Today’s Key Takeaways: Alaska native organizations sue Biden over Pebble Mine pre-emptive veto. Top 7 oil companies. World’s 1st indigenous LNG project. Some AK candidates call it quits.
NEWS OF THE DAY:
Native American-Owned Entities Sue Biden Admin Over ‘Unconstitutional’ Decision To Kill Alaska Mining Project
Nick Pope, The Daily Caller, June 26, 2024
Two organizations owned primarily by Native Americans are suing the Biden administration for its move to effectively kill a mining project in Alaska.
Iliamna Natives Limited and the Alaska Peninsula Corporation, two organizations that predominantly represent small Native American communities in Alaska, filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Monday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. The lawsuit alleges that the EPA overstepped its authority with its January 2023 final decision to essentially kill the Pebble Mine project on the grounds that the development would cause unacceptable damage to the region’s salmon population.
The EPA used the Clean Water Act to substantiate its decision, which was met with approval from environmentalist organizations staunchly opposed to the mine’s presence in the state’s Bristol Bay area. The agency specifically used language in the Clean Water Act that allows the EPA to exercise “veto authority” to effectively kill the project, which it has only invoked three times over the past three decades, according to Alaska Public Media. (RELATED: Native American Group Slams Biden Admin’s Move To Limit New Oil Projects In Alaska)
OIL:
The Top 7 Oil Companies by Proved Reserves
ZeroHedge, June 25, 2024
Saudi Aramco’s oil and gas reserves, estimated at 259 billion barrels, are unmatched by any other company globally.
Saudi Aramco produces 9 million barrels of oil per day, more than any other firm and nearly a tenth of the world’s total.
Saudi Aramco’s oil reserves are a key factor in its massive $1.8 trillion valuation and contribute significantly to Saudi Arabia’s plans to diversify its economy and reduce oil dependence.
GAS:
World’s First Indigenous-Led LNG Project Moves Ahead in Canada
Tsvetana Paraskova, OilPrice.Com, June 26, 2024
The Haisla Nation and Pembina Pipeline Corporation decided to move ahead with the Cedar LNG project, a floating LNG export facility on Canada’s West Coast, and the world’s first indigenous majority-owned LNG project.
Pembina and the Haisla Nation, on whose territory the project will be built, announced a positive Final Investment Decision (FID) on the project with a nameplate capacity of 3.3 million tons per year. Cedar LNG aims to deliver Canadian natural gas to the global markets. The facility will be powered by renewable electricity from BC Hydro, making it one of the lowest emitting LNG facilities in the world, Pembina said in a statement.
Together with another project on the Pacific Coast, Shell-led LNG Canada, Cedar LNG in Kitimat, British Columbia, would be one of the first Canadian export projects and would take advantage of the proximity of the Pacific Coast to the key importing markets in Asia.
“We have created a model for how sustainable energy development should be done, with Indigenous Nations as owners, balancing environmental interests with global demand for cleaner energy,” said Crystal Smith, Chief Councillor of the Haisla Nation.
POLITICS:
Ahead of withdrawal deadline, some Alaska legislative candidates call it quits
James Brooks, Alaska Beacon, June 25, 2024
Saturday is the last day for registered candidates to quit Alaska’s legislative and U.S. House elections, and ahead of the deadline, some potential pols say they’ve decided against running for office after finding common ground with other candidates.
Jason Avery, the lone Democratic candidate in the race to replace Sen. Click Bishop, R-Fairbanks, is withdrawing and throwing his support behind candidate Savannah Fletcher, whose affiliation is undeclared.
“I realized that our platform is very similar. We both have the same priorities, and it’s just an opportunity for me to step aside and help her with her campaign,” he said.
Bishop said earlier this year that he would not seek reelection. Avery’s decision means the primary will not narrow the number of candidates for Bishop’s old seat.
Under Alaska law, the top four finishers in the Aug. 20 primary will advance to the general election, and Avery’s withdrawal reduces the number of candidates for the seat from five to four.
In Anchorage, undeclared candidate Greg Magee is dropping out of the House District 10 race against incumbent Republican Rep. Craig Johnson.
That leaves former Rep. Chuck Kopp, also a Republican, as Johnson’s lone opponent.
Magee said he spoke with Kopp this past week, and that meeting was a factor in his decision.
Magee registered as a candidate because he thought Johnson would be unopposed.
Magee disagrees with Johnson’s decision to uphold Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of a bipartisan public education bill this year. The Legislature failed to override that veto by a single vote.
He said he also disagrees with Johnson’s opposition to a public-pension bill.
Magee said he and Kopp are aligned on those issues.
Magee’s withdrawal creates a head-to-head race between Kopp and Johnson in both the Aug. 20 primary and the Nov. 5 general election.