Sunday, March 28, 2010
Northwest BC Transmission Line can help small Southeast AK and Northwest BC towns
The upcoming Northwest (BC) Transmission Line portends some exciting and positive changes to both Canada and Alaska in the North Coast Mountain Region. This development can bring a change to Alaska, Northwest BC and Yukon. Turning them from basically third-world condition into producers and contributors for a green, renewable, less oil dependent North America. The benefits of opening this region of Alaska are to it's citizens and to our sister Pacific Northwest and Western states.
Take a look at this video, which envisions some of its benefits to Northwest BC First Nations, to Alaskans and Yukon.
State dangles incentives for open season takers, Tim Bradner, Ak Journal of Commerce
Click to read full Alaska Journal of Commerce story
The state is offering a set of special natural gas royalty and tax terms as inducements for North Slope producers to sign pipeline capacity contracts during an open season set by TransCanada Corp. that will begin May 1, state officials told state legislators in a briefing.
The incentives could be worth more than $20 billion in value to producers over the life of capacity agreements signed, assuming the entire 4.5 billion cubic feet per day of capacity is subscribed, according to estimates by Black & Veatch, a consulting firm working with the state.
TransCanada is proposing a 1,500-mile, 48-inch pipeline from the North Slope to its Aeco hub in Alberta that could cost as much as $41 billion, the pipeline company estimates.
The state endorsed TransCanada over the rival Denali pipeline group led by BP and ConocoPhillips after the Calgary-based pipeline company agreed to meet certain state goals regarding tariff structure and expansion terms.
The state is offering a set of special natural gas royalty and tax terms as inducements for North Slope producers to sign pipeline capacity contracts during an open season set by TransCanada Corp. that will begin May 1, state officials told state legislators in a briefing.
The incentives could be worth more than $20 billion in value to producers over the life of capacity agreements signed, assuming the entire 4.5 billion cubic feet per day of capacity is subscribed, according to estimates by Black & Veatch, a consulting firm working with the state.
TransCanada is proposing a 1,500-mile, 48-inch pipeline from the North Slope to its Aeco hub in Alberta that could cost as much as $41 billion, the pipeline company estimates.
The state endorsed TransCanada over the rival Denali pipeline group led by BP and ConocoPhillips after the Calgary-based pipeline company agreed to meet certain state goals regarding tariff structure and expansion terms.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Budgets, energy and scholarships take center stage
Budgets, energy and scholarships take center stage
The Legislature has hit the session's final third, and certain bills are starting to move pretty fast.
The House and Senate are each convening every day to move those bills that committees have vetted. And of course, the operating and capital budgets are taking priority. Senate Finance holds both - the operating budget passed over from the House, and the capital budget yet to go to the House.
Most of the bills moving are energy-related. Senate Finance is expected to take up the gas tax this week, and various proposals to change the oil tax, ACES, are being heard. Plans to shift instate natural gas pipeline planning from the administration are trotting along in both bodies...
Click link above to read the full story in the Alaska Dispatch.
The Legislature has hit the session's final third, and certain bills are starting to move pretty fast.
The House and Senate are each convening every day to move those bills that committees have vetted. And of course, the operating and capital budgets are taking priority. Senate Finance holds both - the operating budget passed over from the House, and the capital budget yet to go to the House.
Most of the bills moving are energy-related. Senate Finance is expected to take up the gas tax this week, and various proposals to change the oil tax, ACES, are being heard. Plans to shift instate natural gas pipeline planning from the administration are trotting along in both bodies...
Click link above to read the full story in the Alaska Dispatch.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
BBC News - Canada's 'secret land' Yukon woos tourists
BBC News - Canada's 'secret land' Yukon woos tourists
As Vancouver gears up for its second stint as Olympic host with the Paralympics beginning on 12 March, one northern Canadian territory is hoping the lasting legacy of the Games will be a boost to tourism.
The government of Yukon spent just under 3m Canadian dollars (£1.9m) trying to educate people about their territory during the Winter Games, promoting it as a great place to travel, invest and do business.
