Click to read story
A decades-old northern dream has taken a major step forward after the panel tasked with reviewing the Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline concluded that it should go forward.
The joint review panel, which has spent the past half-decade assessing the pipeline, has concluded that the $16.2-billion project “would deliver valuable and lasting overall benefits, and avoid significant adverse environmental impacts.”
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Kake Tribal Corp President's letter to Petersburg Pilot
November 28, 2009
Ron Loesch Publisher and Editor Petersburg Pilot Box 930 Petersburg, AK 99833
pilotpub@gmail.com RE: Letter to the Editor on Hydropower and connectivity to Kake
Dear Mr. Loesch
I read your November 19 guest editorial. I would like to offer a positive but different perspective for all to consider. Our corporation represents most of the original families of Kake and many in Petersburg. Petersburg, Ketchikan and Wrangell all benefit from heavily subsidized hydropower resources and transmission infrastructure. According to the State of Alaska Department of Revenue, the Tyee and Swan generation facilities and the Swan Tyee Intertie was gifted by large direct State subsidies amounting to $268 million dollars with a small balance coming from government subsidized loans. Theoretically, the government owns these projects to provide subsidized power cost for the benefit of all Alaskans, including the rural communities. Government sponsored socialized power is beneficial when it is equally shared among its citizens, but as you can see by visiting Kake or Angoon this public strategy has failed to bring our people and industry low cost power.
Kake has received promises and waited 40 plus years for an intertie to bring us this cheap power. All SEAPA communities are in the process of converting municipal buildings, businesses and homes from oil to cheap electric heat. Is there a guarantee of SEAPA power to sell Kake from these government subsidized assets? Assuming Kake gets an intertie, is there a guarantee that SEAPA will sell electricity to Kake at the same 6.8 cent per kilowatt rate?
Contrary to your editorial the public and private cooperative developments in Thomas Bay are not unique. Many infrastructure projects around the country have public and private cooperative agreements because this yields lower costs, more efficient management and serves the ratepayer better. Wrangell already has a lucrative power sales agreement from Cascade so there is even a local example. Despite rhetoric, Cascade and the City of Angoon projects appear ready to work with others to deliver low cost power, including Petersburg.
The public and private Thomas Bay projects will provide much needed family wage jobs for Kake residents, Angoon residents, Wrangell residents, and yes, Petersburg residents as well. Each hydropower project expects to produce 130 direct jobs and many indirect jobs. Petersburg’s restaurants and businesses would most likely appreciate the extra business. The public/private Thomas Bay projects would be able to sell lower cost competitive power to Kake so we can rebuild our community with the substantially equal power costs enjoyed by Wrangell and Petersburg. What is wrong with energy self determination and independence from government?
1
Further, rational thinking dictates that the Kake to Petersburg Intertie will be constructed along the least expensive route. Everyone understands that the lowest cost route is the route that intersects with the Cascade, Ruth and Scenery hydropower projects that will flood not only Kake but all of Southeast Alaska with low cost hydropower. The south-central route for the Kake Intertie would burden the Kake ratepayer with excessive O&M transmission costs if these costs are not shared with the hydro projects in Thomas Bay on the proposed Northern route. The least expensive route is the one that delivers the lowest cost per kilowatt hour to Kake ratepayer.
Your guest editorial also fear baited the claim that Thomas Bay power will fuel mines and lead to water contamination all because of the public/ private development of Thomas Bay. This statement is baseless and demonstrates a lack of depth of understanding. The power from the projects will be sold locally and then the surplus to the lower 48. Many of the original families of Kake and Petersburg have fought for and served our country. Please explain what is wrong with providing ourselves and our nation with energy security and lessening our dependence on foreign oil supplies while reducing green house gas emissions at the same time?
Your guest editorial suggests that electrical costs will increase with private participation in hydropower and transmission. The comparative cost and associated success of the recent FERC competitive process is a prime example of how private industry brings the public sector superior know-how and competition that pure governmental intervention and management could never match.
