Alaska's Energy Desk

It’s been unusually wet across a large section of the state this summer.

Moody’s Investors Service has downgraded Alaska’s credit rating for the second time in six months, citing the state’s massive budget deficit. It’s the fourth time since January the state has been downgraded by one of the three major ratings agencies.

Hundreds of landfills across the lower-48 have turned their decomposing trash piles into a source of energy. So far, there’s only one project in Alaska harnessing the power of trash to produce gas.

Hollis French, a Democrat from Anchorage, served in the Alaska Senate for 12 years. Now he’ll oversee regulation of the state’s oil and gas industry.

Two all time temperature records were set on the North Slope on July 13th and 14th. Deadhorse hit a record high of 85 on July 13th, exceeding the previous record by two degrees. The next day, Kuparuk recorded a temperature of 86 degrees.

“If I were Wal-Mart and I walked into Kmart and said, ‘Hey I need to know your marketing plan for the next six years,’ they would throw you out the door,” said Rep. Craig Johnson, a Republican from Anchorage.