Revenue department forecasts jump in oil prices, drop in production
When it comes to the state’s bottom line, the tax division’s revenue sources book predicts a patchwork of good and bad news for the state. The good? Oil prices are forecast to go up. The bad? The money coming in from oil revenue is nowhere near enough to close the state’s budget gap and production on the North Slope is forecast to go down. Listen Now
Alaska Native corporation acquires oil and gas leases in Arctic waters
The Alaska Native corporation representing the North Slope has bought two federal leases in the Beaufort sea formerly owned by Shell. That gives the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, or ASRC, the right to explore for oil and gas in the Arctic Ocean, which has historically been controversial in the region. Listen Now
Ask a Climatologist: What is polar amplification?
The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet. Brettschneider says it’s a phenomenon called polar amplification. Listen now
Hundreds of dying seabirds found in Bering and Chukchi seas
Since May, hundreds of dead and dying seabirds have been found across the northern Bering and southern Chukchi Seas. Listen now
It’s hurry up and wait for state gasline corporation’s federal permitting schedule
Alaska’s gasline corporation has filed tens of thousands of pages of documents for their federal permit. Now it's waiting for the commission to make a decision on if, and when, the state can get to work on its massive liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project. Listen now
Alaskans rally in support of youth climate lawsuit, currently in limbo
“This is no longer a scientific issue, it’s not a scientific question. It’s a moral and spiritual issue,” said Tom Baring of Fairbanks, the father of one of the plaintiffs. Listen now
Alaska has a climate change policy. Now what?
The state of Alaska recognizes that climate change is happening. And rather than wait around for outside help, the 37 page document outlines the prospect of local solutions to mitigate the damage. Listen now
Fire Island Wind sees expansion on the horizon
After years of talks and setbacks, there’s momentum to expand the Fire Island Wind project. The first turbines started spinning on the island near Anchorage four years ago, but a planned expansion has been stalled ever since. Listen now
One man’s quest to find Glacier Bay’s ecological Holy Grail
William S. Cooper left directions from over 100 years ago. But rediscovering the lost research plots in Glacier Bay required an epic adventure. Listen now
A political consultant’s work was scrutinized amid Anchorage voter fraud allegations. Now he’s dead.
Charlie Chang worked with Anchorage Republican Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, whose district includes parts of the Muldoon neighborhood and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Listen now
AK: The journey of Alaska’s go-to man in China
It took a lot of work for Alaska to break into the Chinese market. One man has been at it for decades: Yingdi Wang, the Chinese-born, American citizen who is the state’s go-to guy in China. Listen now
Juneau Hydropower a step away from crucial license
A Juneau startup that wants to build its own hydroelectric plant could soon get their rubber stamp from the federal government. Download Audio
Rains erase last of ‘severe drought’ in Southeast as conditions improve statewide
Places like Ketchikan, Wrangell and as far north as Juneau are still in “moderate drought.”
Prudhoe Bay rig count to drop by more than half
BP has announced it will cut the number of drill rigs operating at Prudhoe Bay, from five to two, as a result of low oil prices.
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
State’s wildfire season ‘largely uneventful,’ according to officials
Wildfires have burned just 270,000 acres in the state this year. That’s far short of the 1.2 million acres that burn during a normal season. Listen now
Industry, environmental groups speak out as Hilcorp paves the way for drilling in federal Arctic waters
The oil and gas company Hilcorp wants to build a gravel island in shallow waters in the Beaufort Sea, east of Prudhoe Bay. Listen now
State, Native Corps ask U.S. Supreme Court to enter fray over polar bear habitat
The State of Alaska and a dozen Native organizations have filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court, asking it to overturn a ruling that designated vast swaths of coastal Alaska as critical habitat for polar bears.
BP working to contain well on North Slope
BP is working to contain an out-of-control production well at the Prudhoe Bay oil field on the North Slope. The well is currently venting natural gas and has released at least some crude oil into the environment. Listen now
One Alaskan’s quest to transform how we clean up oil spills
Cleaning up after a major oil spill is a huge challenge. For example, after the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster, the federal government estimates responders recovered only about a quarter of the nearly 5 billion barrels of oil released. Listen Now