Kake Tribal Corporation has invested in Cascade Creek, LLC and wholly supports the City of Angoon’s development of Scenery and Ruth Lakes because these projects will deliver the lowest cost power to the citizens of Kake regardless of politics and that is doing the right thing by our people and our region. The unsuccessful strategy deployed by PMPL has resulted in no Petersburg FERC permit, no Petersburg job creation, nor has it led to lower cost of power for Petersburg now or in the future nor has it helped the region increase its energy security. Your strategy dictates that you have and will continue to buy more diesel generators. Contrary to your editorial, a new tactic might be better serving the needs of Petersburg by beginning to work with your neighbors instead of inciting them. I suggest that you try a fresh approach to constructive engagement and you will find cooperative friends as well as economic and energy benefits for Petersburg and its ratepayers.
Sincerely,
Harold Martin President, Kake Tribal Corporation Box 32034 Juneau, AK 99803-2034
Ron Loesch Publisher and Editor Petersburg Pilot Box 930 Petersburg, AK 99833
pilotpub@gmail.com RE: Letter to the Editor on Hydropower and connectivity to Kake
Dear Mr. Loesch
I read your November 19 guest editorial. I would like to offer a positive but different perspective for all to consider. Our corporation represents most of the original families of Kake and many in Petersburg. Petersburg, Ketchikan and Wrangell all benefit from heavily subsidized hydropower resources and transmission infrastructure. According to the State of Alaska Department of Revenue, the Tyee and Swan generation facilities and the Swan Tyee Intertie was gifted by large direct State subsidies amounting to $268 million dollars with a small balance coming from government subsidized loans. Theoretically, the government owns these projects to provide subsidized power cost for the benefit of all Alaskans, including the rural communities. Government sponsored socialized power is beneficial when it is equally shared among its citizens, but as you can see by visiting Kake or Angoon this public strategy has failed to bring our people and industry low cost power.
Kake has received promises and waited 40 plus years for an intertie to bring us this cheap power. All SEAPA communities are in the process of converting municipal buildings, businesses and homes from oil to cheap electric heat. Is there a guarantee of SEAPA power to sell Kake from these government subsidized assets? Assuming Kake gets an intertie, is there a guarantee that SEAPA will sell electricity to Kake at the same 6.8 cent per kilowatt rate?
Contrary to your editorial the public and private cooperative developments in Thomas Bay are not unique. Many infrastructure projects around the country have public and private cooperative agreements because this yields lower costs, more efficient management and serves the ratepayer better. Wrangell already has a lucrative power sales agreement from Cascade so there is even a local example. Despite rhetoric, Cascade and the City of Angoon projects appear ready to work with others to deliver low cost power, including Petersburg.
The public and private Thomas Bay projects will provide much needed family wage jobs for Kake residents, Angoon residents, Wrangell residents, and yes, Petersburg residents as well. Each hydropower project expects to produce 130 direct jobs and many indirect jobs. Petersburg’s restaurants and businesses would most likely appreciate the extra business. The public/private Thomas Bay projects would be able to sell lower cost competitive power to Kake so we can rebuild our community with the substantially equal power costs enjoyed by Wrangell and Petersburg. What is wrong with energy self determination and independence from government?
1
Further, rational thinking dictates that the Kake to Petersburg Intertie will be constructed along the least expensive route. Everyone understands that the lowest cost route is the route that intersects with the Cascade, Ruth and Scenery hydropower projects that will flood not only Kake but all of Southeast Alaska with low cost hydropower. The south-central route for the Kake Intertie would burden the Kake ratepayer with excessive O&M transmission costs if these costs are not shared with the hydro projects in Thomas Bay on the proposed Northern route. The least expensive route is the one that delivers the lowest cost per kilowatt hour to Kake ratepayer.
Your guest editorial also fear baited the claim that Thomas Bay power will fuel mines and lead to water contamination all because of the public/ private development of Thomas Bay. This statement is baseless and demonstrates a lack of depth of understanding. The power from the projects will be sold locally and then the surplus to the lower 48. Many of the original families of Kake and Petersburg have fought for and served our country. Please explain what is wrong with providing ourselves and our nation with energy security and lessening our dependence on foreign oil supplies while reducing green house gas emissions at the same time?
Your guest editorial suggests that electrical costs will increase with private participation in hydropower and transmission. The comparative cost and associated success of the recent FERC competitive process is a prime example of how private industry brings the public sector superior know-how and competition that pure governmental intervention and management could never match.
