St. George Island is taking steps to protect the marine environment in their backyard. The city council passed a resolution earlier this month that could establish a National Marine Sanctuary.
Alaska's Energy Desk
Juneau utility installs $22 million diesel turbine
For the city’s residents, that means the price for electricity is likely to go up. Before the development goes any further, some community members are asking the state’s regulatory commission to take a closer look.
Gov. Walker adds cabinet level oil and gas adviser
Gov. Walker said he’s created a new cabinet level position in his administration, an oil and gas adviser. He appointed John Hendrix to the job, who most recently worked as general manager for Apache Alaska.
EPA fines BP, Hilcorp for spills on the North Slope
According to the EPA, the Clean Water Act violations by both companies affected arctic wetlands that support wildlife like caribou, ptarmigan and geese.
Oil on exhibit: What Alaska’s past says about its future
The State Library, Archives and Museum opened recently in Juneau with a new display that includes a piece of the trans-Alaska pipeline as part of an exhibit on the oil industry. But the drama of the state’s current fiscal crisis puts that history in a new light.
Former commissioners, lawmakers criticize Walker’s oil tax credit veto
They say Walker’s decision destroys the state’s credibility with the industry it depends on to develop oil and gas resources.
After decades of research, Steller sea lion decline still puzzles scientists
Every summer, biologists visit Alaska to count Steller sea lions. The western stock of the population has been in decline for nearly 40 years — hitting a low in 2002. The count helps determine whether sea lions stay on the endangered species list, which puts costly restrictions on the commercial fishing fleet.
Video: How chilly seawater keeps an aquarium warm
The Alaska Sealife Center has managed to reduce its carbon footprint and cut its annual utility bills in half. The secret: In 2008, the aquarium used state and federal grants to install a seawater heat pump system.
As energy prices drop, Alaska’s inflation rate follows
Last year, Anchorage’s inflation rate went up half a percent, the lowest recorded increase in 27 years.
Video: A recent college grad lands a job but worries about the future
The last decade saw a remarkable run-up in oil and gas employment as high oil prices led to record numbers of energy industry jobs in Alaska. That meant young people had an easier time getting started in oil and gas. Hannah Vuppula was lucky enough to land an engineering job last year at an Anchorage firm that works on the Trans Alaska Pipeline.