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Reuters
10 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Trump administration proposal would lift Biden-era limits on Alaska oil drilling
June 2 (Reuters) - The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday proposed rolling back Biden-era limits on oil and gas drilling in an Alaska area that is the nation's largest tract of undisturbed public land. The move is consistent with Trump's goal to slash regulations for oil and gas development and increase domestic fuels production as part of his energy agenda. The rule, finalized by the administration of former President Joe Biden last year, prohibited oil and gas leasing, opens new tab on 10.6 million acres (4.3 million hectares) of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, while limiting development on more than 2 million additional acres (809,000 hectares). The NPR-A, as it is known, is a 23-million-acre (9.3 million hectares) area on Alaska's North Slope that was set aside in 1923 as an emergency oil supply for the U.S. Navy. The land was opened to commercial development in the 1970s and is now managed by the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management. The Interior Department said the Biden-era rule was inconsistent with the 1976 Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act, which authorized oil and gas leasing in the area. "Congress was clear: the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska was set aside to support America's energy security through responsible development," Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement. "The 2024 rule ignored that mandate, prioritizing obstruction over production and undermining our ability to harness domestic resources at a time when American energy independence has never been more critical." The Biden administration's Interior Department last April finalized the regulation to block oil and gas development on 40% of Alaska's National Petroleum Preserve to protect habitats for polar bears, caribou and other wildlife and the way of life of Indigenous communities, it had said at the time. Environmental groups had praised the Biden rule for protecting habitats and cultural resources, but Alaska state officials said the restrictions would cost jobs and make the U.S. reliant on foreign resources. Alaska's North Slope accounts for just over 3% of U.S. oil production, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Biden's regulations worse than North Korea, Trump energy secretary says
SIMI VALLEY, CALIFORNIA – Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said that the Biden administration "strangled" the state of Alaska with restrictions and red tape that was beyond levels imposed on North Korea, Iran and Venezuela combined. "Alaska, a state that has had more sanctions, more restrictions on production of oil and gas in Alaska than everything we did to Iran and Venezuela and North Korea if they produced any combined. You know, the last administration just strangled Alaska. This awesome state of immense natural resources," Wright said from the Reagan National Economic Forum in Simi Valley, California. Wright joined the inaugural Reagan National Economic Forum on Friday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library to celebrate President Donald Trump's executive orders "unleashing American energy" and how the administration is tackling regulations that have prevented the growth of coal and nuclear energy in recent history. Fox News' Maria Bartiromo moderated the energy-focused panel. He pointed to the Gulf of America and Alaska as two key areas for American energy growth, most notably in the Last Frontier State. Us Federal Agencies To 'Unleash' Coal Energy After Biden 'Stifled' It: 'Mine, Baby, Mine' "Alaska has been this great resource. It boomed and then it's been strangled. The idea is we export oil from the north slope of Alaska, comes by pipeline to southern Alaska, and then exported," he said. "We want to build a pipeline from the north slope of Alaska that brings natural gas, not just oil. And then an oil, a natural gas export terminal on the southern coast of Alaska that in six days can sail to Tokyo or Taiwan or Korea. And then down to our allies in East Asia. So they're getting energy from us. But it would be awesome and great from a geopolitical stance to have a very short supply chain between a huge industrial American facility and our allies in East Asia." Read On The Fox News App Chris Wright Confirmed To Serve As Trump's Secretary Of Energy Wright added that the Gulf of America is a key area of the country to build massive export terminals, where American energy can be exported to foreign nations. "The export terminals today are almost entirely on the Gulf of America, on the Texas and Louisiana coast. And they're there because you can build things there. The natural gas comes from Pennsylvania, Ohio or North Dakota or Texas or Oklahoma. The gas comes from all over. But that's where you can build these giant facilities to export it," he said. Trump Launches 'Decisive Counterstrike' On Dem States That 'Weaponized' Courts Against Coal: Experts Wright added that America was recently the largest importer of oil in the world, but has since become the largest exporter. "We were, not long ago, the largest importer of oil in the world and the largest importer of natural gas in the world. Today, we're the largest exporter of natural gas and a net exporter of oil," he continued. "Who's the biggest importer of oil in the world and the biggest importer of natural gas in the world? Both China. We have an incredible energy system advantage over China. But we should use it not just to the benefit of our country, but to bring security and tight alliances with our allies as well."Original article source: Biden's regulations worse than North Korea, Trump energy secretary says
Japan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Trump officials set for talks with Asia leaders on Alaska energy
