Category: News

Anchorage port plan calls for construction, even without full funding
James Brooks, Anchorage Daily News, March 21, 2019

Even if it doesn’t have all the money in hand, the Municipality of Anchorage will begin construction on the first phase of the Port of Alaska replacement project next summer, Municipal Manager Bill Falsey told state lawmakers in a Thursday hearing of the Senate Finance Committee. That first phase, which involves a new terminal for petroleum and cement deliveries, is estimated to cost about $223 million. According to figures presented to the Legislature by Falsey, the municipality is about $111 million short. The money on hand will cover work through summer 2020. When that money runs out, “we will have the options of how we can raise that cash,” Falsey told lawmakers. “For the remainder of the facilities that live at the Port of Anchorage, that is not a this-year project.”

Our take: Building and maintaining infrastructure is a role of government. Replacement of the port is a problem that has gone on for years and effects every Alaskan. It is critical that we get the problem solved.

AIDEA is critical to Alaska’s development
Frank Murkowski, Daily News-Miner, March 22, 2019 

In these times of reduced state budgets, Alaska should look to AIDEA to develop the access roads, ports and projects that will be built in partnership with private capital to develop our natural resources and diversify the economy. AIDEA is the engine that will propel the development of the infrastructure necessary to support the resource potential of Alaska. Using its financial resources for nondevelopment purposes would defeat AIDEA’s purpose and adversely affect resource development.

Our take: Mark Davis of AIDEA gave an update to our membership about the proposed Ambler Road project. It is the furthering of projects like this that would continue to show that Alaska is, indeed, open for business.

Oil Hovers Near $60 as Stronger Dollar Caps Supply-Driven Rally
Ben Foldy, Bloomberg, March 21, 2019

Crude has gained more than 30 percent in 2019 as output reductions by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners, as well as supply disruptions in Venezuela and Iran, countered growing American shale production. Still, the gains have been checked by concerns that a slowing global economy and a protracted trade dispute between the U.S. and China will impede fuel consumption.

Novatek will be allowed to operate foreign LNG Carriers on the Northern Sea Route
Malte Humpert, ArcticToday, March 22, 2019

Natural gas company Novatek was granted an exemption from a new law banning foreign-flagged oil and gas carriers from the Northern Sea Route. The ban would have been detrimental to Novatek’s $20 billion Arctic LNG 2 project. Under a new decree, Novatek and its shipping partners are allowed to operate or charter foreign vessels to transport LNG from the port of Sabetta to transshipment hubs or ports outside the NSR. The government removed 26 tankers currently under long-term contracts from the ban and granted permission for them to sail until the end of 2044. In order to accommodate additional vessels on a short-term basis, which are of crucial importance to Novatek during the summer months, the decree also allows for additional foreign-flagged LNG carriers if they are chartered for at least six months until December 31, 2021.

 

Corps sees no reason now to extend Pebble comment period
Associated Press, March 20, 2019

An official with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the agency has not received any compelling reason to extend the 90-day comment period on a draft environmental review of a major mine project in southwest Alaska. Shane McCoy is project manager for the corps’ review of the Pebble Limited Partnership’s permit application. The partnership wants to develop a gold-and-copper mine near a major salmon fishery in Alaska’s Bristol Bay region. McCoy says while 45 days is standard for such reviews, the corps decided on 90 days for the Pebble project. McCoy says the corps has been asked to extend that period and is considering those requests but so far has not received a compelling reason for an extension.

OPINION: Democrats misleading public yet again on oil tax policy
Andrew Jensen, Managing Editor, Alaska Journal of Commerce, March 20, 2019

Based on their latest effort to mislead the public about oil tax policy, Democrats should be cheering the fact that North Slope production will miss its forecast by about 20,000 barrels per day in the 2019 fiscal year. After all, according to former one-term Fairbanks state Sen. Joe Paskvan, the state is “paying” a credit of $8 per barrel for each one produced on the North Slope under Senate Bill 21, the production tax reform passed in 2013 that took effect and was upheld by voter referendum in 2014. According to their current talking point, the state should now “save” $42.6 million in credits thanks to 14,600 fewer taxable barrels flowing through the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System each day.