Kake Tribal Corporation has invested in Cascade Creek, LLC and wholly supports the City of Angoon’s development of Scenery and Ruth Lakes because these projects will deliver the lowest cost power to the citizens of Kake regardless of politics and that is doing the right thing by our people and our region. The unsuccessful strategy deployed by PMPL has resulted in no Petersburg FERC permit, no Petersburg job creation, nor has it led to lower cost of power for Petersburg now or in the future nor has it helped the region increase its energy security. Your strategy dictates that you have and will continue to buy more diesel generators. Contrary to your editorial, a new tactic might be better serving the needs of Petersburg by beginning to work with your neighbors instead of inciting them. I suggest that you try a fresh approach to constructive engagement and you will find cooperative friends as well as economic and energy benefits for Petersburg and its ratepayers.
Sincerely,
Harold Martin President, Kake Tribal Corporation Box 32034 Juneau, AK 99803-2034
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Kake Tribal - An ANCSA village corporation - asks, why has Kake been left behind? from Petersburg Pilot
Petersburg PilotKake Tribal clarifies Cascade Creek, LLC partnership
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Opinion : Atomic energy missing from source talks - Frontiersman
Opinion : Atomic energy missing from source talks - Frontiersman
Posted using ShareThis
With all the discussions about alternative energy sources — wind, tides, sun — nuclear energy has been largely left out of the conversation in Alaska.
Perhaps it’s understandable given that nuclear energy can be used as a weapon. Then there’s the Three Mile Island incident in 1979 that some Alaskans remember. The worst, of course, was the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 when Soviet scientists tried an experiment that went bad, causing radiation contamination over much of Europe.
However, nuclear power plants have been safely operating for decades in many countries. In fact, the Three Mile Island plant is still in operation.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s website says there are more than 100 nuclear generating plants in the U.S. alone. They generate about 19 percent of the nation’s electricity. Nuclear plants provide about 16 percent of the world’s electricity. But no new ones have been built in the United States since 1996.
Posted using ShareThis
With all the discussions about alternative energy sources — wind, tides, sun — nuclear energy has been largely left out of the conversation in Alaska.
Perhaps it’s understandable given that nuclear energy can be used as a weapon. Then there’s the Three Mile Island incident in 1979 that some Alaskans remember. The worst, of course, was the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 when Soviet scientists tried an experiment that went bad, causing radiation contamination over much of Europe.
However, nuclear power plants have been safely operating for decades in many countries. In fact, the Three Mile Island plant is still in operation.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s website says there are more than 100 nuclear generating plants in the U.S. alone. They generate about 19 percent of the nation’s electricity. Nuclear plants provide about 16 percent of the world’s electricity. But no new ones have been built in the United States since 1996.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Alaska governor proposes road to Brooks Range petroleum deposit - Newsminer
Click here for full story
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Gov. Sean Parnell will ask legislators for $8 million for preliminary work that could lead to construction of a 90-mile road to oil and gas reserves in the northern foothills of the Brooks Range.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Gov. Sean Parnell will ask legislators for $8 million for preliminary work that could lead to construction of a 90-mile road to oil and gas reserves in the northern foothills of the Brooks Range.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Terrace Standard - Alaskans eye B.C. power line
Terrace Standard - Alaskans eye B.C. power line
A COALITION OF Alaskan politicians and business leaders can’t wait for the Northwest Transmission Line to be built up Hwy37 North, saying the line is the key to wealth and jobs in the Alaskan Panhandle.
The line is to terminate at a substation at Bob Quinn just off of the highway and a mere 70 miles from where an American transmission system now stops on the other side of the border with the Panhandle.
A COALITION OF Alaskan politicians and business leaders can’t wait for the Northwest Transmission Line to be built up Hwy37 North, saying the line is the key to wealth and jobs in the Alaskan Panhandle.
The line is to terminate at a substation at Bob Quinn just off of the highway and a mere 70 miles from where an American transmission system now stops on the other side of the border with the Panhandle.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Draft plan suggests merging utilities AP Juneau Empire
Click here for story and blog response
FAIRBANKS - AP A draft plan on statewide electrical generation in Alaska suggests savings by consolidating six electrical utilities in Fairbanks and the Southcentral region.
