Alaska's Energy Desk

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.

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 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.

According to the EPA, the Clean Water Act violations by both companies affected arctic wetlands that support wildlife like caribou, ptarmigan and geese.

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.

They say Walker’s decision destroys the state’s credibility with the industry it depends on to develop oil and gas resources.