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Gov. Sarah Palin is sending two lawmakers a stern warning about a natural gas pipeline's probe that will have its' first hearing Thursday afternoon. Palin calls Rep. Jam Ramras, R-Fairbanks, and Rep. Craig Johnson's, R-Anchorage, resolution "shortsighted." The lawmakers are asking if spending half a billion state dollars, under AGIA, is producing competition between the state backed TransCanada plan, and the producer's Denali plan. If Ramras and Johnson's resolution passes it will put the entire legislature on record asking the administration for an official report. Palin says the resolution will send the business community a dangerous message. In light of...

Gov. Sarah Palin isn't giving in to Reps. Craig Johnson and Jay Ramras, and she certainly isn't conceding defeat to bestselling author Joe McGinniss, who penned a damning article for Condé Nast Portfolio on her efforts to land a natural-gas pipeline. Palin issued a statement Tuesday in response to Johnson and Ramras' suggestion that her administration should now review the controversial $500 million in state subsidies that have been granted to TransCanada Corp. in exchange for it pursuing pipeline construction. (Read here for the background on the TransCanada deal.) "I agree with the premise, but I don't believe this resolution...

Trans Canada Corp. faced new challenges to its proposed Alaska pipeline this week after two state legislators called for a review of the $26-billion US project's licence, leaving analysts and pipeline executives to question the underlying motives of the complaint. On Thursday, Republican representatives Jay Ramras of Fairbanks and Craig Johnson of Anchorage introduced the resolution to the Alaska House, saying the motion was warranted because of risks for project financing during the global recession. If passed, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and the attorney general would have to review the application and present findings within six months. TransCanada, which has...

March 10, 2009 Office of the Commissioner PALIN ADMINISTRATION ENCOURAGES POSITIVE VIEW ON GAS LINE State officials overseeing the Alaska natural gas pipeline today encouraged lawmakers to consider the need for all energy sources to be tapped in the push for the United States to achieve energy security. "I see that a few legislators returned from the Energy Council meeting in Washington, D.C., with questions about the viability of our gas line project, based on reports they heard about the availability of shale gas as an energy source," said Tom Irwin, Commissioner of Natural Resources. "But while shale gas is...

In a press conference in Juneau on March 3, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin revealed a plan to encourage the construction of a $4 billion in-state natural gas pipeline. "We've got to do this project," Palin said. "We've got to see it come to fruition, or our state will be a state that imports natural gas despite the fact that Alaska is sitting on some of the world's richest reserves of gas." On Feb. 27, 2009, the Alaskan governor submitted two pieces of legislation to the House and Senate rules committees concerning the in-state gas pipeline. The March 3 press conference...

A state official charged with helping develop a small diameter natural gas pipeline from the North Slope to Cook Inlet said Tuesday the so-called bullet line could cost about $4 billion and bring gas to Alaska homes and businesses as early as 2015. Harry Noah, recently appointed project manager of an in-state gas line by Gov. Sarah Palin, outlined the schedule with Palin at a news conference. "This schedule is very ambitious. A lot of things can affect it but when you are trying to develop a project, it's always easy to go slower, but if you stretch it out,...

CALGARY -- The U.S. pipeline group competing against TransCanada Corp. to build the Alaska natural-gas pipeline is cranking up operations in its rival's backyard, with plans to start field work here this winter, expanding its staff and recently opening its own office in Calgary. "We're starting field work [in Canada] this winter," said Bob Bleaney, Denali Canada's general manager, integration. "It hasn't started yet, but the planning work is underway here in the offices. The groundwork will commence a little later on this winter." Further, Denali, which is owned by BP PLC and ConocoPhillips Inc., has also hired Daniel Ouimet...

President Barack Obama on Wednesday called Alaska's proposed natural gas pipeline "promising" as a national energy resource and pledged to discuss it with Canadian leaders during his Feb. 19 trip to Ottawa. "It's a project of great potential and something I'm very interested in," Obama said Wednesday during an interview in the White House with the Anchorage Daily News and 15 other regional newspapers. "As I mentioned during the campaign, I actually think that for us to move forward on the natural gas pipeline as part of a comprehensive energy strategy -- that includes both more production as well as...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 09-25 Governor Congratulates TransCanada on FERC Order February 9, 2009, Juneau, Alaska - Governor Sarah Palin today congratulated TransCanada Corporation for receiving an order from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that represents another successful step on the path toward construction of a natural gas pipeline under the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act (AGIA). On December 15, 2008, TransCanada's subsidiary, the Alaskan Northwest Natural Gas Transportation Company (ANNGTC), informed FERC it was surrendering the conditional certificate issued to it in 1977. On February 6, 2009, FERC issued an order recognizing the surrender of the certificate and terminating...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 09-23 Governor Palin Urges President to Discuss Gas Pipeline February 6, 2009, Juneau, Alaska - Governor Sarah Palin today encouraged President Obama to discuss construction of an Alaska natural gas pipeline in his upcoming meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Governor Palin outlined the importance of producing and transmitting energy between the U.S. and Canada and the significant impact the Alaska natural gas pipeline would have on North American energy policy in the years to come. In the letter, Governor Palin states, “Alaskans have appreciated your strong support for the construction of such a pipeline....