The Regional Integrated Resource Plan, released last week, analyzed Alaska's electrical infrastructure and suggested that consolidation could make it easier to shift the state toward more renewable power.
FAIRBANKS - AP A draft plan on statewide electrical generation in Alaska suggests savings by consolidating six electrical utilities in Fairbanks and the Southcentral region.
The Regional Integrated Resource Plan, released last week, analyzed Alaska's electrical infrastructure and suggested that consolidation could make it easier to shift the state toward more renewable power.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Report says Fairbanks, Southcentral could see big savings with central utility - Newsminer
Report says Fairbanks, Southcentral could see big savings with central utility
A draft plan on statewide electrical generation suggests big savings are to be found if six electrical utilities in Fairbanks and Southcentral consolidate.
Directors at the Fairbanks utility, Golden Valley Electric Association, generally agree, though they and their counterparts across the state have yet to agree on how to get there without saddling customers with higher short-term electricity prices.
A draft plan on statewide electrical generation suggests big savings are to be found if six electrical utilities in Fairbanks and Southcentral consolidate.
Directors at the Fairbanks utility, Golden Valley Electric Association, generally agree, though they and their counterparts across the state have yet to agree on how to get there without saddling customers with higher short-term electricity prices.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - Gas line questions remain - Dermot Cole
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - Gas line questions remain
Gov. Sean Parnell’s response to the questions asked by Rep. Jay Ramras doesn’t provide any detailed answers about the status of in-state gas projects. It’s basically a “Thanks for your letter, now please go away” approach.
Gov. Sean Parnell’s response to the questions asked by Rep. Jay Ramras doesn’t provide any detailed answers about the status of in-state gas projects. It’s basically a “Thanks for your letter, now please go away” approach.
Governor Parnell Visits - Wrangell Sentinel
Wrangell Sentinel - the oldest continuously published paper in Alaska.
Alaska Governor Sean Parnell was expected to briefly tour Wrangell this Wednesday during part of his visit to the Southeast. The governor had a scheduled meeting in Ketchikan and decided to make a brief stop in Wrangell as part of an unplanned visit, according to the governor’s office.
During his visit the governor was anticipated to meet with the borough assembly to discuss five of 42 projects selected as priorities by the assembly. Those projects included the completion of paving for both Cassiar and Weber streets, the continued expansion of Wrangell’s medical facilities, the Alaska/British Columbia intertie, and improvements for the Marine Service center.
Alaska Governor Sean Parnell was expected to briefly tour Wrangell this Wednesday during part of his visit to the Southeast. The governor had a scheduled meeting in Ketchikan and decided to make a brief stop in Wrangell as part of an unplanned visit, according to the governor’s office.
During his visit the governor was anticipated to meet with the borough assembly to discuss five of 42 projects selected as priorities by the assembly. Those projects included the completion of paving for both Cassiar and Weber streets, the continued expansion of Wrangell’s medical facilities, the Alaska/British Columbia intertie, and improvements for the Marine Service center.
The Alaska Journal of Commerce - State is working toward energy solutions in Cook Inlet 12/04/09
The Alaska Journal of Commerce - State is working toward energy solutions in Cook Inlet 12/04/09
Commentary offered by former State Senator Gene Theriault, Governor Parnell's in-state energy advisor
Commentary offered by former State Senator Gene Theriault, Governor Parnell's in-state energy advisor
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Strategizing for a stable economic future - Alaska Dispatch
Strategizing for a stable economic future
Alaska's economic future is in trouble.
The state's economy is stagnating as the national economy grows, and it's expected to remain stalled through the next decade if no one takes action, Michael Catsi, president of the Alaska Partnership for Economic Development, told legislators at a hearing Friday in Anchorage.
Alaska's economic future is in trouble.
The state's economy is stagnating as the national economy grows, and it's expected to remain stalled through the next decade if no one takes action, Michael Catsi, president of the Alaska Partnership for Economic Development, told legislators at a hearing Friday in Anchorage.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Our view: Put wind to work: ADN Editorial | adn.com
Our view: Put wind to work: ADN Editorial | adn.com
The most powerful message in Sunday's Daily News story about wind turbines and other renewable power projects in Alaska is simply that they exist. They are working.