"The people that go to the Olympics are our kind of people," says Sheila Dodd, who works in economic and tourism development for Whitehorse, Yukon's capital.
As Vancouver gears up for its second stint as Olympic host with the Paralympics beginning on 12 March, one northern Canadian territory is hoping the lasting legacy of the Games will be a boost to tourism.
The government of Yukon spent just under 3m Canadian dollars (£1.9m) trying to educate people about their territory during the Winter Games, promoting it as a great place to travel, invest and do business.
"The people that go to the Olympics are our kind of people," says Sheila Dodd, who works in economic and tourism development for Whitehorse, Yukon's capital.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
B.C. group touts green economic solution
B.C. group touts green economic solution
B.C. could pull in about $4.3 billion annually and eliminate its debt over several years by tapping into and selling its vast green-energy potential, said a report released yesterday.
Bio-energy, run-of-river, wind, geothermal, tidal, wave and solar energy could all be developed to help the environment and to work towards wiping out B.C.'s debt in 15 years or less, said the B.C. Citizens for Green Energy's 76-page report.
"B.C. is widely recognized as having a natural abundance of renewable green energy resources. However, this natural abundance is currently going virtually untapped as are the economic and environmental benefits that developing them could bring to our province," said the report, titled A Triple Legacy for Future Generations: B.C.'s Potential as a Renewable Green Energy Powerhouse.
Read more by clicking above link.
B.C. could pull in about $4.3 billion annually and eliminate its debt over several years by tapping into and selling its vast green-energy potential, said a report released yesterday.
Bio-energy, run-of-river, wind, geothermal, tidal, wave and solar energy could all be developed to help the environment and to work towards wiping out B.C.'s debt in 15 years or less, said the B.C. Citizens for Green Energy's 76-page report.
"B.C. is widely recognized as having a natural abundance of renewable green energy resources. However, this natural abundance is currently going virtually untapped as are the economic and environmental benefits that developing them could bring to our province," said the report, titled A Triple Legacy for Future Generations: B.C.'s Potential as a Renewable Green Energy Powerhouse.
Read more by clicking above link.
Tides come in (environmentalresearchweb blog) - environmentalresearchweb
Tides come in (environmentalresearchweb blog) - environmentalresearchweb
The use of tidal energy for generating electricity is moving ahead rapidly around the world, and the potential for expansion is significant, with the emphasis being on tidal current turbines, although some tidal barrages are also being developed or planned – for example, various barrage and lagoon scheme are still under consideration for the Severn estuary. A decision on which to go for should emerge later this year.
The global potential is quite large. Trade network Tidal Today’s second annual ‘Tidal Summit’, held in London last November, heard from a speaker from the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy System Technology (IWES) who relayed some estimates of tidal energy potentials: China: 50 TWh p.a; Ireland: 10 TWh; UK: 31 TWh; France: 10 TWh; Norway: 3 TWh; US: 115 TWh. The big ones, in terms of capacity, included Canada: >40 GW and South Korea: 1000 GW.
Click on the link above to read the full story.
The use of tidal energy for generating electricity is moving ahead rapidly around the world, and the potential for expansion is significant, with the emphasis being on tidal current turbines, although some tidal barrages are also being developed or planned – for example, various barrage and lagoon scheme are still under consideration for the Severn estuary. A decision on which to go for should emerge later this year.
The global potential is quite large. Trade network Tidal Today’s second annual ‘Tidal Summit’, held in London last November, heard from a speaker from the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy System Technology (IWES) who relayed some estimates of tidal energy potentials: China: 50 TWh p.a; Ireland: 10 TWh; UK: 31 TWh; France: 10 TWh; Norway: 3 TWh; US: 115 TWh. The big ones, in terms of capacity, included Canada: >40 GW and South Korea: 1000 GW.
Click on the link above to read the full story.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Canada, U.S. switch positions in Beaufort Sea boundary dispute - "All of a sudden, we have this almost perfect opportunity for a win-win..."
