OIL
Major Oil Projects in Alaska are MOVING FORWARD
Ed King, King Economics, August 31, 2020
We are now through the first two months of fiscal year 2021. As things stand today, we see a picture of optimism on the horizon. The worst of the storm appears to have passed. There are still tough times in the short-term forecast, but the future is starting to look a little brighter.
GAS
The Gas Industry’s Survival Plan: Make Fuel From Cow Poop
Naureen S. Malik, Bloomberg Green, August 31, 2020
Polly is a 10-year-old black-and-white Holstein cow, the oldest in a herd of about 300 on the Bar-Way Farm in Deerfield, Mass. Together they produce 2,000 gallons of milk each day. They also make enough poop to fill about two garbage trucks. The farm makes money off of both. In 2014, Bar-Way began working with Vanguard Renewables to install a biodigester, which uses specialized bacteria to convert organic material—for example, cow poop—into biogas, a versatile fuel. Once it’s purified, this biomethane, also known as renewable natural gas (RNG), is chemically identical to the main ingredient in the fossil-based natural gas that comes out of your stove or heats your water
MINING
Yukon mining industry sees opportunity in Port of Skagway
Claire Strempel, Alaska’s Energy Desk, August 28, 2020
As Skagway’s long-standing waterfront lease with tourist attraction White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad draws to a close, the municipality plans to diversify its port traffic. Yukon mining interests are paying close attention. Jonas Smith, co-project manager for the Yukon Producers’ Group — an industry group for mining and mineral exploration companies — says Skagway is essential to mining in the Yukon. “Skagway is a considerably shorter sailing from Asian markets than other Western North American ports,” he said. “So it’s very strategic and useful for accessing those international markets.”
POLITICS
America Needs Energy Policies That Won’t Harm Families, Businesses With High Costs, Less Reliability
David Holt, Real Clear Energy, August 30, 2020
As a non-partisan advocate for energy policies that help our families, farmers and small businesses by keeping energy reliable, affordable, and environmentally responsible, Consumer Energy Alliance has long supported wind, solar, oil, natural gas, nuclear and all other forms of energy. And we will continue to argue for policies that aid in our nation’s ability to keep energy abundant and decrease our dependence on countries with less robust environmental safeguards. For this reason, we reluctantly offer our strong opposition to the Democratic Party’s recently announced policy position that would eliminate future energy development on federal lands.