The most powerful message in Sunday's Daily News story about wind turbines and other renewable power projects in Alaska is simply that they exist. They are working.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
(Historical) Canadian PM Harper in Yukon September 2009 Siku News
Mayo Power project upgrade - transmission to link two Yukon Electric Transmission Systems
Why put this in AED? The interconnection of Whitehorse to Dawson, Yukon means that roughly 250 plus miles separates an interconnection between Dawson and Delta Junction, Alaska. On the southern end of Yukon's power grid, a link from Carcross Jct to Skagway's Goat Lake project is roughly 50 miles. So, an interconnection of Southeast Alaska through Yukon to the Railbelt isn't that far fetched. Nothing is understood to be planned by either Yukon Energy nor the Alaska Energy Authority, however an interconnection between the Alaska Railbelt and Southeast isn't insurmountable, nor farfetched either.
Why put this in AED? The interconnection of Whitehorse to Dawson, Yukon means that roughly 250 plus miles separates an interconnection between Dawson and Delta Junction, Alaska. On the southern end of Yukon's power grid, a link from Carcross Jct to Skagway's Goat Lake project is roughly 50 miles. So, an interconnection of Southeast Alaska through Yukon to the Railbelt isn't that far fetched. Nothing is understood to be planned by either Yukon Energy nor the Alaska Energy Authority, however an interconnection between the Alaska Railbelt and Southeast isn't insurmountable, nor farfetched either.
Delta Wind Farm Online, Ready to add a Generator - Alaska Journal of Commerce, Sept 2009
Click to read story
By Rob Stapleton
Alaska Journal of Commerce
The first of several wind generators erected by Alaska Environmental Power, LLC stands on a knoll 120 feet above the Tanana Valley floor near Delta Junction. This 100-kilowatt generator is now providing power into Golden Valley Electric Associations grid. The Fairbanks company will erect a second 900-kilowatt wind generator that will go online in October at the same location with plans to create a 15-megawatt farm in the future. Photo/Rob Stapleton/AJOC
Two years and a lot of hard work later, a wind farm that now generates electricity into the Golden Valley Electric Association grid is taking shape on a knoll near Delta Junction.
Alaska Environmental Power, LLC has one wind generator up and running, and has set the foundation for another. The generator site is northwest of Delta.
By Rob Stapleton
Alaska Journal of Commerce
The first of several wind generators erected by Alaska Environmental Power, LLC stands on a knoll 120 feet above the Tanana Valley floor near Delta Junction. This 100-kilowatt generator is now providing power into Golden Valley Electric Associations grid. The Fairbanks company will erect a second 900-kilowatt wind generator that will go online in October at the same location with plans to create a 15-megawatt farm in the future. Photo/Rob Stapleton/AJOC
Two years and a lot of hard work later, a wind farm that now generates electricity into the Golden Valley Electric Association grid is taking shape on a knoll near Delta Junction.
Alaska Environmental Power, LLC has one wind generator up and running, and has set the foundation for another. The generator site is northwest of Delta.
Bullfrog Power News
Bullfrog Power News
I thought to put some news from our neighbors just next door. What is being done in other jurisdictions regarding renewable energy only miles away from Alaska.
I thought to put some news from our neighbors just next door. What is being done in other jurisdictions regarding renewable energy only miles away from Alaska.
Policies to Support Increased Renewable Energy to be Developed by Yukon Government, Whitehorse, YK Nov 25, 2009
Click here for press release
A public consultation for developing Yukon policies for independent power production (IPP) and net metering was announced today by Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources Archie Lang.
“As a key initiative of Yukon’s Energy Strategy, these policies will encourage the development of new small scale sources of renewable energy to help meet our future energy needs while limiting green house gas emissions and improving electrical system reliability,” Lang said.
A public consultation for developing Yukon policies for independent power production (IPP) and net metering was announced today by Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources Archie Lang.
“As a key initiative of Yukon’s Energy Strategy, these policies will encourage the development of new small scale sources of renewable energy to help meet our future energy needs while limiting green house gas emissions and improving electrical system reliability,” Lang said.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Major Step for Wind Power in the Southeast
Major Step for Wind Power in the Southeast
Posted using ShareThis
No, this isn't Southeast Alaska, but it could be.