Canada, U.S. switch positions in Beaufort Sea boundary dispute
Just days after the Conservative government's throne speech pledged to resolve several outstanding Arctic territorial disputes, polar experts have revealed an unexpected twist in the long-running disagreement over the Canada-U.S. border in the southern Beaufort Sea.
For decades, the two countries have been deadlocked over where to draw the maritime boundary off the coasts of Alaska and the Yukon — a conflict that has flared occasionally when it came to fisheries management and oil-and-gas exploration.
Click above link for full story in the Vancouver Sun.
Just days after the Conservative government's throne speech pledged to resolve several outstanding Arctic territorial disputes, polar experts have revealed an unexpected twist in the long-running disagreement over the Canada-U.S. border in the southern Beaufort Sea.
For decades, the two countries have been deadlocked over where to draw the maritime boundary off the coasts of Alaska and the Yukon — a conflict that has flared occasionally when it came to fisheries management and oil-and-gas exploration.
Click above link for full story in the Vancouver Sun.
Friday, March 5, 2010
It's time to build the all Alaska pipeline | The Alaska Standard
It's time to build the all Alaska pipeline | The Alaska Standard
Here we are in 2010, another election year, with our gas still stranded on the North Slope.
Previously, the candidates who have declared for the office of governor could be characterized in one of three camps. 1. No declared pipeline preference; 2. AGIA or Denali; 3. the 2002 Prop 3 mandated all-Alaska natural gas pipeline to Valdez. Now, the Legislature and Ralph Samuels have added to the confusion.
For full story click on above link.
Here we are in 2010, another election year, with our gas still stranded on the North Slope.
Previously, the candidates who have declared for the office of governor could be characterized in one of three camps. 1. No declared pipeline preference; 2. AGIA or Denali; 3. the 2002 Prop 3 mandated all-Alaska natural gas pipeline to Valdez. Now, the Legislature and Ralph Samuels have added to the confusion.
For full story click on above link.
A sinking feeling about AGIA and plan B by Andrew Halcrow - Alaska Dispatch
A sinking feeling about AGIA and plan B
This week we arrive at the annual ritual of spring break on the legislative calendar, when lawmakers will shove aside their pressing state business to attend the annual Energy Conference in Washington D.C.
The conference hosts policy makers from oil and gas states and provinces, while providing a forum to meet with federal regulators, congressional members and the ability to be briefed on the latest energy trends.
For full story click the link above to Alaska Dispatch.
This week we arrive at the annual ritual of spring break on the legislative calendar, when lawmakers will shove aside their pressing state business to attend the annual Energy Conference in Washington D.C.
The conference hosts policy makers from oil and gas states and provinces, while providing a forum to meet with federal regulators, congressional members and the ability to be briefed on the latest energy trends.
For full story click the link above to Alaska Dispatch.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Why the posting of the previous story on British Columbia? Why all the stories on this blog about one of our closest neighbors?
The question might better be phrased - why is Northwest BC (and why not Alaska?) the only jurisdiction which is able to export its natural gas to foreign markets? Of course, there are some compelling reasons for this. In BC there is a significant amount of gas line and gas production infrastructure which is already in place. There is also a strong recognition in the petroleum industry that Asia is demanding these resources.
Alaska has surplus natural gas
Still it begs the question. Why are our state political leaders not leading the way in working towards energy production (for internal and export use)? Alaska should be making investments in trade missions to Asia (India, Japan and China) and in infrastructure to make this possible. Alaska has a dedicated right-of-way from the North Slope to Valdez in which to place a natural gas pipeline.
Notwithstanding the agreement with TransCanada, our state ought to be looking at markets outside of North America due to the predicted glut of natural gas into the future. Our state leaders, instead of being myopic ought to be inviting capital investment into Alaska through partnerships.
The development of Alaska resources won't happen in the absence of state involvement. No, I'm not talking socialism, I'm talking about making an investment in time by working with other jurisdictions to determine if foreign industries are interested in partnering on projects which can be of mutual benefit to Alaska and other jurisdictions and companies.
Not just natural gas.
