November-Issue-4 2011

Major Alaska oil producers presented a pessimistic picture of the North Slope production outlook during presentations to the Resource Development Council’s annual conference in Anchorage Nov. 16.

Alaska Air Group has surpassed other airlines in terms of biofuel passenger flights. But even though it’s ahead, the greener flights can’t become a regular thing until the supply catches up to the demand.

Alaska-based independent NordAq Energy has applied to federal and state agencies for permits to build a temporary access road to do further testing on its Shadura No. 1 well in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on the Kenai Peninsula.

After a yearlong delay, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has published the draft Environmental Impact Statement for ExxonMobil Corp.’s planned natural gas cycling and condensate production project at Point Thomson.

Harold Heinze, executive director of the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority, or ANGDA, submitted his resignation to the board of the state corporation Nov. 21. A former Atlantic Richfield Co. senior executive and commissioner of Natural Resources under former Gov. Walter Hickel, Heinze has headed the authority since 2003.

Gov. Sean Parnell recently acknowledged that due to shale gas developments Alaska must change course and export its gas to the premium Asian markets.

The Small Business Administration’s goal of building small businesses is shining brightly in Alaska, avoiding pitfalls that have befallen several other states, according to SBA Region 10 Administrator Calvin Goings.

Although it was revised to target “big national banks,” a radio ad from Denali Alaskan Federal Credit Union encouraging people to take part in the “Bank Transfer Day” movement isn’t sitting well with state community bankers.

Gov. Sean Parnell recently acknowledged that due to shale gas developments Alaska must change course and export its gas to the premium Asian markets.

Encouraging development of Alaska’s energy resources to benefit Alaskans is one of our highest priorities as legislators. To that end, we couldn’t be more pleased with the recent announcement of a major natural gas find in Cook Inlet.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski asked the right question: Can the federal government simply force the state of Alaska to pay for the U.S. Postal Service’s bypass mail system?

The lights go up and the performers hit the stage … and then again, more than a thousand times a year. Just think of the electricity bill with lights across 176,000 square feet of space.

The state owes a lot to its original think tank. It’s almost as old as Alaska’s own statehood but has never waivered in its mission.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A woman’s heart breaks more easily than a man’s.

Coming soon to a small halibut boat near you: fishery observers.