“Part of this funding is set aside to address the needs that the president saw firsthand when he visited coastal communities in Alaska that are seeing their homelands eroding into the ocean at a rapid pace,” said Deputy Interior Secretary Mike Connor.
Energy & Mining
Angoon calls for help after discovering high mercury levels in subsistence seal
The city thinks Hecla’s Greens Creek mine may be responsible. The mine says its discharges in the area meet state requirements.
Obama proposes new $10 per barrel tax on oil
Sarah Erkmann, external affairs manager for the Alaska Oil and Gas Association trade group, said the tax amounts to “punishing” oil companies.
New federal competition aims to improve rural energy efficiency
Villages that want to participate are not required to have a detailed plan; they just have to sign a pledge to improve their energy efficiency by 15 percent by 2020.
Alaska LNG faces ‘significant economic headwinds’
Meanwhile, tension between the Walker administration and the state’s three oil company partners once again spilled into the open.
Railbelt utility overhaul could mean more renewables, cheaper power
What if the six Railbelt electric utilities operated as one? A single-system operator could cut transmission tariffs and create a one-stop shop for independent producers who want to access the grid.
On methane, Alaska tells feds to clean up their act first
The Department of the Interior still hasn’t dealt with the so-called legacy wells drilled on federal land decades ago – including one that has been leaking methane for years.
Homeowners Who Played The Odds On Oil Heating Costs Lose Out
Many homes in the Northeast use oil heat, and many homeowners lock into a set price to avoid nasty surprises. But this year, that prudent step has backfired as oil prices plunge.
Alaska Faces Budget Deficit As Crude Oil Prices Slide
Alaska may overhaul the way it spends its oil wealth. While the state has a lot of oil, the price of oil has dropped so much that the state now has a $3.5 billion deficit — two-thirds of its budget.
Gov’s plan aims to reshape state’s relationship with oil
With oil dipping ominously below $30 a barrel, Alaska faces a deficit of at least $3.5 billion — or two-thirds the general fund budget.