Happy 60th Birthday Alaska!

Democrats lay out green goals in rules packag e
Kelsey Tamborrino, Politico, January 3, 2019

The House is expected to agree to a 60-page set of rules in the first set of votes today that would establish a new select committee on climate change, even as some liberals worry it could get in the way of a Green New Deal. Republican Jim Sensenbrenner wants to be ranking member on the new climate panel, a title he held on a previous iteration, but he may face competition this time. Progressive Rep. Ro Khanna and Rep.-elect (for a few more hours) Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez say they’ll vote against the first House Democratic legislative action — a rules package that will be taken up today. But their objections are unlikely to sink the overall package, and the debate is largely theoretical, as House leaders regularly waive rules that stand in the way of top priorities. A key concern: The rule would make it harder to bring major progressive priorities like a Green New Deal from getting a vote due to their enormous cost, POLITICO’s Rachael Bade and Heather Caygle report. Warren Gunnels, staff director for Sen. Bernie Sanders, asked whether “enough progressives” will “have the courage to vote no on the first roadblock to #MedicareForAll, #GreenNewDeal & #CollegeForAll?”

Our Take: Reality check. The enormous cost of “everything for everybody” makes the majority of the new house priorities DOA, not to mention a Senate and a President that don’t support their priorities. #checksandbalances.

Eni buys out partner in Alaska
Anamaria Deduleasa, Upstream Online, January 3, 2018

Eni has entered into agreement to buy out its Alaska project partner Caelus Natural Resources. The company said on Thursday that it reached a deal, with an undisclosed value, to acquire a 70% interest in, and take over operatorship of the offshore Oooguruk oilfield from the Alaskan business group.

Our Take: Eni will be able to immediately increase its Alaska production by 7000 bpd, drill further production wells at Oooguruk and Nikaitchuq, and work towards increasing their total Alaska production beyond 30,000 bpd. Good for Alaska! Good for Eni!

Renewables overtake coal as Germany’s main energy source
Reuters, January 3, 2018

Renewables overtook coal as Germany’s main source of energy for the first time last year, accounting for just over 40 percent of electricity production, research showed on Thursday. The shift marks progress as Europe’s biggest economy aims for renewables to provide 65 percent of its energy by 2030 in a costly transition as it abandons nuclear power by 2022 and is devising plans for an orderly long-term exit from coal.