Shell returns to Unalaska
Shell is back in Unalaska. Dutch Harbor was a staging area for Shell’s unsuccessful search for oil in the Arctic Ocean last year. This week, three ships — the Aiviq, the Dino Chouest, and the Ross Chouest — associated with Shell’s Arctic efforts arrived in Unalaska on a mission to remove the last signs of that effort. Listen now
Dunleavy appointee to lead state environmental agency hits back at critics
Jason Brune's appointment is controversial because he worked as the public affairs and government relations manager for mining company Anglo American when it backed the proposed Pebble Mine.
One Arctic species is listed, one isn’t. Did politics play a role?
Two of the Arctic’s most iconic animals, polar bears and walrus, face challenges with retreating sea ice. But they haven't been granted the same federal protections. Listen now
Ask a Climatologist: Snow melt around the state is right on schedule
An early melt-out date can make for an especially bad wildfire season, but this year, it’s right on schedule for much of the state. Listen now
Conoco advances project in NPR-A; Independents snap up North Slope leases
ConocoPhillips announced today (Nov. 18) that it will move ahead with construction of a $900 million project in the North Slope's National Petroleum Reserve. And small independent companies collectively spent $9.5 million for the right to drill on state land on the North Slope.
Cook Inlet oil and gas lease sale attracts just one company
The state offered 2.6 million acres, but just one company -- Hilcorp -- bid on 16,636 acres. Listen now
Apache to pull out of Alaska, citing low oil prices
The company is one of the largest leaseholders in Cook Inlet, where it has been exploring since 2010. A spokesperson said the company expects job losses to be "minimal," since Apache has been scaling back operations in Alaska for the past year. Download Audio
As sea ice melts, fish are showing up farther north off Alaska. A federal fishing trip will investigate if they’re sticking around.
Two summers ago, federal scientists discovered something shocking: The Northern Bering Sea was teeming with cod and pollock. Those two commercially valuable species had never been found in such large huge numbers that far north.
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
With some sci-fi tech, Kodiak has almost 100 percent renewable power
It's like a dance, or an orchestra: Each piece of the grid watches the rest and responds second by second, millisecond by millisecond. Listen now
Governor’s budget proposes major changes to oil tax credits
The governor's budget gets about half a billion dollars from the oil and gas industry, proposing deep cuts to the state's system of oil and gas tax credits.
Feds approve $1.7M to buy out homes in Newtok
A state official said the grant program is crucial because the erosion in Newtok and other Alaska villages does not qualify for traditional disaster relief. Listen now
Alaska’s secret Cold War export? Shellfish toxin for the CIA.
In May 1960, Francis Gary Powers’ U-2 spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union during a high-altitude reconnaissance mission. In his pocket was a modified silver dollar containing a hidden needle loaded with a lethal dose of shellfish toxin.
State announces tentative deal with ExxonMobil to supply gas for Alaska LNG project
Agreement links Point Thompson production requirements to deal on Alaska LNG project. Listen now
Alaska utility regulators ask Hilcorp, BP for more details on $5.6B deal
The Regulatory Commission of Alaska is asking the companies for five new sets of documents. They include the purchase and sale agreement, charts detailing the companies' corporate ownership and operating structure, and additional financial statements.
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
Rating agencies warn Alaska: we’re watching you
In his quest to remake Alaska's finances, Governor Bill Walker has found a set of perhaps unexpected allies. Download Audio
Point Thomson gas development begins production on North Slope
The Point Thomson gas development on the North Slope has started production. In a web release, ExxonMobil states it will initially produce 5000 barrels per day of gas condensate and 100 million cubic feet per day of recycled gas that will be re-injected for future recovery. Download Audio
Ask a Climatologist: Rainy…even by Ketchikan standards
Most places in Alaska are wetter than normal for August, but it's been especially rainy in Ketchikan. Listen now
State puts out list of companies that got $75 million in cashable tax credits last year
These cash-for-credits recipients used to be kept confidential, but a law passed in 2016 now requires that the state report them. Listen now