Alaska’s LNG project looking for private contractor to help with federal permitting
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission sent a letter to the state, requesting that it pay for a third-party contractor to help with federal review of the project. Listen now
Tanacross hydropower project nets $500K federal grant
A small hydropower project near Tanacross is one step closer to fruition after receiving a half-million dollar federal grant.
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Interior Dept. kicks off new round of meetings on drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Some people at the meeting expressed concern about the process. Lisa Baraff with the Northern Alaska Environmental Center said that the timeline BLM has been using for their environmental review is too short.
New legislation improves earthquake preparedness in Alaska
The legislation, which now awaits the president’s signature, could help Alaska implement the latest technology to monitor earthquakes.
Walker, Chenault spar over AK LNG session agenda
Later this month, state lawmakers will convene for their third special session of the year -- this time to discuss the Alaska LNG project. But with just two weeks to go, they have yet to see the legislation they'll be discussing - Gov. Bill Walker hasn't released it.
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In Interior Alaska, reinvestment in coal power runs counter to national trend
Even after decades of talk about getting affordable natural gas to the Interior, Fairbanks as of yet has only a limited supply of natural gas. And unlike many other places in the country, it’s not price-competitive with coal. Listen now
‘Little slice of heaven’ Juneau subdivision threatened by river erosion
The neighborhood can’t seem to agree: As the erosion gets worse, who should pay for it? Listen now
Video: How the landfill in Anchorage harvests gas from trash
Hundreds of landfills across the lower-48 have turned their decomposing trash piles into a source of energy. So far, there’s only one project in Alaska harnessing the power of trash to produce gas. Listen now
Congress poised to approve $15M for village relocation in Alaska
The spending bill would double the budget of the Denali Commission, which funds infrastructure in rural Alaska. The commission says virtually all the new money will go to relocating the eroding village of Newtok. Listen now
Watchdog renews call for tougher training for Prince William Sound oil tanker escorts
Following two minor accidents, a citizens' watchdog group is asking the state's top environmental regulator to require tougher training for new oil spill response crews in Prince William Sound. Listen now
Murkowski sends letter questioning oil companies about drop in Alaska hire
Murkowski cited a recently released Alaska Department of Labor report, stating the share of out-of-state workers in Alaska's oil industry rose to 37.1 percent in 2016. Listen now
Gov calls for permanent fund overhaul, income tax, cuts to PFD
Gov. Bill Walker released his plan for dealing with the state's mammoth budget deficit. It includes Alaska's first income tax since 1980, and a complete overhaul of the permanent fund -- effectively cutting PFD checks in half next year.
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State regulator raises bonds required for drilling
The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission proposes a sliding scale for the new bonds from $500,000 to $30,000,000 for potential drillers, operators. Listen now
Diving for answers: Will blue king crab come back in the Pribilofs?
In the Pribilof Islands, no one’s gotten an accurate count of blue king crab since the population crashed hard in the 1980s. This summer, a marine biologist is trying to change that, with the species’ first in-depth study in more than 30 years. His ultimate goal: determine if blue crab can make a comeback — or if it’s gone for good. Listen now
Environmental group calls for shutdown of leaking gas line in Cook Inlet
A local environmental group is calling on regulators to shut down a leaking gas line in Cook Inlet until it is repaired. Listen now
From the bush to Congress, Willie Hensley straddles rural and urban divide in Alaska
One afternoon in the mid-1970s, journalist John McPhee and an influential Alaska Native politician Willie Hensley took off from Anchorage in a de Havilland Otter and flew deep into the Alaska range, looking for a new state capitol. Later, in his book “Coming into the Country,” McPhee introduced the rest of the nation to one of the most prominent, young Alaska Native leaders in the state. Hensley was instrumental in forcing the state and the federal government to settle land claims with its 60,000 Alaska Native residents.Listen now
Alaska steps into legal battle over hard rock mining regulation
The state is intervening in a lawsuit over the EPA’s decision to rescind an Obama-era rule. Listen now
Alaskans split over proposed BP sale during six hours of public comment
The meeting Tuesday marked the first time Alaskans could provide in-person comments to the state regulatory commission that's overseeing a portion of the pending $5.6 billion sale.
Harvard class assignment: solve rural Alaska’s fossil fuel woes
Rural Alaska runs on diesel. Although many communities are open to alternative energy ideas, they don’t have the funding to even explore them. But help could come in the form of graduate students from Harvard University, who have been tasked with the assignment of solving some of Alaska’s fossil fuel energy woes. Listen now
On warming North Slope, one flood response last year cost pipeline operator $10 million
As Alaska's North Slope gets wetter and warmer, its rivers have been running at record high levels -- prompting questions about whether similar events will become more frequent as Alaska's climate warms.