3-29-08.  AP, by Steve Quinn.  JUNEAU -- Gov. Sarah Palin said Friday she will announce whether TransCanada Corp.'s gas line bid will emerge as her administration's recommendation by mid-May.

3-28-08.  RETAIL REPORT ... Gas Daily, 03/17/2008 issue, page 8, by Rodney White 10-07, 11-07, 11-07, 2-09,

    The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners has lost two of its strongest leaders on natural gas-related issues, NARUC President Marsha Smith said last week.
    Commissioners Don Mason of Ohio and Dave Harbour of Alaska "contributed mightily not only to the benefit of NARUC but to the ratepayers of their home states of Ohio, Alaska and the country as a whole," Smith said in a statement. "Under their leadership, the gas committee confronted escalating energy prices and educated our members on critical pipeline safety and gas supply issues."
    Mason, in particular, "was a heavy hitter for us as he testified before Congress on a number of occasions, most recently at Wednesday's hearing in the House on pipeline safety," said Smith, a member of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission. "Both commissioners will be missed and we wish them well in their new endeavors."
    Mason, who was not reappointed to the Ohio Public Utilities Commission, said he believes his greatest accomplishment while serving on NARUC, and at the state level, was his advocacy of the "conservation rate" — a base rate design in which gas utility profits are decoupled from the volume of gas sold.
The early discussions on how to match up customer and company interests "has been a fundamental breakthrough," Mason told Platts. "The whole concept of moving companies from making more money as customers use more gas to holding companies neutral so that they can encourage energy efficiency, weatherization, conservation has had a positive effect. The fact is decoupling has become more than just a fringe tariff or program. It is actually at the forefront of energy deregulation."
    Mason, who was appointed to the Ohio commission in 1998, acknowledged that the concept has sometimes been opposed by consumer advocates, who think it shifts risk from the utility to the ratepayer. Mason disagrees.
    "Decoupling allows you to realistically set a company's return on equity which is independent of the volumetric throughput," he said. "Moving forward, companies are going to need to have the cash flow to make investments in their infrastructure."
                                   Harbour pressed for access to gas reserves
Harbour, who opted not to seek reappointment to Alaska's regulatory commission, declined to say much about his contributions to NARUC. But that didn't stop his fellow commissioners from listing them in a resolution honoring his service during their winter meetings in February.
    A former chairman of the gas committee, the resolution noted, Harbour's first association with the organization occurred in 1976 when, as director of public affairs for the Arctic Gas Consortium, he helped persuade NARUC to adopt a resolution encouraging the development of stranded Arctic gas reserves.
It was not the last time he was heard from on that issue. In 2003, Harbour was appointed to a six-year-term on the Alaska Regulatory Commission and to NARUC. In 2004, he persuaded NARUC's gas and electric committee to support a resolution calling for the development of offshore gas reserves, the resolution noted. Mason joined in that effort.
    The following year, Harbour worked with Mason in sponsoring a resolution that called upon state regulators to let local distribution companies enter into long-term gas supply contracts.
He also was instrumental in persuading his colleagues to adopt in 2007 a resolution calling for the development of "reliable research regarding the social, economic and environmental effects of maintaining domestic energy exploration and production moratoria on and beneath federal lands," NARUC said.

3-27-08.  AP via ADN.  FAIRBANKS -- U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez told business leaders Wednesday that drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge could help bring down the record-high price of oil.  (See our ANWR page.)

3-26-08.  ADN, by Wesley Loy.  JUNEAU -- Under pressure from the state to either develop or lose a rich North Slope natural gas field, oil companies led by Exxon Mobil are looking to settle the legal battle for control of the long-dormant deposit.

3-25-08.  ADN, by Wesley Loy.  JUNEAU -- Critics of TransCanada Corp.'s natural gas pipeline proposal are lodging two big complaints against the company.  First, they say TransCanada is looking for too high a profit on the pipeline.  And they say the company wants to funnel Alaska's gas exclusively into its own pipeline network in Canada.  (More ADN Gas Pipeline Story Links)

