With negotiations delayed, Administration proposes $7M cut to gas line budget
State officials have put a number on how much they will trim from next year’s budget for marketing liquefied natural gas from the proposed pipeline: $7 million. That’s the cut Governor Bill Walker’s administration will make to its budget request. It reduces the number of companies marketing gas to customers in Asia from three to one.
Obama: Oil states must prepare for cleaner future
Gov. Bill Walker asked President Obama today to allow more oil drilling on federal land. Obama told him and other governors that oil producing states should prepare for a shift to cleaner energy. Download Audio
House Speaker questions administration’s analysis of oil, gas tax changes
As Alaska’s Legislature digs through Governor Bill Walker’s budget proposal, a prime focus is the overhaul Walker put forward for oil and gas taxes. By reducing tax credits and increasing minimum production taxes, Walker aims to shave $500 million off the state's massive budget shortfall. House members question whether Walker’s administration has done enough analysis of the oil and gas tax changes – as well as other tax increases Walker has proposed. Download Audio
Reporter’s roundtable: Energy in Alaska
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On this week's Alaska Edition we discuss energy in Alaska, where bush residents have not seen prices drop for gasoline or diesel fuel, even though gas is a little more than $2 a gallon in Anchorage.
Murkowski field hearing highlights rural Alaska’s unique energy issues, solutions
When Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski chose Bethel for a field hearing of the Senate Energy Committee – which she chairs – she had a very specific point to make. Download Audio
Murkowski’s Bethel hearing to feature U.S. Energy Secretary
U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz will join a host of state and federal officials in Bethel on Monday to talk rural energy needs. Download Audio
UAF’s Walsh wins international science award
A University of Alaska Fairbanks scientist is receiving the recognition of his peers. Dr. John Walsh recently garnered a medal from the International Arctic Science Committee. The prestigious award recognizes Walsh’s sustained work in far north. Download Audio
Organizations call for ban of heavy fuel oil in Arctic waters
A group of non-governmental organizations recently sent a letter to the state department calling for a ban on heavy fuel oil, or HFO, in Arctic waters. HFO is tough to cleanup, but the widespread use of HFO throughout the Arctic makes the ban an especially hard sell. Download Audio
ConocoPhillips looks west, to the National Petroleum Reserve
Despite oil prices hovering around $30 a barrel, ConocoPhillips is plowing ahead with projects in the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska. The company invited Alaska journalists on a tour this week of CD5, its newest drill site -- the first to produce oil from the NPRA and, the company hopes, the gateway to more development. Download Audio
Scientists find prevalence of algal toxins in the Arctic
For the first time, scientists have documented the prevalence of two biotoxins in Alaska’s marine mammal population above the Arctic Circle. That’s according to a new study out Thursday in the Journal Harmful Algae. But it’s not clear if algal toxins have always existed in the Arctic, because scientist never looked before now. Download Audio
Crew maps polar bear dens on Alaska’s North Slope
Each winter, when the tundra freezes, the North Slope gets busy. It's the travel season, the time of year when oil producers can put in ice roads and move heavy vehicles over the frozen ground. But before any of that can happen, one task comes first: looking for polar bears. Download Audio
Low energy prices a double-edged sword for industry
Low energy prices may help Alaska LNG compete against other prospective natural gas export projects around the world.
BP announces another round of layoffs, but not in Alaska
The company will cut 3,000 positions from its worldwide marketing and refining operations. That comes on top of the 4,000 layoffs BP announced last month in its global production and exploration units.
Record low snow totals for Fairbanks recorded in December, January
Fairbanks has been exceptionally dry over the last two months. A total of just 1.9 inches of snow fell at the airport in December and January, besting Fairbanks previous low mark for the two months set in the winter of 1952-53. Download Audio
Court rules in favor of municipalities in pipeline case
A ruling by the Alaska Supreme Court Friday has strengthened the role municipalities have in setting the tax value of Trans-Alaska Pipeline and similar structures. The ruling overturns a lower court decision that said the Alaska Department of Revenue had the final say. Download Audio
BlueCrest Energy updates drilling plans
BlueCrest Energy, the company drilling for oil north of Anchor Point, gave an update on their effort at a forum in Kenai last week. Download Audio
Reports conflict on Donlin Creek Mine’s effects
Two federal agencies have come to different conclusions on the potential effects the proposed Donlin Creek mine could have on subsistence along the Kuskokwim River. The site sits 10 miles north of the village of Crooked Creek. Donlin estimates it could excavate 34 million ounces of gold over almost three decades. Download Audio
Business group projects 1,600 job loss in Anchorage in 2016
A jobs forecast prepared for a business group in Alaska's largest city projects that Anchorage will suffer a loss of 1,600 jobs this year, including 600 in the oil and gas sector.
Court rules on tax appeal authority in pipeline dispute
A rule that allowed governments and trans-Alaska Pipeline System owners to appeal taxes and avoid a public process has been invalidated by the Supreme Court.
Lawmakers hear Alaska LNG faces “significant economic headwinds”
As natural gas prices following oil in an extended plunge, lawmakers heard a series of updates on the Alaska LNG project -- and tension between the Walker administration and the state's three oil company partners once again spilled into the open. Download Audio