As Trump administration contemplates drilling in Arctic waters, North Slope organizations stress need to protect subsistence resources
Ravenna Koenig, Alaska’s Energy Desk, March 20, 2019

The Interior Department is expected to release an updated plan soon on where the agency will hold offshore oil and gas lease sales in the Arctic over the next five years. Many organizations on the North Slope offered comments on the draft proposal. Now they’ll be looking to see whether their feedback resulted in changes to the new plan. In comments made available on a federal site, most North Slope institutions didn’t express outright opposition to the plan, but they did voice concern for subsistence resources and hunters’ continued access to them.

From the Washington Examiner, Daily on Energy:

KEY DEMOCRAT PAUL TONKO UNVEILS CLIMATE CHANGE PLAN TO ATTRACT GOP: Democrat Paul Tonko of New York released a framework for combating climate change on Thursday that is meant to attract GOP support.

“There is reason to hope we can come together in a bipartisan, bicameral way on climate change. I am sensing it,” Tonko, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s subcommittee on environment and climate change, told Josh.

The plan, which is not meant to be prescriptive or overly specific, establishes more achievable goals than those laid out in the progressive “Green New Deal.”

The big picture: Tonko’s plan sets a longer-term plan of establishing a price on carbon emissions, a policy that has long eluded climate hawks.

It sets a target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, eliminating additional emissions of carbon by that time. The Green New Deal, in comparison, aims for the same goal by 2030.

The plan contains familiar short-term policy proposals also broadly supported by Republican leaders of the Energy and Commerce Committee, such as Greg Walden of Oregon and John Shimkus of Illinois.

The flaws in Dutch climate policy [Gas Transitions]
Karel Beckman, Natural Gas News, March 20, 2019

Why should the wisdom of Dutch climate policy be of concern to anyone besides Dutch taxpayers? At this moment all developed countries are entering a new phase in their climate policies. They are moving beyond broad reduction targets and temperature goals to the nitty-gritty of real climate measures and tough choices. The debate is not anymore about whether to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, or even by how much, but how. From this point on there are still many different roads into the future. The Dutch example is instructive because we are talking about a wealthy, urban, industrialized country – a self-proclaimed climate leader within the European Union. A country moreover that has decided to phase out the use of “unabated” natural gas for the sake of the climate. Yet its climate policies for cutting greenhouse gas emissions are full of flaws.

Our Take: What’s not to love? The cost is anyone’s guess, the poor will pay more, minimal results…

Rule of Law in Alaska Under Threat
Dave Harbour, Northern Gas Pipelines, March 19,2019

Several years ago, we warned that whether one likes a natural resource project or not is immaterial. What is material is the rule of law.   We were and continued to be concerned when powerful interests seek to end-run due process. In the case of the Pebble Project noted in the link, significant Obama Administration effort was focused on subverting lawful, due process in the Pebble case. (The “Pebble” issue arises here since one of the appointee’s previous employers was that project). Friday, we testified (Video, 22:59) at an Alaska House of Representatives Resources Committee hearing regarding the confirmation of Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner-designee Jason Brune, an unusually well qualified candidate. We were shocked to observe an Army of well-organized witnesses primarily from coastal villages, many using the most uncivil, emotional, non-factual, personal attacks on the integrity and qualifications on this competent, qualified citizen.

Our Take: Headlamp was disappointed to see legislators like Rep Sponholz focus on quantity not quality. Very few people provided substantive testimony. Most of those testifying were rude, emotional and personally attacked Mr. Brune and questioned his integrity.   Rep Sponholz fell for it and seems to believe that individuals who have worked for resource development organizations or resource development projects are not eligible to serve in state government, no matter what their credentials.

Permanent Fund revenue tops oil and taxes as Alaska’s budget foundation
James Brooks, Anchorage Daily News, March 18, 2019

The Alaska Permanent Fund has surpassed the oil industry and all other taxes combined as the cornerstone of the state budget, according to an updated forecast from the Alaska Department of Revenue. According to the figures released Friday and presented Monday to the Senate Finance Committee, the Permanent Fund will deliver $2.7 billion to the state treasury this fiscal year. The oil industry will pay $2.1 billion in taxes and royalties. The state will collect another $548 million in other revenue, according to the latest forecast.

Our Take: From the Alaska Oil & Gas Association   “Today, officials with the Alaska Department of Revenue predicted that oil production will essentially hold steady in the near term and increase when large new fields like Willow and Pikka come online in the longer term. While the spring production forecast shows a temporary dip compared with fall 2018 predictions, this was attributed to Spy Island at the Nikaitchuq field going partially offline earlier this year; the field has since returned to production with volumes up to daily standards.”

