Energy
Trump administration proposes offshore leasing in almost all Alaska waters
A new five-year offshore oil and gas leasing plan proposes 21 sales in Alaska, from the Gulf of Alaska to the High Arctic, and 13 more off the U.S. West Coast and in the Gulf of Mexico.
Alaska onshore North Slope oil auction sets new mark for tract leases sold
Mostly small independent companies submitted nearly $17 million in high bids, the highest total since 2014 for an annual North Slope areawide oil and gas lease sale.
Alyeska Pipeline faces $244,000 penalty for violations related to small oil leak
An ice-jammed valve caused a small leak in an oil-heating system.
U.S. House moves to reduce protections for Arctic lands from oil and gas activity
The measures affect Biden-era protections for the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Trump administration rescinds Biden-era rule to expand drilling opportunity in petroleum reserve
It’s one of several major efforts by the Trump administration to encourage resource development in Alaska.
Company finalizes purchase of Nikiski facility in plan to import LNG to Alaska to address shortage
Harvest Midstream, an affiliate of Hilcorp, said that imports of liquefied natural gas can begin in 2028 at the converted Kenai LNG facility.
Trump administration releases ConocoPhillips’ big winter exploration plans in Alaska
The administration released the plans Monday with a one-week comment period that conservationists say is insufficient. The work could employ up to 900 people.
Trump administration sets terms for upcoming oil and gas lease sale in Alaska’s Cook Inlet
The “Big Beautiful Cook Inlet Oil and Gas Lease Sale,” scheduled for March, would follow a series of federal and state inlet lease sales that drew little industry interest.
White House officials consider opening California to offshore oil drilling
A draft five-year plan for offshore oil development proposes selling leases on the West Coast, Gulf of Mexico and Alaska.
Baker Hughes, a major oil field service company, announces ‘strategic alliance’ to advance Alaska LNG project
The company also committed to a “strategic investment” in the project, but didn’t provide details.
Chugach Electric moves ahead with plans to develop what could be Alaska’s largest solar farm
The effort comes as other renewable projects struggle amid pressure from the Trump administration.
Senate passes measure to remove protections in National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska
The measure from Alaska’s congressional delegation has drawn opposition from conservation and tribal groups.
Alaska Natural Resources Commissioner John Boyle resigns
Gov. Dunleavy appointed John Crowther to serve as acting commissioner of the natural resources department.
Trump administration finalizes plan for Arctic refuge oil leasing, and moves to allow controversial King Cove and Ambler roads
Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Alaska’s congressional delegation joined Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in Washington, D.C., for the announcement.
Trump administration moves toward an Arctic Alaska oil lease sale despite the government shutdown
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management said it is seeking nominations for areas to be auctioned in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska for a legally mandated sale.
Republicans vote to roll back Biden-era restrictions on mining and drilling in 3 Western states, including Alaska
All three members of Alaska’s congressional delegation supported repealing a Biden-era land management plan for 13 million acres in the central Yukon region.
Alaska utility regulators say they can’t require changes to Chugach Electric charity program
Alaska Attorney General Stephen Cox had asked the Regulatory Commission of Alaska to require changes to the program, arguing it raised free speech concerns.
Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. reducing workforce in Alaska
The company is the second in the state’s oil industry recently to disclose staff reductions.
A feud is escalating over Big Oil’s plans to protect Prince William Sound from another spill
The city of Valdez and the owner of the trans-Alaska pipeline are locked in a dispute over environmental protections at the state’s crude oil shipping port.
ConocoPhillips sends layoff notifications to some North Slope workers, part of global reduction
A spokesperson with ConocoPhillips Alaska declined to provide the number of layoff notices issued.
EPA cancels $280M in Biden-era grants to Alaska communities
The agency has created new streams of money to benefit rural Alaska, but affected villages are skeptical it will help.
Alaska delegation moves to terminate Biden-era management plan for National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska
A 2022 plan for the area, finalized under President Joe Biden, stripped millions of acres from potential drilling that had been allowed under a Trump-era plan.
No public comment or hearings on environmental review of oil leasing in Alaska’s Cook Inlet
The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is cutting out a public comment process, citing a Trump administration policy aimed at “streamlining” development.
Alaska attorney general argues Chugach Electric charity program raises free speech concerns
Chugach Electric fired back at Stephen Cox’s arguments in a filing, saying the attorney general has made multiple errors in his arguments.
Developer of proposed trans-Alaska gas pipeline signs deal with South Korean steel company
Gas purchase agreements like the ones announced this week are believed to be a key first step in showing the project is economical and worth investment.
Japanese electric company signs tentative agreement for gas from AKLNG project
Glenfarne now has “preliminary commercial agreements for more than half of Alaska LNG’s available third-party LNG offtake capacity,” it said in a statement.
A small Texas firm is gearing up for a $150 million search for oil beneath the Arctic Ocean
Narwhal Exploration is one of three small, privately owned companies with offshore leases in West Harrison Bay, a promising but largely unexplored area once controlled by Shell.
Hilcorp plans to squeeze more life out of Prudhoe Bay with 40,000-barrel-per-day field
It’s one of the company’s efforts to keep production stable in the giant field that’s been producing oil for nearly half a century, the company said.
House Republicans vote to repeal drilling and mining restrictions in Western states including Alaska
The repeals would reverse land use plans adopted in the closing days of former President Biden’s administration that were meant to curb climate-warming fossil fuel emissions.
ConocoPhillips says it will lay off up to 25% of its global workforce
The company declined to break out layoff numbers in Alaska or other regions.