’s announcement by DOE also highlights the growth that’s occurring in Cook Inlet, where there is now ample [...]

Fairbanks News Miner Guest Editorial by Gubernatorial Candidate Bill Walker (NGP Photo).  Here we go again. With another gubernatorial election we get another gas line study (Senate Bill 138) designed to fool voters into thinking there’s progress on gas line development. 

Gas Pipeline Testimony of North Slope Borough Mayor, Charlotte Brower, Delivered Yesterday (March 6, 2014) To The Alaska State Senate Finance Committee Regarding SB 138. Good morning Co-chairman Kelly, Co-chairman Meyer, and Senators.  My name is Charlotte Brower (NGP Photo).  I am honored to be the Mayor of the North Slope Borough, the wife of a whaling captain, and am blessed with six children and twenty-five grandchildren. Thank you for the opportunity to speak on SB138, a bill that authorizes the State of Alaska to move forward on developing a [...]

  Related PNA Story.  ConocoPhillips Alaska has added another project to those it has announced since passage of oil tax reform by the Alaska Legislature last spring. Petroleum News by Eric Lidji.  The Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska Anchorage expects oil and gas companies to spend some $4.255 billion this year in the state, almost half of the $9.1 billion in total construction spending the researchers expect this year. EETV VIDEO.  How are local hydraulic fracturing bans affecting natural-gas-intensive industries? During today's OnPoint, Jennifer Diggins [...]

Petroleum News by Eric Lidji (NGP Photo).   For the fourth quarter, ConocoPhillips earned $555 million in Alaska, up from the seasonally lower third quarter, but down from the same period during the previous year on declining production. The company paid nearly $1 billion in obligations during the quarter, which vice president finance, ConocoPhillips Alaska Vice President of Finance Bob Heinrich attributed to the outgoing Alaska’s Clear and Equitable Share fiscal system. “The fourth quarter of 2013 is similar to what we have seen historically under ACES where we pay [...]

  Calgary Herald by David Marsden. ... What we are quibbling about is the depths of Obama’s hypocrisy.  The Keystone XL pipeline would not add to the United States’ consumption of oil. From the U.S. House Resource Committee re: Threat to Half Of America's Fruits, Vegetables and Nuts Today the House will act on legislation to provide relief to farmers and help return water flows to the Central Valley.  (See our earlier story of the effect of national energy policy on California and Colorado food production.  -dh)  Fuel Fix.  Former [...]

Houston Chronicle.  ConocoPhillips completed its first full year as an independent producer with a 74 percent hike in fourth-quarter earnings, driven largely by sales of overseas assets as the company turns its focus to North American shale. (Here is the 2013 fourth quarter Alaska earnings review. “The fourth quarter of 2013 is similar to what we have seen historically under ACES where we pay about twice as much in taxes as we keep,” said Bob Heinrich, vice president finance, ConocoPhillips Alaska.  “The recent oil tax reform passed by the Legislature, which [...]

Oil and Gas Journal, by Christopher E. Smith.  ExxonMobil Corp., BP PLC, ConocoPhillips, TransCanada Corp., Alaska Gasline Development Corp. (AGDC), and Alaska's commissioners of natural resources and revenue have signed a heads of agreement (HOA) for the Alaska LNG Project, laying the commercial framework for development of an 800-mile natural gas pipeline to transport production from the Alaska North Slope (ANS) to a 15-18 million tonne/year LNG plant on its south-central coast. The HOA is subject to public review by the state legislature this session. Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell (NGP [...]