Alaska Native issues feature prominently at hearing on Arctic Refuge oil leasing
At the Anchorage hearing on oil leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska Native voices provided passionate testimony on both sides of the issue.
Culturally valuable yellow cedar on the decline
Yellow cedar trees grow from the top of California, all the way to Alaska, and according to a recent study, the Southeast part of the state could be the hardest hit with yellow cedar’s decline, due to the planet heating up. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been petitioned to put yellow cedar on the endangered species list. The wood is commercially valuable. It’s culturally valuable, too. Listen now
North Slope oil companies ask lawmakers for stable tax laws
A state House committee heard testimony Wednesday afternoon from the big three North Slope oil producers. ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, and BP representatives gave several members of the House Resources Committee their perspectives on how the state’s oil tax structure is working. Listen now
Dozens of Anchorage neighbors come together to buy solar panels in bulk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8JwkMrjuAM
More than 30 residents of the Airport Heights neighborhood in Anchorage are installing solar panels on their roofs this year. It's part of "Solarize...
Lawmakers hear Alaska LNG faces “significant economic headwinds”
As natural gas prices following oil in an extended plunge, lawmakers heard a series of updates on the Alaska LNG project -- and tension between the Walker administration and the state's three oil company partners once again spilled into the open. Download Audio
Without otter predation, sea urchins are decimating Aleutian reefs
Orcas have started targeting sea otters, which normally keep urchin populations in check.
Alaska’s infrastructure report card probably not going on the fridge
Is Alaska on the honor roll for its energy grid and water systems? According to the American Society of Civil Engineers the answer is “no.” The professional organization graded Alaska’s infrastructure for the first time, releasing the report card on Tuesday. And while the state didn’t ace anything, it could always be worse. Listen now
New analysis out on renewable energy costs in rural Alaska
"It shouldn't be used as a manual but it is a good place to start," lead researcher Erin Whitney said.
For third year in a row, Alaska seabirds wash up dead
For the third year in a row, seabirds are washing up dead along the coastline in Alaska. Hundreds of birds have been discovered along a stretch of the Bering Sea, on the Pribilof Islands and as far north as Deering.Listen now
In Angoon, a rural water system gets help from beavers
The village of Angoon’s drinking water comes from a lake held up by a beaver dam. That might sound sketchy. But the beavers are one of reasons the city has public water. Not all Alaska towns do. Listen now
Walker wants Trump on-board the gasline
Throughout his presidential campaign, Donald Trump pledged to increase the nation’s infrastructure spending. After Trump was elected, Alaska Gov. Bill Walker sent the new president an infrastructure wishlist from the state. At the top of that list is the state-led $45 billion gasline project. Listen now
With ANWR drilling on its doorstep, an Alaska Native village is poised to profit
It’s still too early to know if petroleum even exists in the refuge in commercially-viable quantities. But if it’s found, Kaktovik’s residents are simultaneously positioned to be among the biggest beneficiaries, and to experience some of the biggest disruptions.
In Tyonek, celebration as a coal mining company backs down
Residents of the tiny Cook Inlet village of Tyonek are celebrating after news that a company attempting to develop a massive coal mine near their village has shelved the project. Listen now
Meet the Trump administration official whose signature could formally open ANWR to drilling
On his second day on the job at the U.S. Department of Interior, Joe Balash says he was personally tasked with carrying out Congress’ instructions to hold an oil lease sale in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. "I am confident that we are able to move forward here and not devastate the Porcupine caribou herd. I am absolutely convinced of that,” Balash says.
Ask a Climatologist: Sizing up Alaska’s summer
Summer in Alaska is full of endless daylight, a few mosquitoes and also some pretty amazing or terrible weather, depending on the year. So how are forecasters sizing up the long term outlook for June, July and August? Listen now
Walker names members of Alaska climate leadership team
The team’s job is to come up with recommendations for how Alaska should deal with climate change. Listen now
New AGDC president to make half million dollars a year
The Alaska Gasline Development Corp.'s new president, Keith Meyer, will make $550,000 per year, plus bonuses -- a salary that makes him the highest paid state employee. Download Audio
Iñupiat leadership organizations contemplate a “unified voice”
“I definitely think it’s possible to have a unified voice but it’s never going to be truly unified unless all entities that were invited to the table take advantage of it,” Utqiaġvik Mayor Fannie Suvlu said. Listen now
Feds take key step toward approving another Conoco development in NPR-A
If it goes forward, the project would be ConocoPhillips's third oil development inside the boundaries of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. Listen now
BP and Hilcorp just announced Alaska’s biggest oil industry deal in years. Here’s why it matters.
If you don't work for an oil company, you might be wondering: Why should I care? And why does this matter? We asked and answered some of the big questions.