LNG Sector Dangerously Dependent On Chinese Demand
Irina Slav, OilPrice.com, March 18, 2019

The liquefied natural gas industry has become too reliant on demand for the fuel from China, industry executives warned at last week’s CERAWeek, advising players in the LNG field to try and broaden their markets before they begin suffering the impact of this overreliance. Reuters quotes several energy industry executives as reminding their peers demand for LNG in China this year will be slower than previously expected and lower than the last two years. Also, they said the demand producers have seen come from China during these last two years does not necessarily have to be indicative of future demand. The core of the message is simple: Take it easy.

Hilcorp To Begin Seismic Project In Cook Inlet
Jennifer Williams, KSRM, March 18, 2019

Hilcorp Alaska will be conducting a 3-D seismic survey in the federal waters of lower Cook Inlet during the next couple of months. This survey will occur within the lower Cook Inlet, south of the Forelands and west to southwest of Homer. Hilcorp plans to start the project in April which would allow completion in early summer. The data will be acquired using a specially designed marine seismic vessel towing 8‐10 approximately 1.5-mile-long recording cables with a dual air gun array. Mike Dunn, Project Manager: “We expect to have the vessel here in the middle of April, the permits to happen the first week of May, and we will shoot about 175 square miles of seismic. We expect the project to take about 40 days.”

From the Washington Examiner, Daily on Energy:

BISHOP WILLING TO WORK WITH DEMOCRATS ON CLIMATE ONCE THE ‘FLUFF’ HAS SETTLED: The top Republican on the House Natural Resources Committee says he is willing to work with Democrats on climate change legislation, but not before they stop grandstanding and start working within the panel’s jurisdiction.

“When they finally get off the [public relations] fluff road, and start doing something of substance, we will respond with issues of substance,” Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, told John during an exclusive interview at his Capitol Hill office.

It’s not unrealistic that the GOP would work with Democrats on public lands legislation that addresses greenhouse gas emissions. “We did in the past, we’ll do it now, we’ll do it going forward,” Bishop said.

Texas, Alaska viewpoints stress growth and innovation at final day of CERAWeek
Kurt Abraham, Editor-in-Chief , World Oil, March 17, 2019

Common themes of bountiful resources and expanding oil and gas production were sounded by a Texas senator and the Alaskan governor on the final day, Friday March 15, of the five-day CERAWeek conference in Houston. Sen. John Cornyn (Rep. – Texas) and Gov. Mike Dunleavy (Rep. – Alaska) expressed similar sentiments that their respective states can expand output and boost their economies while doing it in an environmentally sustainable manner that includes reducing emissions. For his part, Dunleavy said that he believes Alaska is on the verge of an oil and gas production “renaissance.” “It started several years ago,” observed Dunleavy. “We were fortunate to have several corporations up in Alaska, like ExxonMobil, BP, Eni and ConocoPhillips. We also have had some smaller operators, like Bill Armstrong, who has had some vision in exploration. So, there is a renaissance up there, and there’s still millions of barrels of oil still yet to be produced.”

The US Oil and Gas Industry is Laser-Focused on Cutting Methane Emissions
Erik Milito, Real Clear Energy, March 15, 2019

The oil and natural gas industry is laser-focused on reducing methane emissions from production for two very important reasons. First, the risks of climate change are real, requiring real solutions. Our industry takes these risks seriously, and we are driving solutions-evident in our innovation and technical work and in our long working relationship with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Second, our members are in the business of providing natural gas, of which methane is the chief component, for clean electricity generation, to heat Americans’ homes and supply manufacturers and other businesses that have realized billions in cost savings as a result.

Our Take: “The results speak for themselves. While natural gas production increased more than 50 percent from 1990-2017, methane emissions from natural gas systems decreased 14 percent.”

Amid climate row, Arctic Council heads toward biennial meeting on a down note
Kevin McGwin, Arctic Today, March 15, 2019

Disagreement about the impact of rising global temperatures means that preparations for the Arctic Council’s biennial meeting on May 6-7 have ended without an agreement on the wording of a declaration that cabinet officials from the eight member countries will sign when they gather in Rovaniemi, Finland.   However, the council was unable to come to terms on the declaration ministers will sign, due to “differences of opinion about the urgency of addressing climate change,” Harkönën said. The split, he explained, was between countries that wanted to speed up the work of addressing a changing climate, and countries that were satisfied with current efforts.

