Rashah McChesney, Alaska's Energy Desk - Juneau
Rashah McChesney is a photojournalist turned radio journalist who has been telling stories in Alaska since 2012. Before joining Alaska's Energy Desk , she worked at Kenai's Peninsula Clarion and the Juneau bureau of the Associated Press. She is a graduate of Iowa State University's Greenlee Journalism School and has worked in public television, newspapers and now radio, all in the quest to become the Swiss Army knife of storytellers.
Senate sends oil tax credit overhaul back to the House
With the end of session looming, Alaska’s Senate passed its version of an oil tax credit reform bill on Monday. Listen now
State gasline corporation raises specter of eminent domain
The rumor mill in the Kenai Peninsula community of Nikiski is up and running again after the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) mailed letters to landowners last week. Listen now
Divisions deepen as lawmakers tinker with Alaska’s oil tax credits
Ranking members of both the Senate and the House seem to agree that the state needs to break free of a system that will leave it owing nearly $700 million in cash payments to oil companies by the end of the year. But Senate Republicans have completely rewritten the House’s version of a reform bill. Listen now
Senate committee grills state over inaccurate oil production forecast
Alaska’s Department of Revenue faced criticism during a Senate Finance Committee meeting on Friday after it put out its spring forecast. It predicts an unprecedented 12 percent drop in oil production next year. Listen now
Bill would make it easier to pass on information about contaminated sites in Alaska
From leaking pipelines and polluted aquifers, to broken septic tanks and abandoned military equipment, there are more than 2,200 open cases of contaminated sites in Alaska. A new bill that that is making its way through the state House, would require full disclosure of contamination on the deed of a property before it can be sold. Listen now
Oil tax credit bill on its way to the Senate, with ultimatum from House
After hours of debate on the state House floor, an oil tax credit bill is on its way to the Senate. Listen now
Hilcorp shuts down third pipeline in Cook Inlet
The federal agency charged with regulating pipelines and hazardous materials is looking into another natural gas leak on a Hilcorp platform in Cook Inlet. Listen now
In Tyonek, celebration as a coal mining company backs down
Residents of the tiny Cook Inlet village of Tyonek are celebrating after news that a company attempting to develop a massive coal mine near their village has shelved the project. Listen now
Oil company fined $10 million for illegally transporting a drill rig to Alaska
An oil company operating in Alaska will pay $10 million for violating federal law that prohibits foreign vessels from transporting merchandise within the United States. Listen now
Hilcorp reports another leak in Cook Inlet; this time it’s oil
The dominant oil and gas producer in Cook Inlet has shut down production at two of its platforms after discovering an oil spill.
Alaska lawmakers, industry, grapple with oil subsidies
Lawmakers took public comment Saturday (March 25) on a bill that would make major changes to the way the state pays credits to oil companies on the North Slope. Listen now
Short-lived proposition to cut funds for Alaska’s gasline corporation dies in committee
Two House Republicans want to cut funding for the state’s gas line corporation. During a House Finance committee meeting, Rep. Tammie Wilson proposed cutting more than $10 million from the state’s operating budget, earmarked for the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation. Listen now
Lawmakers look to the north as Juneau prepares for Arctic Council meeting
On a cold, sunny day in Juneau, about 40 people gathered in the Capitol to eat lunch and learn about the Arctic. Juneau will host an Arctic Council meeting later this week, and state lawmakers got a visit from national and international scientists, policymakers and researchers on Tuesday. Listen now
Industry pushes back against proposed changes to state’s oil tax system
As lawmakers in Juneau consider changes to the state’s oil tax credit system, they’re facing stiff opposition from oil companies. Listen now
Walker wants Trump on-board the gasline
Throughout his presidential campaign, Donald Trump pledged to increase the nation’s infrastructure spending. After Trump was elected, Alaska Gov. Bill Walker sent the new president an infrastructure wishlist from the state. At the top of that list is the state-led $45 billion gasline project. Listen now
New bill from House lawmaker would hike minimum tax on oil industry
A state House lawmaker has released another bill proposing changes to the state’s oil and gas tax credit regime. Anchorage Democrat Les Gara debuted his bill, called the “Fair Share for Alaska’s Oil Act,” on Wednesday (Feb. 15). Listen now
Lawmakers grill Alaska’s gasline corporation on its budget
The Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC), which is charged with taking the lead on the massive Alaska liquid natural gas project, is again having its finances questioned. On Tuesday (Feb. 14), members of the Senate Finance committee pressed the corporation’s president Keith Meyer for detailed information about his budget. Listen now
Renewed fight, but old arguments for lawmakers wanting to open ANWR for drilling
Over the past 25 years, Alaska’s Legislature has passed nearly a dozen resolutions asking Congress to allow drilling in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. But this year, something is different. There’s been more push back and public testimony opposed to passing an Arctic National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR) resolution. Listen now
Latest oil tax credit bill off to a rough start in state House
Last session, the fight over oil tax credits was one of the biggest questions lawmakers sought to answer. And while they did manage to pass a bill, it focused on Cook Inlet. Now, many lawmakers are saying it’s time to look at the North Slope. Listen now
Legislature considers new contract to sell royalty oil
The state gets the bulk of its royalties from oil produced on the North Slope in the form of oil rather than in payments from the producers. This week, lawmakers are considering a contract to sell some of that royalty oil to the Alaska-owned refinery and fuel marketing company Petro Star. Listen now