Along the same vein Canada's initiative with the British Columbia Northwest (electrical energy) Transmission Line is an opportunity that Alaska and our federal government ought to be pouncing upon. Alaska (and our federal government) has been invited to participate in this transmission line extension. However, aside from some minimal discussion with BC, nothing has come to the forefront on this.
Unfortunately, the clock is running on this opportunity. The BC Transmission Corporation is close to making a decision upon the parameters of the line. To meet Alaska's needs in terms of voltage, the line's capacity must be doubled. Right of way clearing is set to begin within months, yet no word has come on Alaska or our federal government on whether they will pledge participation.
The implications for Alaska in Southeast alone are billions of dollars of investment in Alaska. It will be very sad if this investment isn't made and the blame for it not happening will rightfully be place on Alaska's leaders, state and federal, whom are all aware of it.
The very same can be said regarding an All Alaska Gas Line. Our leaders should be promoting this to the maximum extent - to ignore these opportunities imperils Alaska's very economic existence.
Please write to Governor Parnell, Alaska Legislators, Senators Murkowkski and Begich and Congressman Young in support of these opportunities.
Alaska has surplus natural gas
Still it begs the question. Why are our state political leaders not leading the way in working towards energy production (for internal and export use)? Alaska should be making investments in trade missions to Asia (India, Japan and China) and in infrastructure to make this possible. Alaska has a dedicated right-of-way from the North Slope to Valdez in which to place a natural gas pipeline.
Notwithstanding the agreement with TransCanada, our state ought to be looking at markets outside of North America due to the predicted glut of natural gas into the future. Our state leaders, instead of being myopic ought to be inviting capital investment into Alaska through partnerships.
The development of Alaska resources won't happen in the absence of state involvement. No, I'm not talking socialism, I'm talking about making an investment in time by working with other jurisdictions to determine if foreign industries are interested in partnering on projects which can be of mutual benefit to Alaska and other jurisdictions and companies.
Not just natural gas.
Along the same vein Canada's initiative with the British Columbia Northwest (electrical energy) Transmission Line is an opportunity that Alaska and our federal government ought to be pouncing upon. Alaska (and our federal government) has been invited to participate in this transmission line extension. However, aside from some minimal discussion with BC, nothing has come to the forefront on this.
Unfortunately, the clock is running on this opportunity. The BC Transmission Corporation is close to making a decision upon the parameters of the line. To meet Alaska's needs in terms of voltage, the line's capacity must be doubled. Right of way clearing is set to begin within months, yet no word has come on Alaska or our federal government on whether they will pledge participation.
The implications for Alaska in Southeast alone are billions of dollars of investment in Alaska. It will be very sad if this investment isn't made and the blame for it not happening will rightfully be place on Alaska's leaders, state and federal, whom are all aware of it.
The very same can be said regarding an All Alaska Gas Line. Our leaders should be promoting this to the maximum extent - to ignore these opportunities imperils Alaska's very economic existence.
Please write to Governor Parnell, Alaska Legislators, Senators Murkowkski and Begich and Congressman Young in support of these opportunities.
Monday, March 1, 2010
South Korean firm joins EnCana in B.C. gas - The Globe and Mail
South Korean firm joins EnCana in B.C. gas - The Globe and Mail
as-hungry Asia is making a major push into one of Canada's most promising energy frontiers, with a billion-dollar investment by a South Korean company that boosts British Columbia's efforts to become a natural gas export hub.
The deal announced yesterday by Korea Gas Corp. also sets the stage for more foreign interest in Canada's natural gas resources, which have struggled under low commodity prices but still form a huge reserve basin that other countries covet.
Click link above to read full story
as-hungry Asia is making a major push into one of Canada's most promising energy frontiers, with a billion-dollar investment by a South Korean company that boosts British Columbia's efforts to become a natural gas export hub.
The deal announced yesterday by Korea Gas Corp. also sets the stage for more foreign interest in Canada's natural gas resources, which have struggled under low commodity prices but still form a huge reserve basin that other countries covet.
Click link above to read full story
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