Big Oil Loses a Safe Space in Houston
Liam Denning, Bloomberg, March 14, 2019 

Parameters dictate pathways, and while many of the delegates at CERAWeek are used to riding energy’s cycles, changing physics requires true evolution. Advantage lies chiefly in flexibility, with the oil and gas pricing, trade, and demand outlook more uncertain than they’ve been in a generation, possibly ever. Hence, we’ve seen majors such as Exxon and Chevron Corp. go all-in on short-cycle shale and smaller exploration and production companies struggling to remain relevant to investors. Their arch-challenge is climate change, impacting not just their balance sheets but also their license to operate. Maarten Wetselaar, integrated gas and new energies director at Royal Dutch Shell Plc, summed up the complexity of this, commenting that even if oil companies position themselves to be profitable as demand slows and peaks, “there’s a risk that you’ll be seen eventually as a profitable part of the problem.”

Related:

Electricity and oil battle for future of transportation

Oil Prices Fall as Pace of OPEC Supply Cuts Slows
Christopher Alessi & Amrith Ramkumar, The Wall Street Journal, March 15, 2019 

• Oil prices fell Friday, pulling back from four-month highs as analysts weighed more signs that the pace of OPEC’s production cuts is slowing as crude prices extend their 2019 rebound.
• West Texas Intermediate futures, the U.S. oil benchmark, dropped 1.2% to $57.91 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices closed at their highest level since Nov. 12 on Thursday and are up nearly 30% for the year, though they remain almost 25% off their October multiyear highs.

Related:

America’s emergence as an energy powerhouse gives it a key lever in global trade talks

Nunavut regulators to focus on oil and gas development next week in Iqaluit
Jane George, ArcticToday, March 15, 2019

The Nunavut Impact Review Board has scheduled a final public meeting March 18 to March 22 in the Nunavut capital as part its $2.5-million strategic environmental assessment, or SEA, in Baffin Bay and Davis Strait. This meeting marks the final public step in the process before the NIRB turns to drafting its report and recommendations. For now, there’s still a moratorium on new oil and gas permits for at least three more years. In 2016, the federal government placed a moratorium on new oil and gas activities in all offshore Canadian Arctic waters and agreed to review this decision in 2021. Last October, the QIA and the NIRB released a preliminary report looking at oil and gas extraction off Baffin Bay, Davis Strait, called a “preliminary findings report.”

North American Arctic is among the world’s most attractive mining regions 
Ryan Uljua, High North News, March 14, 2019

The North American Arctic is among the world’s premiere regions for new mining investment thanks in large part to its mineral deposits, according to a new survey. The Fraser Institute, a Canadian public policy think tank, released its annual Survey of Mining Companies this month — marking the 21st year the Vancouver-based institute has published the report. In terms of overall investment attractiveness, the four jurisdictions in the North American ranked in the top-15 for overall investment attractiveness: Alaska (5th), Yukon (9th), Northwest Territories (10th), and Nunavut (15th). Last year, only Alaska and Yukon even made the top 20.

Our Take: “ The Fraser Institute’s most recent annual Survey of Mining Companies found strong geologic potential in the North American Arctic, but less friendly policies compared with the European Arctic. “. The good news? Alaska can do something about the policies and Governor Dunleavy has indicated he plans to!

Action on climate change should not include creation of new entitlements
Alex Brill & Phillip Swagel, The Washington Examiner, March 14, 2019

Over the last two years, the United States has scaled back Obama-era climate change policies, withdrawing from the Paris Agreement and rolling back climate-related regulations. But it has not pursued alternative ways to address the risk climate change poses to our environment and our economy.   With Democrats back in control of the House and the days of Republicans’ climate change denial seemingly coming to an end, organized camps have weighed in recently with starkly different ideas for reducing carbon emissions and moving to a clean-energy economy.

Our Take: A market-based approach seems reasonable.

