capital focus

Address change

Stefan Milkowski — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:58:45 +0000

The Capital Focus is moving to a new address in conjunction with the overhaul of the News-Miner Web site. Come find us at www.newsminer.com/weblogs/capital-focus. Sorry for any inconvenience.

BG explains lack of AGIA bid

Stefan Milkowski — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 20:32:54 +0000

BG’s David Keane just finished a presentation to the Senate Resources Committee. The company put a bunch of money into studying a gas pipeline project and worked on a proposal under AGIA but ultimately didn’t apply because of underlying regulatory and resource risks. (more…)

CORRECTION

Stefan Milkowski — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:21:38 +0000

I got something wrong in my last post about when to change the gas tax. Here is Pat Galvin’s explanation:

In the hearing yesterday, I said that a year ago when we were bringing forward AGIA I had told them that we were focused on gasline issues, and that we had not yet spent much time on tax issues. At that time, I had told them that my confidence level in the gas tax rate was not high, because we had not yet looked at it. The tax rate was not critical because AGIA locked in the rate that would be in place at the time of the initial open season, giving us time to make any necessary changes. (more…)

Gas line chatter

Stefan Milkowski — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:58:25 +0000

Before I came down here, I assumed gas line talk was going to heat up at the end of the session. Wrong. It’s pretty much the big item down here already.
Here’s my take on a few of the issues floating around. (more…)

Port Authority plan denied reconsideration

Stefan Milkowski — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:16:41 +0000

JUNEAU — The Alaska Gasline Port Authority was taken out of the running for a state license to build a gas pipeline when Gov. Sarah Palin’s administration denied the group’s request for reconsideration Wednesday.

The port authority filed the request in early January after the administration ruled that its pipeline application did not meet the requirements of the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act. (more…)

Eni Petroleum takes on Alaska project

Stefan Milkowski — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:13:53 +0000

JUNEAU — Eni Petroleum will invest $1.4 billion to develop its Nikaitchuq oil field on the North Slope, with drilling beginning this year. The project was outlined this week by Kevin Banks, acting director of the state’s Division of Oil and Gas, at a presentation hosted by the five-member Republican Senate minority.

The project includes 31 production wells, a 3.8-mile subsea pipeline, and separate processing facilities, according to Banks. The state agreed earlier this month to lower its royalty rates under certain conditions as an incentive for investment. (more…)

Palin reaffirms commitment to gas line plan

Stefan Milkowski — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 22:36:08 +0000

JUNEAU — Gov. Sarah Palin said Tuesday she was “more committed than ever” to the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act and the requirements it imposed on potential pipeline builders.

During a news conference at the governor’s mansion, she and key members of her gas pipeline team defended the approach and explained their refusal to consider ConocoPhillips’ alternative.

“We are very confident that our process will get us a gas line,” Palin said. (more…)

Legal opinions question lawmakers’ right to block fundraising

Stefan Milkowski — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 22:34:17 +0000

JUNEAU — State lawmakers are pushing to block legislators from fundraising for congressional campaigns while the Legislature is in session, but they may not have the right to do so.

In legal opinions released last week, a lawyer working for the Legislature argued that any state law restricting campaigns for federal office would be preempted by federal law. (more…)

Palin not quite ready to back candidate

Stefan Milkowski — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 22:30:44 +0000

Gov. Sarah Palin said Tuesday she wasn’t ready to back any candidate for president but had narrowed it down to two — fellow Republicans Sen. John McCain of Arizona and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Palin said she was trying to find time off the state clock to study where the two candidates stood on national security, resource development, and a natural gas pipeline, and had calls in to both campaigns. (more…)

The Mogel memo

Stefan Milkowski — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 21:39:44 +0000

Don’t people read my stories?
Sen. Charlie Huggins brought up the Mogel memo on TransCanada’s application at today’s floor session as if it was hot news. Actually, Sen. Gene Therriault mentioned it on the floor last week, and I wrote a story about it this weekend. (more…)