Alaska’s LNG project looking for private contractor to help with federal permitting
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission sent a letter to the state, requesting that it pay for a third-party contractor to help with federal review of the project. Listen now
Alaska produced more July oil than it has since 2013
The Alaska North Slope region produced more oil in July than it had since 2013.
Alaska oil tax initiative has enough valid signatures to appear on ballot, election officials say
When the initiative would appear on a ballot depends on when the Alaska Legislature wraps up its work.
After a rocky start, Unalaska’s subsistence salmon run hits target escapement
While Unalaska’s biggest subsistence salmon run got off to a slow start this season, it’s now at a sustainable level. Listen now
ConocoPhillips’ big new find on the North Slope could help replenish pipeline
On Jan. 13, ConocoPhillips announced a major oil find in the National Petroleum-Reserve Alaska (NPR-A). The company is calling it the Willow Discovery. Experts say coupled with several other recent big discoveries in the region, it could portend a new wave of oil development on the North Slope. If developed, it could go a long ways toward replenishing the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Listen now
Walker doubles down on opposing Pebble Mine
Tomorrow, Pebble Limited Partnership CEO Tom Collier is expected to publicly outline a plan for the proposed Pebble Mine project for the first time. But in an interview today, Governor Bill Walker said he's against the controversial mine. Listen now
BP Alaska agrees to pay $125k fine over hazardous waste violations on North Slope
The EPA says the oil company didn’t maintain adequate insurance and failed to properly label hazardous materials.
“Doesn’t he know it’s frozen?” How Alaska almost overlooked Prudhoe Bay
You could argue — and a lot of people do — that Alaska would be a completely different place if it weren’t for a man named Tom Marshall.
Arctic sea ice minimum continues downward trend, with implications beyond the Arctic
"The Arctic’s like an air conditioner or refrigerator for the global climate...And as the Arctic warms, partly because the sea ice is going away, it’s like you’re opening that refrigerator door." Listen now
State reduces Hilcorp fine for worker safety incident
The state is fining oil and gas company Hilcorp $200,000 for a 2015 incident that nearly killed three workers on the North Slope. The final order amount, which was released today (Mar. 3), is a significant reduction from the $720,000 penalty the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission proposed last year. Listen now
Trump transition limits EPA participation in Alaska environmental conference
Trump transition officials ordered the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to limit its participation in an Alaska environmental conference this week. Listen now
New Alaska regs require oil and gas wells anchor below permafrost
The change in regulation comes after a BP well failed last year; the company blamed it on thawing permafrost causing uneven pressure on the well. Listen now
About 300 BP union employees will keep their jobs — for now
According to Hilcorp, about 300 BP union workers at Prudhoe Bay will remain in their jobs, at least through the end of their current contract.
Ask the Energy Desk: Are plastic bag bans better for the environment?
Bans on plastic grocery bags have been cropping up across Alaska’s remote communities. Cordova’s ban went into effect last year. But so far, the larger cities in the state have yet to adopt one. Listen now
Draft Walker climate policy urges Alaska to transition away from fossil fuels
The first recommendations from Gov. Bill Walker’s climate task force run the gamut — from putting a price on carbon to supporting a more diversified economy and improving how climate change is taught in schools. Listen now
There’s a new Arctic drilling battle brewing…and it’s not in ANWR
A series of promising oil discoveries and a recent move by the Trump administration mean the vast, remote National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska is about to get a lot more controversial. Listen now
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.”
Group launches campaign to keep Arctic in oil lease plan
Alaska and national business and labor groups launched a media campaign Monday to keep Arctic areas in the next five-year federal offshore leasing plan.
Twenty groups organized as the Arctic Coalition are urging the Obama administration to retain a Beaufort Sea lease sale in 2020 and a Chukchi Sea lease sale in 2022.
At the moment, Donlin Gold isn’t building a mine. But it is building a church
The company that wants to build one of the world’s biggest gold mines is currently renovating a church in Chuathbaluk in the middle Kuskokwim River. Donlin says that investing in communities near the mine is being “a good neighbor.”
Arctic Council looks to Alaska citizen science network
A tribal citizen science network that got its start in Alaska is being touted as a model for tracking climate change in the Arctic. The eight-nation Arctic Council plans to expand the Local Environmental Observer Network to other Arctic nations.
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