Eat, Drink and Testify!

Cathy GiesselYesterday a reader alerted us that Senator Cathy Giessel (NGP Photo) and Representative Craig JohnsonCraig Johnson (NGP Photo-r) had both made floor speeches urging attendance of Legislators at tomorrow's hearing.  We compliment Senator Giessel and Representative Johnson and all of the other public officials whom we hope to see tomorrow night, STANDING UP FOR ALASKA!  Giessel speech video, Min. 32:15 to 34:26.  Johnson speech video, Min 41:48 to 42:45.

What: BOEMRE Hearing, Proposed 2012-2017 OCS Leasing Program

When: Tomorrow (Friday) Afternoon-Evening – 6 p.m. Pizza and Refreshments – 7 p.m. Testimony

Where: 3801 Centerpoint Drive, off 36th Avenue

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Mark HamiltonComment: Yesterday a large coalition of Alaskans kicked off a campaign to Tony Knowlespromote changes to Alaska's oil tax policy in an effort to improve the climate of investment.  Former Governor Tony Knowles (NGP Photo-r) said, "What we need is for the state to adopt a tax structure that encourages jobs and investment in Alaska.  We need policies that work so Alaskans can go to work."  Jim Jansen (NGP Photo-r), CEO of Lynden told the audience that, "We are already starting to see the oil companies take their investment dollars elsewhere.  This is a time when we should be encouraging investment in Alaska, not taxing the industry to death."   Former University of Alaska President Mark Hamilton (NGP Photo-l) opened the meeting with a case for action.  "This is not big oil sending the message.  This is your economy talking," he said.  "The trans-Alaska oil pipeline is two-thirds empty and exploration activity on the North Slope is vanishing.  This should be alarming to Alaskans and we intend to make sure the public is aware."  In a prepared release the group noted that this winter only one exploration well is being drilled on the North Slope and that ConocoPhillips — for the first time in 45 yearsJim Jansen — didn't drill an exploration well.  The board of the Make Alaska Competitive Coalition includes Jansen, a Co-Chairman, with Co-Chairman Mark Langland, and a whose who of members including Will Anderson of Koniag, Rick Boyles, Teamsters, Governor Knowles, Harry McDonald of Carlile, Bill Moran of FirstBank, Norm Phillips of Doyon, Ed Rasmuson of the Rasmuson Foundation, Governor Bill Sheffield, Mark Edwards of Northrim, Lori Goodman of Era Alaska, Alaska Airlines' Scott Habberstad.  See the full list of members here, along with the organization's first commercials, now airing.  -dh  (See AP story by Dan Joling, KTUU story by Jason Lamb)

Fairbanks News Miner, Op-Ed by Dave Harbour.  The Alaska House Resources Committee recently heard truckDave Harbour drivers, oil field workers and small business owners testify about Alaska’s poor investment climate. They painted pictures of wage freezes, layoffs, benefit reductions and outmigration of experienced Alaskans to the booming oil and gas investment climate of North Dakota.  While uncompetitive and burdensome state tax policies affect oil and gas investment and jobs on state lands, federal policies that also affect our investment climate are choking the economy as well.  …  So, if Alaska OCS development offers thousands of jobs and economic benefits to Alaska and the entire nation, what are we waiting for?  Unfortunately, the federal government refuses to keep faith with its obligation to its leaseholders and issue viable permits to drill offshore Alaska. That unjustified obstruction of our own federal government blocks access to our energy resources while outsourcing American jobs, government revenue and economic benefits to exporting countries. Misguided or poorly

 Eat, Drink and Testify!

Cathy GiesselYesterday a reader alerted us that Senator Cathy Giessel (NGP Photo) and Representative Craig Johnson (NGP Photo-r) had both made floor speeches urging attendance of Legislators at tomorrow's hearing.  We compliment Senator Giessel and Representative Johnson and all of the other public officials whom we hope to see tomorrow night, STANDING UP FOR ALASKA!  Giessel speech video, Min. 32:15 to 34:26.  Johnson speech video, Min 41:48 to 42:45.

