“We already have a Greenland. It’s called ALASKA!” Nominees to replace Senator Birch

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We already have a Greenland. It’s called Alaska.
Heather Conley, The Washington Post, August 21, 2019

With all the discussion about the economic importance of Greenland, the ironic part of this tale is that Arctic mineral and energy resources, key shipping infrastructure and fisheries already exist in the United States today … in Alaska, a strategic purchase the United States made from the Russian empire in 1867 for a mere $7.2 million. Wouldn’t it be better to wisely and sustainably invest in the American Arctic? The American Arctic urgently needs a deepwater port to responsibly manage an increase in shipping traffic through the narrow Bering Strait. Although it is controversial and must be balanced with strong environmental protection, the United States can enhance its mineral and energy extraction from Alaska while working toward diversifying its resource-based economy. Rather than buy Greenland, I strongly encourage the president to invest in Alaska and deepen our economic and security engagement with Greenland and Denmark. After all, both are open for business.

Our Take: We couldn’t agree more! Alaska is ready to develop its mineral and energy resources and key shipping infrastructure! 

 

Natural Gas, Lower Methane Emissions and Rising Opportunity
Mark Green, API Energy Tomorrow Blog, August 19, 2019

Even with natural gas playing a leading role in reducing U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide emissions to their lowest levels in a generation and strong industry initiative to keep lowering production-related methane emissions, natural gas opponents remain on the attack, including a new study that’s critical of natural gas from North American shale.    More authoritative and trustworthy than the negative analysis is the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which issued these methane-related conclusions in a study published earlier this year (emphasis added):

  • U.S. natural gas production has increased 46 percent since 2006, but there has been no significant increase of total U.S. methane emissions and only a modest increase from natural gas and oil activity.
  • There has been a “major overestimation” of industry’s methane emissions in some recent studies. NOAA found emissions from natural gas and oil are up to 10 times lower than has been asserted in some studies.
  • Overall, methane in U.S. air samples were shown to be increasing at the same rate as the global background – meaning there was no statistically significant increase in total U.S. methane.

Our Take: It can’t be said enough “U.S. natural gas has proven environmental and climate benefits, and it’s critically important here at home and around the world, helping to reduce energy poverty and improve peoples’ lives.

 

Breaking: Fogle, Donley, Shaw forwarded for Senate Seat M
Suzanne Downing, Must Read Alaska, August 21, 2019

District 25 and 26 Republican Party officers chose three people as finalists for the Senate Seat M position that was created when Sen. Chris Birch died on Aug. 7.  Dave Donley, Laddie Shaw, and Al Fogle are the names that won the most votes. The party officials had the option of sending three or four names to the governor, who will make the selection. Senate Republicans must agree with the choice.

Our Take: Big shoes to fill. Donley, Shaw and Fogle have all been strong supporters of responsible resource development in Alaska. 

 

Inslee Drops Out and Bernie Announces the Most Radical GND of All
Power the Future, August 22, 2019

The past 24 hours has seen major developments in energy and environmental news. Here’s the latest:

Inslee Drops Out

Washington Governor Jay Inslee has officially dropped out of the 2020 presidential race. As Power The Future has detailed since the beginning of his run, Inslee has made eco-extremism the centerpiece of his campaign. He thought that embracing the eco-left was his ticket to the presidency, and he hoped to become the “First Climate President.”

Bernie Announces His Own Green New Deal

Axios reports that Sanders’ “Green New Deal” would cost a whopping $16 trillion. He wants 100 percent renewable power by 2030, wants to ban fracking, and he even wants to stop fossil fuel imports and exports.