3-23-08.  Anchorage Times, by Bill Tobin - (Photo-r on 3-4-08 at Anchorage Petroleum Club with Evangeline Atwood's book, "Anchorage, All American City") Anchorage, AK, USA.  HERE AT HOME, there has been a shift in the top ranks of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska. After five years of distinguished service as a commissioner, Dave Harbour....    *    ADN - An earlier Anchorage lives on in Club Paris, by Debra McKinney.  Steeped in gritty history, a dimly lit hole in the wall on Fifth Avenue is a rare relic of Anchorage's formative years -- before we grew up and became a state, before it started shooting up oil and broke out in a rash of asphalt, condos and buildings tall enough to block the sun.  (Note: Author has enjoyed luncheon at Club Paris an average of 8 times annually since his arrival in Anchorage in 1971.  Dozens of lunch partners have included George Easley, Paul Harding, John Norman, Roger Marks, wife Nancy Harbour and many others....  -dh)

3-20-08.  Red Orbit.  Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin notified ConocoPhillips in January that she rejected the company's proposal to build an Alaska gas pipeline to transport North Slope gas to the Lower 48 states. Meanwhile, a 60- day public comment period began Jan. 5 regarding TransCanada's gas pipeline proposal under the Alaskan Gasline Inducement Act. Conoco Phillips's application was outside the AGIA solicitation.   *   REFERENCE.  Alaska negotiated a fiscal certainty contract with producers in 2006, here, under authority of the Stranded Gas Act.  The state was offering fiscal certainty in return for gas pipeline progress and a production tax increase from the 15% severance tax on gross production to the PPT (Petroleum Profits Tax, a net tax, designed to produce more income for the state).  The tax passed but the certainty contract was not finalized.  Here is a reference page for that extensive 2006 dialogue. 

3-19-08.  ADN (AP), by Steve Quinn.  JUNEAU -- U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Tuesday that time is running short on Alaska to get a natural gas line project moving -- while competing natural gas projects are gaining ground.  ADN (AP), by Jeannette J. Lee.  A public relations campaign is escalating between Royal Dutch Shell and groups that oppose the company's hopes to explore for oil and gas near Bristol Bay, home to the world's largest sockeye salmon fishery.  Map here.  (Publisher's Note:  The writer has not presented an even handed news story.  As a newly retired state regulator with no financial ties to anyone I sat through the two day workshop and was impressed with the diversity of sponsorship and participation.  The event was open to the public.  I saw no one ejected or refused entrance.  No one was denied the microphone.  When I registered, I was charged no fee and given no condition of participation.  The writer obviously catered to some dissident financial/political interests by characterizing the meeting not as as one partially supported by, "the University of Alaska, Alaska Crab Coalition, Aleutians East Borough, At-sea Processors Association, Bristol Bay Native Corporation, Minerals Management Service, North Pacific Fishery Management Council, Peter Pan Seafoods, United Fishermen of Alaska and Shell Oil (which has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Alaska exploration efforts during the past few years)," but as a "Royal Dutch Shell" public relations campaign.  Such reporting is offensive and deserves no place in a rational debate or on the pages of Alaska's leading newspaper.  More on this, later.  -dh

3-18-08.  IOGCC.  The Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission today announced that Carl Michael “Mike” Smith (Photo, 1-1-03, Anchorage) has been selected as executive director. Smith will be responsible for providing advocacy, coordination, education and strategy to the IOGCC’s 30 member and eight associate states on key domestic energy issues.  March 18, 2008, Juneau, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin today applauded the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission’s announcement that C. Michael “Mike” Smith has been selected as executive director. Smith will be responsible for providing advocacy, coordination, education and strategy to the IOGCC’s 30 member and eight associate states on key domestic energy issues.  (Note: Alaska's Governor, Sarah Palin is this year's Chairman of IOGCC and the Vice Chairman is Commissioner Dan Seamount, newly appointed Chairman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.  -dh)

3-17-08.  PNA via ADN.  Tony Palmer, the Alaska vice president for TransCanada, told legislators that before any money were owed, the Northwest Natural Gas project would have to be built, and then the partnership's board would have to determine that the money could be paid without hurting the partnership.

3-16-08.  ADN, by Wally Hickel.  "TransCanada Plan Isn't Best  For State".  It was sad to learn that Jim Clark, chief of staff to former Gov. Frank Murkowski, was involved in a felony conspiracy. His tragedy was a mistaken view of the role of the public and private sectors in our Owner State and his willingness to break the law to advance his beliefs.

3-15-08.  ADN, by Wesley Loy.  JUNEAU -- A Canadian energy company seeking a state natural gas pipeline license has been actively lobbying in Washington, D.C., to have the federal government cover the cost of the project should the company fail to attract enough paying customers.