Shipping Companies Banking on Gas Carriers as LNG Demand Grows
Coastas Paris, The Wall Street Journal, March 14, 2019

A raft of U.S. natural gas projects coming online in the next few years are likely to boost the global fleet of seagoing tankers carrying the product by up to a third, as shipping operators jarred by sharp swings in oil markets rush to take advantage of a big new stream of business. At around $175 million each, vessels outfitted for liquefied natural gas can cost up to four times more than other ship types. But top shipowners say they could be the vehicle for most profitable trade in shipping since crude oil tankers powered global maritime fortunes in the 1960s

US budget signals more spending for long-term Arctic strategies
Melody Schreiber, Arctic Today, March 13, 2019

Last month’s federal budget signals that United States may soon be willing to spend more money on programs in the Arctic. The omnibus spending bill signed into law in February authorized funding for a new heavy icebreaker. But that wasn’t the only Arctic directive. The bill also asked the U.S. Coast Guard to report on the resources needed for its Arctic program office — a sign that the federal government is thinking about how to coordinate long-term strategies in the Arctic, observers say. The Senate 2019 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, where this directive originated, highlighted the office’s work supporting the completion of the Bering Strait Port Access Route Study in 2016, which resulted in the first IMO-approved measure for vessel traffic and navigation safety.

 

Survey Finds Strong Canadian Support for Resource Projects
Dale Lunan, Natural Gas News, March 12, 2019

Nearly 80% of Canadians and more than 70% of BC residents are in favor of resource development projects, according to the results of a survey released March 12 by Vancouver-based Research Co. In the online survey, conducted on behalf of LNG Canada between February 21 and February 24, 79% of Canadians and 71% of BC residents expressed support for resource development projects. And 61% of respondents across Canada agreed that they were “tired of nothing getting built” in Canada and BC – a response that swelled to 67% among residents of northern BC. In BC, 63% of respondents expressed concern that the provincial economy would suffer if resource projects couldn’t be built, while 74% of those in northern BC felt the same way. Nationally, 70% of Canadians believe the national economy will suffer if resource projects can’t be built.

Our Take: Polling in Alaska shows a similar result. 70% of Alaskans are in favor of responsible resource development.

Winx well in Alaska disappoints
Anamaria Deduleasa, Upstreamonline.com, March 13, 2019

Australian junior 88 Energy has reported less than satisfactory results from its exploration well on Alaska’s prolific North Slope. The operator, which started drilling operation last month, said work at the Winx-1 well has been completed. However, provisional petrophysical analysis of the wireline logging programme indicates “low oil saturations in the primary Nanushuk Topset objectives”. According to the company, reservoir properties appear to be compromised by dispersed clay in the matrix at Winx-1.

End to U.S.-China trade impasse needed to absorb U.S. crude exports: Trafigura
Reuters Business News, March 12, 2019

The U.S.-China trade impasse will have to end for U.S. crude exporters to find enough buyers to absorb dramatic annual growth of 1 million barrels per day in U.S. exports over the next few years, a top oil trading executive at commodities trader Trafigura AG said at an energy conference on Tuesday.   As markets adjusted to the U.S.-China trade war and U.S. crude shipments to China plunged in recent months, U.S. exports to Europe and India have surged. But much more U.S. crude oil will have to be exported as production surges because domestic refineries have reached a ceiling on the amount of light, sweet crude they can use, Trafigura co-head of oil trading Ben Luckock said during a panel at CERAWEEK in Houston.

Trump’s Secretary of State Wants Energy Companies to Help Spread U.S. Values
Timothy Puko, The Wall Street Journal, March 13, 2019

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo implored a room full of energy executives on Tuesday to help the U.S. use its growing status as an oil and gas superpower to counter foreign rivals and promote free trade and democracy around the world. Speaking to a standing-room crowd at the CERAWeek energy conference here, Mr. Pompeo said countries including Russia and Iran had long used their oil and gas assets to trap weaker nations into subservient relationships. By promoting the trade of oil and gas by companies—American as well as foreign—the U.S. has an opportunity to demonstrate the virtues of a free-market system, he said.

From the Washington Examiner Daily on Energy:

PRO-CARBON TAX GROUPS NOT DISCOURAGED BY MURKOWSKI, MANCHIN RESISTANCE: Groups advocating for bipartisan legislation in Congress for a carbon tax and dividend tell Josh they are not discouraged after Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Joe Manchin would not commit to supporting the plan during appearances at CERAWeek on Monday.

Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Manchin, D-W.V., are two of the senators most independent from their parties, and from their perch leading the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, are crucial to any breakthrough on comprehensive climate change legislation.

“We’re encouraged by these comments,” Mark Reynolds, executive director of Citizens Climate Lobby, told Josh on Tuesday. “Both senators are rightly weighing their options and making sure that any policy they support is a win for their constituents.”

Reynolds and Ted Halstead, CEO of the Climate Leadership Council, noted that Murkowski and Manchin did not rule out eventually supporting a carbon tax and dividend, in which the revenue goes to U.S. households with regular rebates.