Posted using ShareThis
No, this isn't Southeast Alaska, but it could be.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
A Sea of Potential in Alaska « Mendo Coast Current
A Sea of Potential in Alaska « Mendo Coast Current An older, but relevant article by Brian Yannity on the ocean energy potential off Alaska's coast
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
News :: Radio Kenai | radiokenai.com | KSRM, KWHQ, KKIS, KSLD
News :: Radio Kenai | radiokenai.com | KSRM, KWHQ, KKIS, KSLD DNR's Irwin says a spur line is more economical than a bullet line
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - Officials defend gas line efforts
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - Officials defend gas line efforts FAIRBANKS — State officials said Tuesday night that efforts to spur construction of a massive natural gas pipeline are on schedule despite skepticism from critics and some lawmakers.
The plan, pitched by former Gov. Sarah Palin under the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act, is projected to have drawn $150 million in investments from the team of TransCanada and Exxon Mobil by mid-summer, according to an October progress report.
The plan, pitched by former Gov. Sarah Palin under the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act, is projected to have drawn $150 million in investments from the team of TransCanada and Exxon Mobil by mid-summer, according to an October progress report.
Alaskans must build their own gas pipeline: Compass | adn.com
Alaskans must build their own gas pipeline: Compass | adn.com
This was an opinion by an Alaska Gubernatorial Candidate on an Alaskan Natural Gas Pipeline.
This was an opinion by an Alaska Gubernatorial Candidate on an Alaskan Natural Gas Pipeline.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
SitNews - Opinion/Letter: Heating and power generation By A.M.Johnson
SitNews - Opinion/Letter: Heating and power generation By A.M.Johnson Energy News out of Ketchikan? One Citizen's Viewpoint
Prince George Free Press - First cargo jet customer arrives at P.G. airport
Prince George Free Press - First cargo jet customer arrives at P.G. airport
The first Boeing 747 cargo aircraft to land at Prince George Airport touched down at approximately 8:15 a.m. Tuesday morning.
The Southern Air Inc. flight arrived from Anchorage, changed flight crews, took on approximately 130,000L of fuel and departed for Caracas, Venezuela.
The first Boeing 747 cargo aircraft to land at Prince George Airport touched down at approximately 8:15 a.m. Tuesday morning.
The Southern Air Inc. flight arrived from Anchorage, changed flight crews, took on approximately 130,000L of fuel and departed for Caracas, Venezuela.
Monday, November 16, 2009
International Water Power and Dam Construction
International Water Power and Dam Construction Brian Yanity presents a review of regional hydro power development strategies involving proposed international transmission lines connecting the US state of Alaska and Canada
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Syntroleum Corp. tops list of state’s best companies | NewsOK.com
Syntroleum Corp. tops list of state’s best companies | NewsOK.com
Interesting if not exactly something we can use here.
Interesting if not exactly something we can use here.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Energy plan calls for unifying (Railbelt) electric utilities
Energy plan calls for unifying electric utilities There is some commentary published which relate to Southeast Alaska and why a different transmission organization ought to be considered.
AltaGas short-circuits BC Hydro
AltaGas short-circuits BC Hydro This action by AltaGas, the owner of nearby BC run-of-river hydro project proposals, would short circuit the process to get the east of Wrangell Northwest Transmission Line moving in an expedited manner. It makes a connection to Southeast Alaska even more tangible.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Man of the North - BC Business Online
Click here to read story As a youth, Tom Albanese fled a small industrial New Jersey town for Alaska. Albanese, now 50, is the first American CEO of the venerable London-based mining giant Rio Tinto PLC (RTP-N), which last year took over Alcan Inc. in a $38-billion deal. He went to university in Fairbanks, Alaska, for degrees in mineral economics and mining engineering.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
"Make liquid fuels from Alaska's Natural Gas" Richard Peterson, Alaska Natural Gas-to-Liquids, Tim Bradner, Alaska Journal of Commerce
Click on story link in left hand column.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Notes on this site
Updates to this site will be made from time to time. The news feed site will help alert us to pertinent breaking news stories. Please click on the regional news feed topics to see the news for the various regions within our subject area. Any ideas for additions or changes will be happily received and made if at all possible. Please post your ideas or communicate them to us. Thank you.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
A Richardson Highway Gas-line Route brings more benefits to Alaska
Take a peek at an Alaska Land Status map to see why it would be best for Alaska to use the Richardson Highway instead of the Parks Highway route for a bullet line from the North Slope to Southcentral.