3-14-08.  ADN, $125 OIL: Stevens, Murkowski introduce bill to open refuge to drilling if crude hits target price. By Erika Bolstad.  ADN, by Dan Joling (AP), Alaska Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell stunned everyone at the Republican state convention Friday by announcing he will challenge 18-term incumbent Don Young for Alaska's lone seat in the U.S. House.

3-13-08.  Yesterday, Rep. Jay Ramras wrote this letter to Governor Sarah Palin following an elevator incident involving a 'bullet' gas pipeline and its possible effect on litigation.

3-12-08.  Calgary Herald.  Federal rules could remake energy sector.  Ottawa's massive planned changes to emission regulations for power producers and oil sands projects have the potential to remake Alberta's generation industry -- and scare investment from bitumen extraction and upgrading, experts said Tuesday.

3-11-08. Anne Sutton, ADN, JUNEAU - Alaska's communities would get a cut of the state's oil wealth - at least while oil prices remain high - under legislation approved Tuesday by the state House.

3-10-08.  ADN, by Wesley Loy.  JUNEAU -- If TransCanada builds a North Slope natural gas pipeline, Exxon Mobil Corp. expects to own a share of the project.  Fairbanks News Miner.  Herb Butler, Enhanced oil recovery” is a phrase that defines certain technology used by oil field operators to produce more crude oil and lessen production decline. Usually, water and produced natural gas are injected back into the oil reservoir under high pressure to maintain a high oil reservoir pressure.

3-9-08.  FDNM.  Fairbanks’ power solution could be nuclear by Daniel Swift.   Almost every day, we see a news item relating to the effects of global warming. The level of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere had been almost constant over the past 100,000 years — until the beginning of the industrial age.

3-8-08.  Details of the Alaska Gas Pipeline Contract.   

3-7-08.  News Miner, by R. A. Dillon, WASHINGTON — Federal regulators want more answers from the operator of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline about problems related to its multimillion dollar modernization project.  ADN, AP by Steve Quinn, JUNEAU -- The public had its chance to weigh in on Gov. Sarah Palin's gas line plan. Now the waiting game begins.

3-6-08.  National Petroleum Reserve Alaska DOI Fact Sheet.  Executives at Exxon have sent Governor Sarah Palin a letter requesting a meeting to discuss TransCanada's AGIA application.

3-5-08.  Voice of the Times, by Tom Brennan.  Many of those who fought the first battle for a pipeline are aghast at Alaska's current plight.   Governor Sarah Palin today named Steven Haagenson to serve as energy coordinator and executive director of Alaska Energy Authority.  Haagenson retired as president and chief executive officer of Golden Valley Electric Association in 2007. As energy coordinator, Haagenson will lead the state’s efforts in developing a strategic energy plan.  “Steve is a proven leader, known for his strategic planning ability,” Governor Palin said.  “As chair of the Fairbanks Cost of Energy Taskforce, he was instrumental in the development of a strategic business plan addressing electric generation, heating and transportation.  His skills will be invaluable as we work toward a statewide strategic plan that will meet the unique challenges of the Railbelt, the Interior and Southeast Alaska and help us achieve our goal of affordable and reliable energy for Alaskans.”

3-4-08.  FDNM.  ANCHORAGE — The state has begun a hearing that could result in the termination of Exxon Mobil leases at Point Thomson, a remote section of land east of Prudhoe Bay.  Exxon and its partners in 1977 won the rights to drill for oil at Point Thomson. Despite research that showed promising finds of oil and gas, Exxon has not produced one barrel of crude from the tracts.  A Superior Court ruling gave the state the right to terminate Exxon’s lease but the state must conduct a hearing first on Exxon’s plan to develop the field, the 23rd plan in 30 years.  (Photos of hearing participants: Bart Rozell (l) and Tim Bradner (r).

3-3-08.   ('SOFT OPENING') WE ARE BEGINNING AGAIN SLOWLY AFTER 5 YEARS OF GOVERNMENT SERVICE (Photo-Dave Harbour-r with Jim Weeks-l, independent exploration investor, at RCA Farewell, 2-29-08).  WATCH AS WE GEAR UP!  ADN, by Wesley Loy--"...the agency that grants such permission -- it's called a certificate of public convenience and necessity -- might not play along, a recent report suggests."  ADN, by David Reaume--"Rising gas prices raise hopes for pipeline...."  ADN, by Andrew Halcro--"TransCanada, the lone remaining AGIA applicant, appears to be counting on the November presidential elections to deliver it additional help from Congress to build the Alaska gas pipeline."   *    B-Net