Pipeline companies are like Punxsutawney Phil on groundhog day. If there’s a shadow of doubt, the pipeline goes back inside to the drawing board. While prices have collapsed to nearly one-third of their 2008 summer peak, the pipelines that carry oil to their users continue to move cautiously towards as much construction of new shipping capacity as still growing Alberta production volumes will support. Both TransCanada Corp. and Enbridge have bold plans to carry oil sands output to markets in the United States that need imports. The National Energy Board has already approved the Keystone, Alberta Clipper and Southern Lights...

Governor Palin Releases Energy Guide Goal: 50 Percent of Electricity Generation from Renewable Sources by 2025 January 16, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin today praised energy coordinator Steve Haagenson and the Alaska Energy Authority for the release of their comprehensive guide to energy in Alaska. The guide, Alaska Energy - - A First Step Toward Energy Independence, identifies energy options for communities across the state. “While lower crude oil prices are reducing the costs of energy today, we must remain committed to achieving energy security for our future economic well-being,” Governor Palin said. The guide identifies and prioritizes...

Bad weather interfering with tanker loading combined with full storage tanks at Valdez forced a shutdown of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline Monday night. Operators stopped pumps along the 800-mile pipeline at 8 p.m.. and planned to hold the line idle for six hours, until 2 a.m., in hopes the wind and waves abate around the tanker dock, said Michelle Egan, spokeswoman for Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., which runs the pipeline. Two tankers are berthed in Valdez now and will begin taking on oil at 8 a.m. today weather permitting, Egan said. If conditions don't improve, the pipeline might be idled...

<p>Steady expansion for pipeline companies is grinding to a halt as tight credit makes it harder to raise construction money, potentially limiting their ability to bring new supplies of natural gas to market.</p> <p>U.S. gas-pipeline construction boomed in recent years as demand for natural-gas grew and production shifted to new areas, such as north Texas and the Rocky Mountains.</p>

Russia and Serbia have signed a controversial energy deal that will hand Russian gas giant Gazprom control of NIS, Serbia's oil monopoly. Under the deal, Gazprom is to build a gas pipeline through Serbia and an underground gas storage facility there. Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev and his Serbian counterpart Boris Tadic signed the agreement in Moscow. The plan is for Serbia to host part of a new pipeline called South Stream, to deliver Russian gas to southern Europe. Gazprom is taking a 51% stake in NIS for 400m euros (£380m; $560m), officials say. Diplomatic tensions Both countries signed an energy...

TransCanada Corp. is trying to temper recent reports that it wants the U.S. government to increase the federal loan guarantee covering financing of a natural gas pipeline in Alaska. “TransCanada has not approached the government of the United States with regards to a revision of the loan guarantee. At this point, we don’t know if we will do so,” TransCanada Alaska President Tony Palmer told Petroleum News on Dec. 16. If the Calgary-based company ultimately asks for an increase, Palmer said it would only ask to change an existing inflation clause, not the base amount of the actual guarantee. As...

The various players involved in trying to build a North Slope natural gas pipeline will come together on the project, according to a top state oil and gas official. "We believe it's only a matter of time until all the parties come together to accomplish our mutual goal," Marty Rutherford, deputy commissioner of natural resources, said at the recent "Energy in Alaska" conference hosted by Law Seminars International in Anchorage. Rutherford said the belief comes against a "backdrop" of volatile natural gas prices and their impact on the expected profits on the project. She noted that while the price of...

Sarah's interview appearance on Canada's CTV, wherein she talked about launching the natural gas pipeline, was excellent. Watching her work and speak so effectively for the benefit of our great nation (while Illinois liberals implode!) inspired my poetic side. Enjoy. Sarah Palin's back at work and leading like a winner. Meanwhile, in Chicago, there's another leftist sinner. As Sarah's efforts move our nation forward in this slump, One more of Barry's buddys drags it down into the dump. Sarah's launched a pipeline in fulfillment of our dreams, To harvest homeland assets that are bursting at the seams. A triumph of...

If there is a special election that comes about from the corruption scandal with Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, a visit by Governor Palin maybe in order. Like any political storm, elements of corruption have to be in the mix of elements. In New Orleans, we saw the fall of Rep. Jefferson and an Asian Republican get elected. In this case, the competition would not be against an incumbent who was indicted, but instead, it would be for an empty seat held by president elect Barack Obama. How the corruption element is mixed in is; Barack is deeply rooted politically with...

Video of Sarah. . . UNedited Palin discusses the process of bring the Trans Canada-Alaska Pipeline to fruition, and why its so important as an energy resource. Plus what she thinks of renegotiating NAFTA and U.S. president-elect Barack Obama's choice for secretary of state.