Alaskans recognize that the seasons are changing.  A stunning summer is transitioning to what could be a brilliant fall.  Schools are back in session, the State Fair is over, Pumpkin Spice lattes are being served at Starbucks, and the leaves are turning – and soon falling – from our deciduous forests. Families across the state know this transition means three things regarding energy: First, whether provided by natural gas, tidal, coal, heating oil or wood, our homes will soon need the heat turned on to assist in staying warm. Second, with daylight waning by a few minutes each day, electricity…

The recent announcement that members of the Democratic majority in Congress were looking to dramatically raise royalty rates on American mining extractions were, to put it mildly, another slap in the face of America’s energy community. But with eco-Left darling Jared Huffman (D-CA) and his background as an attack dog (er, attorney) with the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) leading the way, American mining may face new challenges to bring critical minerals and rare earths to market. Huffman’s quote in the announcement says what he feels about America’s mining (emphasis added): “We are going to need more of certain minerals,…

As the Alaska Legislature slogs on in its quest to finalize a state budget for 2021-22 – currently halfway through its third 30-day special session, following its standard 121-day foray – the battle lines between camps in both the State House and Senate appear only to be hardening. Following the second special session, an eight-member bipartisan and bicameral working group spent nearly a month, working to find a solution to the sticking points around the amounts of the Permanent Fund Dividend and a long-term fiscal plan.  That effort produced hope from both the working group and many who testified during…

When the Alaska Congressional delegation worked with the Trump Administration and their colleagues to open the 10-02 area of ANWR to oil and gas drilling, as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a sweeping 2017 tax reform package, the environmental left was outraged.  After all, they had successfully held off ANWR development for nearly 40 years; even though Congress itself had authorized development for the Coastal Plain of ANWR. When the first lease sale occurred this past January, radical environmentalists decried it as the beginning of the end for caribou, polar bears and various other wildlife in…

Astute followers of Alaska’s long-running fight over oil taxes will remember the “Vote Yes for Alaska’s Fair Share” group that headed up the anti-industry ballot measure for the 2020 election.  Led by former Governor Bill Walker’s law partner, Robin Brena, the group formed to try to triple taxes on Alaska’s legacy oilfields. Thankfully, voters saw through their shenanigans, defeating “Vote Yes” by a near-landslide (58% to 42%).  There was talk that the group would try again in 2022, as doing so would bring out left-of-center votes during a year that gubernatorial and US Senate seats were both in-play. But late…

Alaska should have known better than to be bullish on a development project when Judge Sharon Gleason is sitting in her US District Court seat. Once again, Gleason single-handedly put Alaska’s energy future in the crosshairs of her job-crushing, environmentally radical, never-met-a-development-project-I-like judicial power, and now, one of our state’s most promising projects is nearly back to square one. Yesterday, Gleason laid waste to years of work by numerous federal agencies – setting aside strong support from Presidents Trump and Biden – and ruled that ConocoPhillips Alaska’s Willow project was “legally flawed.” Her ruling was hailed as an environmental victory…

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland has promised to visit Alaska in September, following through on an answer she gave Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) over the proposed King Cove-to-Cold Bay road.  Murkowski had queried Haaland on her comments that a land swap to enable to road’s building should not go through.  Haaland said she would, if confirmed, visit with King Cove locals before formally deciding the life-saving road’s future. Even though she hasn’t actually announced when or if she plans on visiting, rumors say it is tentatively set for September.  Haaland would be missing an incredible opportunity if she just jets in…

The old saying, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ certainly comes to mind when thinking about this week’s Alaska Department of Natural Resources’ decision. For the second time in just over a year, DNR has, according to a story by Alaska Public Media, “…granted the land-use rights…for a proposed 315-mile long pipeline that would stretch from Cook Inlet to the proposed mine site about 12 miles north of Crooked Creek on the Kuskokwim River. The pipeline will supply natural gas to the mine to power its operations.” Why did DNR have to issue the land-use rights a second time? …

Alaskans celebrate a truly unique event, “Wild Salmon Day”, every August 10th.  From the Department of Fish & Game’s press release announcing its beginnings in 2016: “Governor Bill Walker signed House Bill 128 into law on May 8, 2016 establishing August 10th of each year as Alaska Wild Salmon Day. We at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game take time to honor this first annual day to celebrate this sustainable resource that is woven into the lifeblood of all Alaskans. Alaska’s constitution mandates sustainably managed fisheries and we are proud to be tasked with this challenging job. Our highest…

Yesterday’s Senate Energy & Natural Resources meeting was full of fireworks; or, as Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) called it, a ‘skunk fight’.  The subject?  The decision whether or not to advance eco-terrorist Tracy Stone-Manning’s nomination to head the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from committee and to a full vote of the Senate. All ten committee Republicans had previously called for Stone-Manning to be disqualified as the nominee.  The ten Democrats on the committee continue to stand firm in their position that someone with a history of being involved – however directly or indirectly – as a tree spiker is…