What: BOEMRE Hearing, Proposed 2012-2017 OCS Leasing Program

When: Tomorrow (Friday) Afternoon-Evening – 6 p.m. Pizza and Refreshments – 7 p.m. Testimony

Where: 3801 Centerpoint Drive, off 36th Avenue

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Mark HamiltonComment: Yesterday a large coalition of Alaskans kicked off a campaign to Tony Knowlespromote changes to Alaska's oil tax policy in an effort to improve the climate of investment.  Former Governor Tony Knowles (NGP Photo-r) said, "What we need is for the state to adopt a tax structure that encourages jobs and investment in Alaska.  We need policies that work so Alaskans can go to work."  Jim Jansen (NGP Photo-r), CEO of Lynden told the audience that, "We are already starting to see the oil companies take their investment dollars elsewhere.  This is a time when we should be encouraging investment in Alaska, not taxing the industry to death."   Former University of Alaska President Mark Hamilton (NGP Photo-l) opened the meeting with a case for action.  "This is not big oil sending the message.  This is your economy talking," he said.  "The trans-Alaska oil pipeline is two-thirds empty and exploration activity on the North Slope is vanishing.  This should be alarming to Alaskans and we intend to make sure the public is aware."  In a prepared release the group noted that this winter only one exploration well is being drilled on the North Slope and that ConocoPhillips — for the first time in 45 yearsJim Jansen — didn't drill an exploration well.  The board of the Make Alaska Competitive Coalition includes Jansen, a Co-Chairman, with Co-Chairman Mark Langland, and a whose who of members including Will Anderson of Koniag, Rick Boyles, Teamsters, Governor Knowles, Harry McDonald of Carlile, Bill Moran of FirstBank, Norm Phillips of Doyon, Ed Rasmuson of the Rasmuson Foundation, Governor Bill Sheffield, Mark Edwards of Northrim, Lori Goodman of Era Alaska, Alaska Airlines' Scott Habberstad.  See the full list of members here, along with the organization's first commercials, now airing.  -dh  (See AP story by Dan Joling, KTUU story by Jason Lamb)

Fairbanks News Miner, Op-Ed by Dave Harbour.  The Alaska House Resources Committee recently heard truck drivers, oil field workers and small business owners testify about Alaska’s poor investment climate. They painted pictures of wage freezes, layoffs, benefit reductions and outmigration of experienced Alaskans to the booming oil and gas investment climate of North Dakota.  While uncompetitive and burdensome state tax policies affect oil and gas investment and jobs on state lands, federal policies that also affect our investment climate are choking the economy as well.  …  So, if Alaska OCS development offers thousands of jobs and economic benefits to Alaska and the entire nation, what are we waiting for?  Unfortunately, the federal government refuses to keep faith with its obligation to its leaseholders and issue viable permits to drill offshore Alaska. That unjustified obstruction of our own federal government blocks access to our energy resources while outsourcing American jobs, government revenue and economic benefits to exporting countries. Misguided or poorlymotivated bureaucrats are threatening the long-term viability of the pipeline, tens of thousands of Alaska jobs and the third of our economy that depends on that economic lifeline.  The Interior Department’s BOEMRE has been holding hearings for input on areas to include in its next five-year plan for offshore oil and gas leasing, which includes areas in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas and the Cook Inlet. BOEMRE and other agencies have stalled existing Alaska OCS development for more than two years. We need to tell them to responsibly permit existing projects now and lease new areas as soon as possible.  Hearings began Feb. 14 in Kotzebue and continued in Wainwright, Barrow, Nuiqsut, Kaktovik, Houston, New Orleans and Dulles Airport. BOEMRE will bypass Fairbanks and end in Anchorage Friday, at 7 p.m., in its office at 3801 Centerpoint Dr.  Since OCS oil could help sustain our two-thirds empty pipeline, I’m hoping many Alaskans will come to the Friday hearing — including Interior friends with family and associates in Anchorage. Come early, because environmental “community organizers” are trying to turn out the anti-jobs crowd.  Then, let’s tell the Interior Department that, in the future, Interior Alaska should be consulted and included in hearing schedules, since the department’s OCS decisions affect the entire economy and jobs throughout the entire state, not just in coastal areas.