Rachel Waldholz, Alaska's Energy Desk - Anchorage
Rachel Waldholz covers energy and the environment for Alaska's Energy Desk, a collaboration between Alaska Public Media, KTOO in Juneau and KUCB in Unalaska. Before coming to Anchorage, she spent two years reporting for Raven Radio in Sitka. Rachel studied documentary production at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, and her short film, A Confused War won several awards. Her work has appeared on Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Marketplace, among other outlets.
rwaldholz (at) alaskapublic (dot) org | 907.550.8432 | About Rachel
Reactions to Shell’s decision range from remorse to relief
Governor Bill Walker is calling Shell’s announcement a "huge disappointment." He says the end of Shell’s offshore dreams means the state must push harder for the federal government to allow drilling in another controversial region -- the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Sen. McGuire won’t seek re-election in 2016
Senator Lesil McGuire, a Republican from Anchorage, likely surprised attendees at the Arctic Energy Summit in Fairbanks today when she announced she would not seek re-election next year.
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Shell to abandon Arctic offshore drilling ‘for the foreseeable future’
Shell Oil announced late Sunday night that it is abandoning offshore drilling in Alaska “for the foreseeable future.”
Shell to abandon Arctic offshore drilling ‘for the foreseeable future’
Shell Oil announced late Sunday night that it is abandoning offshore drilling in Alaska “for the foreseeable future.”
Walker’s special session comes with a surprise
Lawmakers have been expecting a special session on the state's proposed $55-billion gas pipeline project. But when Gov. Bill Walker called the session, it came with a surprise - a proposed tax on natural gas reserves held by the very companies the state is trying to partner with.
Cook Inlet companies defend oil and gas tax credits
As Alaska continues to grapple with a major budget shortfall, one line item promises to be particularly controversial: tax credits for oil and gas producers.
Walker to call special session on Alaska LNG
Governor Bill Walker said Monday night that he plans to call a special session of the legislature to discuss the state's massive natural gas pipeline project, dubbed Alaska LNG.
Walker to court LNG buyers in Japan
Governor Bill Walker will travel to Japan on Saturday for a week-long trip to promote Alaska’s natural gas to potential buyers in Asia. But back at home, it’s clear there are still major disagreements between the state and its partners in the Alaska LNG project.
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Speaking at Assembly, officials say: ‘Thank you, Sitka’
At the first meeting of the Sitka Assembly since last week’s landslides, city officials spoke emotionally about the loss of three local men — and said they had been overwhelmed by the response of city staff, volunteers, and ordinary citizens.
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Search teams race to find 3rd victim before storm sets in
Search teams in Sitka are racing the clock Friday afternoon, as they work to find the third victim of Tuesday’s landslide before a new storm arrives.
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Second body recovered from slide, crews hone in on the third
Search crews have recovered two bodies from the Kramer Avenue landslide in Sitka. One man remains missing but search dogs have alerted to a third location on the south side of the slide, where work focused Thursday afternoon. Officials hoped to recover all three bodies before heavy rain predicted Friday.
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Gov. Walker visits Sitka, meets with families of those presumed dead
Governor Bill Walker was in Sitka today to assess the damage from a series of landslides that hit the city after heavy rains Tuesday (August 18). He also met with the families of three people missing since Tuesday morning. Meanwhile, the search for the three men was proceeding slowly, hampered by fears of further landslides.
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3 missing persons in Sitka landslide ID’d and presumed dead
Three people are missing after heavy rain triggered a series of landslides in Sitka Tuesday morning. Governor Bill Walker plans to be in the city Wednesday to visit the affected areas.
3 People Missing In Sitka Landslide
Four people are believed missing after rain triggered a series of landslides in Sitka early Tuesday morning. Recovery efforts have been suspended while officials wait for the affected slopes to stabilize.
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Three landslides prompt Sitka to declare state of emergency
The City and Borough of Sitka has declared a state of emergency after heavy rain triggered at least three different landslides this morning.
Sitka diesel spill now estimated at 2500 gallons
Officials are now estimating that about 2,500 gallons of diesel spilled into Sitka Sound this weekend, after a fuel tank failed at the city’s Jarvis Street Power Plant. That’s significantly less than the 7,000 gallons feared on Sunday.
No second king opening for Southeast trollers
After just eight days in early July, the summer king salmon season for Southeast trollers is over. The Alaska Department of Fish & Game announced Friday that there will be no second king opening in August. It will be only the third summer in 15 years without an August opening.
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Southeast King Opener to Close After 8 Days
Southeast commercial trollers will soon take a break from the king salmon harvest, but the final target this year remains anyone’s guess.
Cross-Border Salmon Dispute Puts A Damper on Summer Troll Opener
Harbors emptied throughout Southeast this week as fishermen headed out for the beginning of the summer troll season. July 1 marks the annual start of the summer’s first king salmon opener -- the most lucrative time of the year for many trollers.
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Summer king season to open July 1, but not without protest
Southeast Alaska salmon trollers will open their season on schedule this Wednesday (7-1-15) — but under protest. The state says this year’s quota for Alaska fishermen under the Pacific Salmon treaty is too low.