Aside from encountering an all ready designated pipeline right-of-way, it also positively impacts many more of Alaska's rural communities and also comes much closer to military installations. Another benefit is that it possibly follows a right-of-way towards Prince Williams Sound.
This does nothing to diminish a spur to the Susitna Valley, but has everything to do with maximizing the benefits to Alaskans, communities and state lands.
Aside from encountering an all ready designated pipeline right-of-way, it also positively impacts many more of Alaska's rural communities and also comes much closer to military installations. Another benefit is that it possibly follows a right-of-way towards Prince Williams Sound.
This does nothing to diminish a spur to the Susitna Valley, but has everything to do with maximizing the benefits to Alaskans, communities and state lands.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Alaska is wealthy in energy - how can Alaska sustain its future with it?
This is the first posting on a new discussion board which is meant for Alaskans to discuss what we want for our state's future. Our state, probably more than any other is blessed with resources which should portend a prosperous and sustained economic future and history. Our future demands citizen participation - we can and must move our leaders out of their comfort zone.
Alaska has all the ingredients for an economy which can become much more robust and even.
- Alaskan have environmentally benign, low impact, lake tap electrical generation potential which many areas can only view with envy.
- Alaskans have a giant storehouse of natural gas, which presently may be uneconomic, but is much more like money in a gigantic Alaska Permanent Fund. It's present state is what those in the investment community might call an unrealized gain.
- Alaskans have the "Ring of Fire" a huge stretch of coast which is seismically and geothermally active and rich.
- Alaskans have an abundance of biomass, tidal, wind and wave energy all which are awaiting technologies and demand which would make them viable. Some of this list is and some will become achievable in the future.
- Alaska is blessed with a swag of coal hydrocarbons, some of which is intended to be developed benignly as well.
We can't have a sustainable economy with the presently high cost of energy, but with economies of scale we can do much to lower our areas high energy costs and with it leverage our huge advantages.
Alaska has a huge stockpile of natural gas - but is it that big on a world scale? No, not at all. So what ought we do with this one-time blessing? I would argue that we ought to consider what we can do with it here to produce value added products for export - not a one-time wham blam, thank you - type development.
To do that we need to attract industry which can depend upon some long term incentives and a stable, in-state incentivized tax structure to boot - we should do this through means which adds value to our resources while in state through the creation of in-state industries. However, we need to have ean adequate industry base to bring economies of scale to natural gase's production and use. We can't build an in-state line and just expect that industries will come. Concurrently, we need to invite and attract industry to Alaska! Do we have what it takes? I'd think so. Here is what we have:
- Clean air and water that must stay that way
- Hunting, fishing and seasonal recreation galore!
- Abundant state and Native corporation land
- An established University for training our resident Alaskan workforce
- Abundant forms of renewable energy to power our industries
- A creative and friendly Native and Pioneering can do Alaskan spirit
- A willingness to create a fair tax structure in exchange for creating in-state industries
Just today, the first 6 hour jet flight between London and Qatar took place - what was different about this flight was that it was fueled by a synthetic jet fuel, which was partially comprised of natural gas! Hmm, this sounds much like Alaska? We have natural gas, we have refineries already making jet fuel. An innovation like this could be a start to providing sufficient gravitas to an instate use of abundant North Slope natural gas. But there is more!
- Alaskans have already seen a successful fertilizer production facility with Agrium's plant on the Kenai Peninsula
- We have the least expensive means of energy transport in the world at our doorstep - marine shipping
- We could look at the state of Utah's initiatives with using natural gas and a fuel of choice for our instate transport system
- Why not synthesized Avgas?
- We have an instate need for residential natural gas and for rural Alaska we can ship propane where a gas line isn't economic
So this is six possible in-state uses of North Slope Natural Gas. I'm certain there are many more!
The world today is thinking outside the box or paradigm. We need to do this as well.
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