Next Monday, July 11 is the deadline for comment on Chukchi OCS development.  Here’s a website for easy, automated comment.  -dh

Calgary Herald by Rebecca Penty.  An article in the Wall Street Journal championing TransCanada Corp.’s proposed Keystone XL pipeline as an economic driver for a country hurting for jobs is evidence of support south of the border, president and CEO Russ Girling said Thursday.  The TransCanada executive said the opinion piece suggested the last phase of a $13-billion pipeline project would offer economic stimulus to a country facing a high unemployment rate of 9.1 per cent is a vote of confidence.

Committee on Natural Resources Oversight Hearing on "Offshore Energy: Interior Department’s Plans for Offshore Energy, Revenue, and Safety Reorganization": Friday, July 15, 2011 9:00 AM 

 

Investment Climate.  In yesterday’s speech to the South Anchorage Rotary Club, we described Alaska’s sour investment climate and the reasons for it, the solutions for it.  In today’s ADN, State Chamber President Rachael Petro’s rationale is similar.  Truly, all who have ‘eyes to see and ears to hear’ will see and hear of the same fate about to befall a great state.  The good news is that there is hope and Petro’s message is that we can all work together for reform.  But ‘all’ means that the formerly unaligned special interests work cohesively, from Alaska Native regional, village and non-profit organizations to all of organized labor to the huge array of non-profit organizations that receive sustaining support from the oil industry, to government agency employees who absolutely survive based on oil revenue — as Margy Johnson pointed out the other day.  We are also amazed that so few elected officials — who campaign on being soldiers for Alaska — are so conspicuously absent when time comes to vote on oil tax reform or testify on federal regulatory issues.  To their credit, hundreds of businesses represented by the state and local chambers of commerce, the Alaska Support Industry Alliance, Resource Development Council for Alaska and the Consumer Energy Alliance already see the handwriting on the wall and are lobbying state and federal entities for reform.   To their credit, Governor Sean Parnell’s Administration experts, Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan, Anchorage Assemblyman Chris Birch, State Senators Cathy Giessel and Lesil McGuire and Representatives Craig Johnson, Bill Stoltze, Bob Lynn, Lance Pruitt, Charisse Millett, Mike Chenault have been observed at recent federal hearings whose outcome could sustain or crater Alaska’s economic future.   -dh

Joe Henri by Dave Harbour, Alaska Statehood Act, Statehood bonfire park stripYesterday’s Statehood Act Anniversary. Marilyn Crockett by Dave Harbour, AOGA Executive Director, Alaska Oil and Gas Association Reader Joe Henri (NGP Photo) added useful, nostalgic, first hand perspective to our message.

Alaska Oil and Gas Association’s Long Time Executive Director, Marilyn Crockett (NGP Photo), bids adieu.  We have known Marilyn for most of her forty year tenure, respect her for a job well done and welcome her to the ranks of retired, pro-economy volunteers.  Below is the AOGA news release we received late yesterday. 

Anchorage, Ak.– Today, on the 41st anniversary of her service with the Alaska Oil and Gas Association (AOGA), Executive Director Marilyn Crockett announced she will be retiring from AOGA, effective December 31, 2011.  
 
            “It has truly been an honor and a privilege to work for the state’s largest private industry for my entire career and with the many professional Alaskans who, too, have contributed to the oil and gas industry in Alaska” stated Crockett. “My personal objective has been to grow Alaska’s economy by advocating for a vibrant oil and gas sector in our State.”

 

            Throughout her career with the Association, Ms. Crockett has served as AOGA’s Administrator, Exploration and Production Affairs Representative, Manager for Environmental Affairs, Deputy Director, and Executive Director. 

 

            “Marilyn’s commitment and tenacity for the industry and Alaska is unparalleled”, stated Ken Sheffield, AOGA President. “We will miss her, but wish her all the best on her well-deserved retirement.”

 

            “I will miss AOGA, the issues, and the people very much”, stated Ms. Crockett, “but I look forward to enjoying retirement with my husband and spending time with my family and grandchildren. Alaska will continue to be our home, and we will remain engaged in the issues facing Alaska.” 

 

            The AOGA Board of Directors has initiated a search for a new Executive Director and intends to fill the position before Ms. Crockett’s departure at the end of this year. 
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