Elizabeth Harball, Alaska's Energy Desk - Anchorage
Elizabeth Harball is a reporter with Alaska's Energy Desk, covering Alaska’s oil and gas industry and environmental policy. She is a contributor to the Energy Desk’s Midnight Oil podcast series. Before moving to Alaska in 2016, Harball worked at E&E News in Washington, D.C., where she covered federal and state climate change policy. Originally from Kalispell, Montana, Harball is a graduate of Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
Two major Arctic oil projects near approval
Two major oil developments in the Arctic are likely to get the final go-ahead from the Trump administration this fall. Listen now
Company hints North Slope oil field could be larger than first estimated
Oil Search told investors this week that the Pikka development could hold 750 million barrels of oil, increasing its original estimate by 50 percent. Listen now
Major oil development planned in NPR-A to get ‘streamlined’ environmental review
The Bureau of Land Management has kicked off the environmental review process for what could be one of Alaska's biggest future oil developments, in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. The Trump administration wants to make that process go faster. But environmental groups worry a faster review won't do enough to protect the Arctic wilderness. Listen now
Biggest-ever earthquake recorded on North Slope
A large earthquake was recorded on the North Slope, 52 miles southwest of Kaktovik, at around 7 a.m. Sunday morning. Listen now
Interior official: ‘millions’ more acres in NPR-A to open for oil development
An Interior Department official says the Trump administration is moving to open "millions" more acres in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, or NPR-A, to oil development. Listen now
With tweaks, Alaska Supreme Court rules Yes for Salmon can go on ballot
The Alaska Supreme Court today ruled that only certain provisions of the controversial ballot initiative are unconstitutional. Whether the rest becomes state law will be up to Alaska voters. Listen now
As Alaska’s climate team floats carbon pricing, not everyone jumps on board
Governor Bill Walker’s Climate Action Leadership Team met yesterday in Anchorage to discuss its draft climate action plan, which recommends Alaska consider a carbon tax. But the plan is not a consensus document, and not every member of the team thinks pricing carbon is a good idea. Listen now
Using data as a carrot, Alaska hopes to entice interest in oil lease sale
The state of Alaska is offering oil companies a sneak preview on three North Slope areas it’s putting up for bid at this year’s oil and gas lease sale. Listen now
Feds request public input on National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska oil leasing
The federal government is asking the public for input on this year's oil and gas lease sale in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A), an Indiana-sized area of land on the North Slope. 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
‘There really isn’t anything held back’ — A whaling festival in Nuiqsut
In fall, Nuiqsut's whaling crews travel roughly 80 miles by boat to the village's camp at Cross Island, north of Prudhoe Bay. From there, last year, Nuiqsut's crews harvested four bowhead whales. The Ipalook crew took one of them. Listen now
Conoco buys BP’s stake in Alaska’s No. 2 oil field
Conoco is already the biggest oil producer in Alaska, but buying BP’s interest in Kuparuk adds to its growing presence west of Prudhoe Bay.
Oil tanker dented after ‘hard landing’ with new tugboat in Valdez
The Coast Guard is characterizing the incident as “minor;” no oil was spilled and no injuries were reported. Listen now
Pointing at Pebble, EPA leader looks to rein in agency’s veto power
The proposal would eliminate EPA’s ability to preemptively or retroactively veto permits for waste discharge in waterways, restricting the agency’s ability to step in and regulate large projects. Under the Obama administration, EPA used its authority under Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act to propose restrictions on the Pebble Mine. Listen now
Conoco’s big plans for NPR-A are getting even bigger
Conoco thinks it's sitting on so much oil that the company is considering building a major new project in the Reserve, a processing facility. Listen now
Alaska businesses find a niche: helping oil companies cope with climate change
Alaska’s oil industry has specially designed its operations for freezing conditions. But as temperatures rise, companies are starting to pay a price for climate change — and some Alaska businesses are making money off of it. Listen now
In AOGA gubernatorial debate, Dunleavy and Hawkins grill Walker on China, gasline prospects
Gov. Bill Walker, former State Senator Mike Dunleavy and businessman Scott Hawkins faced off in a debate yesterday at the Alaska Oil and Gas Association’s annual conference in Anchorage. Listen now
Interior asking public not ‘if’, but ‘how’ to allow drilling in ANWR
At the meeting, officials said the Trump administration must move forward with oil lease sales in ANWR. About 100 protesters gathered outside. Listen now
Native Corporations ask to start looking for oil in ANWR
Arctic Slope Regional Corporation and Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation have submitted a 3-D seismic exploration plan for the Coastal Plain, or the 1002 area. Listen now
Alaska LNG project president says he’s done ‘preaching to the non-believers’
The president of the state-owned Alaska Gasline Development Corporation says he's no longer bothering to convince skeptics that the project is real, and it's moving forward. Listen now