Optimism Reigns For U.S. LNG As Global Supply Fear Wanes
Dipka Bhambhani, Forbes, March 11, 2019

Against the public outcry over use of fossil fuels, and proposed climate change policies, including state-level interference aimed to reduce fossil fuel projects, the global natural gas sector is thriving, specifically liquefied natural gas. In a world thirsty for clean affordable energy sources, global demand for LNG is expected to double by 2035, and global investment in pending exports projects is about $366 billion. More than half of those export projects are U.S. LNG facilities, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

Murkowski pushes for more oil, gas options offshore Alaska
S & P Global Platts, March 12, 2019

US Senator Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, said it is unclear if there is commercial interest in drilling in US Arctic waters, but said regulators should keep the option open for producers. “You don’t know until you have the opportunity to put the lease sales out there,” Murkowski told reporters at CERAWeek by IHS Markit in Houston Monday. “We need to set the table for participation.” Analysts and lobbyists claim there is limited interest in US offshore oil and gas production, outside the US Gulf of Mexico waters.

Alaska legislature approves resolution in favor of ANWR drilling
James Brooks, Anchorage Daily News, March 11, 2019

In its first piece of non-procedural legislation this year, the Alaska Legislature has approved a resolution calling upon the federal government to open oil and gas leasing in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Alaska House of Representatives voted 36-3 in favor of the resolution Monday after amending a version approved in the Senate last week. After the House vote, the Senate voted 18-1 to confirm the House’s version.

Our Take: Reps Adam Wool, Fairbanks, Geran Tarr, Anchorage and Sara Hannan, Juneau , joined with Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson, Anchorage, to oppose the resolution.   Rep Tarr is a co-chair of the House Resources committee.

From the Houston Chronicle, March 12, 2019

Pompeo questions European support for Russian pipeline Secretary of State Mike Pompeo questioned European support of Russia’s Nord Steam 2 pipeline which would transport natural gas from Russia to Germany. In a wide-ranging interview with the Chronicle, Pompeo said the pipeline project will weaken Europe’s energy security, even with the support of French and German governments. The former CIA director and congressman from Kansas said he will use his appearance at CERAWeek in Houston to promote American energy, especially technology that has allowed the U.S. to nearly gain its energy independence.

Why this matters: Producers in shale fields across Texas are eager to ship liquefied natural gas to Europe to reduce their dependence on Russia.

 

CERAWeek host Dan Yergin on change, conflict and new geography of oil
Jordan Blum, The Houston Chronicle, March 11, 2019

The 2019 CERAWeek takes place as the U.S. produces more oil than ever — 40 percent of which is from Texas — but the world is shifting toward cleaner energy sources to help combat climate change. This year’s edition will explore that dichotomy and the other big issues confronting the energy industry as it hosts speakers ranging from the U.S. secretary of state and the OPEC secretary general to the chief executives of Chevron and BP to the CEO of Amazon Web Services.

Q: What’s the main theme to this year’s CERAWeek by IHS Markit?

A: The theme really is this ‘new world of rivalries.’ There’s clear competition on trade issues and then, more specifically in terms of energy, there’s competition among fuels, technologies, and a competition and rivalry about ideas for the future of energy.

Related:

Dunleavy hopes to promote state’s resources at major oil conference

LNG comes of age
William Powell & Shardul Sharma, Natural Gas World, March 8, 2019

Gas was high up the agenda of IP Week and there was little disagreement about the importance of the role it must play in decarbonizing.

Most self-respecting energy companies have an LNG strategy: transport, power and industry cannot reduce their emissions affordably without gas. From being a niche fuel confined to highly profitable projects servicing captive markets, LNG is now democratic, even being trucked from terminal to filling stations almost as if it were diesel. With decarbonizing the ultimate goal of politicians, LNG is the fore-runner of green gas, developing the markets while the even cleaner technology is being perfected affordably. Electrification will not do the job of heating homes or transporting heavy goods.

January employment up 0.2 percent from last year; unemployment rate at 6.5 percent

March 8, 2019

No. 19-06

JUNEAU, Alaska—January employment was up an estimated 0.2 percent, or 500 jobs, from January 2018. Construction added the largest number of jobs over the year (800), followed by health care (400). State government added 300 jobs; oil and gas added 200; the transportation, warehousing and utilities sector added 200 and local government added 100.