Village awarded federal grant for river turbine design

The U.S. Department of Energy has picked a southwest Alaska village for funding to advance development of an underwater river turbine that could replace diesel power with clean energy.

Energy lobbyist denounces Walker’s oil and gas tax changes

The top energy industry lobbyist in Alaska denounced Governor Bill Walker’s proposed oil and gas tax changes on Monday. Alaska Oil and Gas Association President Kara Moriarty told the House Resources Committee that companies can’t afford higher costs when oil prices are low.
Gov. Bill Walker at a press conference in the Capitol, Oct. 23, 2015. He announced that he was dropping a proposed natural gas reserves tax from the special session agenda. (Photo by Jeremy Hsieh/KTOO)

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.
Reporter's roundtable update on energy

Reporter’s roundtable: Energy in Alaska

Listen Now: 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.

6 U.S. Senators and 1 U.S. Secretary head to Oscarville

Six U.S. senators and the U.S. Secretary of Energy traveled to Bethel Monday to hold a hearing on Alaska’s energy challenges and innovations. The team included the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, lead by Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski. But before the hearing, the group went on a field trip to see where those challenges and innovations intersect.

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

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

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.

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’s site north of Anchor Point.

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

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

Railbelt utility overhaul could mean more renewables, cheaper power

Utilities from Homer to Fairbanks are in discussions to overhaul the way electricity is generated and transported across the region. The goal is cheaper electricity -- and more renewable power. Download Audio

Alaska job forecast holds steady despite plunging oil prices

As oil prices have dropped to levels that were unthinkable just a year ago, many Alaskans are wondering whether the state is facing economic calamity. The short answer is: not yet. We spoke with state labor economist Neal Fried, to ask how it's possible that at $30 dollars a barrel, Alaska is still doing pretty well. Download Audio

Senate to take up energy modernization bill

The big snow storm that struck the East Coast over the weekend has delayed the start of Congress’s work week. But when the Senate returns, it will take up one of Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s biggest priorities: an energy modernization bill. Murkowski says the energy world has changed a lot since 2007, when the last such bill passed Congress. Download Audio
BlueCrest’s site north of Anchor Point.

BlueCrest’s construction phase nearing completion

BlueCrest Energy is continuing preparations to drill for oil in the Cosmopolitan Unit at its 37.5-acre site on the Cook Inlet bluff about 5.5 miles north of Anchor Point.

On methane, Alaska tells feds to clean up their act first

The Interior Department has proposed new rules aimed at reducing methane emissions from the oil and gas industry. Download Audio

Alaska, Inc: The roots of the Permanent Fund dividend

As lawmakers consider changes to the Permanent Fund and dividend, we look back at how, and why, these two very Alaskan institutions were created. Download Audio

Gov’s plan aims to reshape state’s relationship with oil

Governor Bill Walker says the state must change how it does business: he argues it's time for Alaska to tap its enormous savings accounts. Download Audio
Alaska North Slope crude prices between Jan. 1, 2003 and Jan. 5, 2016. (Data from Alaska Department of Revenue/Graphic by Josh Edge/APRN)

North Slope crude hits 3rd-lowest mark since 2009

Crude prices continue to fall across the United States -- with Brent Crude Oil setting an 11-year low, dipping below $33 per barrel Thursday morning. Alaska North Slope crude is following a similar track, coming in at $34.82 per barrel on Jan. 5 - the most recently-reported price. Download Audio