Almost two dozen foreign officials are set to join top U.S. government leaders in meetings focused on Alaska's energy resources, as U.S. President Donald Trump encourages other nations to buy natural gas from the Frontier State. Foreign representatives visiting Alaska for the discussions in coming days are expected to include representatives from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Philippines, India and the United Arab Emirates, said people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because they weren't authorized to speak publicly. The U.S. delegation will be led by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who's also the chair of Trump's National Energy Dominance Council; the panel's vice-chair, Energy Secretary Chris Wright; and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, the people said. The trip is set to include visits to an oil pipeline and gas processing facilities on Alaska's North Slope as well as meetings with industry officials and indigenous people, they said. It comes as Trump moves to expand energy development in the state, a priority he outlined in an executive order hours after his Jan. 20 inauguration. And it coincides with a broad push by other nations to curry favor with the president, including through investment commitments, to ward off threatened tariffs. Trump has repeatedly touted the $44 billion Alaska LNG project, which is meant to transport natural gas across the state for export. Although it has been planned for decades, the project faces headwinds due to its large price tag, mammoth scale and the sheer challenge of constructing an 1,290 kilometer pipeline across Alaska. Trump pressed Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on the project during their meeting in February, winning his commitment to cooperate on strengthening energy security, "including increasing exports of United States liquefied natural gas to Japan in a mutually beneficial manner.' Representatives of the Philippines, Taiwan and South Korea also have been in talks with administration officials on the venture. Discussions are expected to unfold over several days, including during site visits at the prolific Prudhoe Bay oil field, which has pumped crude for roughly five decades, and where units of ConocoPhillips and Hilcorp Energy Co. have operations. Other conversations are expected in Utqiagvik and Anchorage, including as part of Governor Mike Dunleavy's Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference. Trump officials see the visit as a chance to highlight the administration's focus on unleashing Alaska's energy abundance and draw a contrast with policies under former U.S. President Joe Biden they say locked up the state's oil, gas and mineral potential. While Alaska LNG will be a significant portion of the discussions, a person familiar with the matter said, there's an opportunity to examine the state's resource potential and further policy shifts that can help deliver it.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Deseret News archives: Exxon Valdez ran aground in Alaska waters in 1989
A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives. On March 24, 1989, the supertanker Exxon Valdez ran aground on a reef in Alaska's Prince William Sound and began leaking an estimated 11 million gallons of crude oil. According to news accounts in the Deseret News, the 987-foot tanker Exxon Valdez, on its way to California, sliced into a portion of Bligh Reef and spilled about one-fifth of its 53 million-gallon cargo of oil into the pristine sound. Cleanup crews immediately began working to contain the spill, but it proved difficult. Delayed efforts to contain the spill and naturally strong winds and waves dispersed nearly 11 million gallons of North Slope crude oil across the sound. Estimates say the spill eventually polluted 1,300 miles of shoreline, as well as adjacent waters, as far south as the southern end of Shelikof Strait between Kodiak Island and the Alaska Peninsula. It cost billions in cleanup efforts. Despite those efforts, the spill exterminated much native wildlife, including salmon, herring, sea otters, bald eagles and killer whales. The images were and are stark and heartbreaking, even today. The Valdez oil spill is one of the largest in world history, eclipsed by the BP oil well rupture over 210 million gallons, and the 140 million-gallon Ixtoc I spill off Mexico's coast from 1979 to 1980. Of note, 32 years later, on March 23, 2021, a cargo ship the size of a skyscraper ran aground and became wedged in the Suez Canal; hundreds of ships would be prevented from passing through the canal until the vessel was freed six days later. Here are some stories from Deseret News archives about the massive spill: 'Exxon admits cleanup is in trouble' 'Line of violent storms halts oil-spill cleanup' 'Valdez spill must be viewed in perspective' 'Fish, birds starting to rebound from '89 Valdez oil spill' 'Exxon found liable for Valdez spill' 'Crippled Exxon tanker heads for San Diego' 'Exxon celebrating — but Alaska isn't' 'U.S., Alaska reach new accord with Exxon' ''79 Gulf oil spill leaves sobering lessons for BP' 'BP spill hits a somber record as Gulf's biggest'
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
In 'fourth-quarter' State of the State address, Dunleavy paints optimistic picture
Jan. 29—JUNEAU — In his seventh and penultimate State of the State address, Gov. Mike Dunleavy depicted an optimistic picture of Alaska's prospects during President Donald Trump's second presidency, even as his own budget analysts predict declining revenue in the coming decade. "We can develop our way to prosperity if we're given the opportunity and we take advantage of it," Dunleavy said. Battling a cold, Dunleavy coughed and cleared his throat through his 46-minute address. Guests included First Lady Rose Dunleavy, over a dozen members of Dunleavy's cabinet, Olympian Alev Kelter and others. After four years in which Dunleavy repeatedly said that Alaska's resource development prospects were limited by the administration of former President Joe Biden, the governor predicted boosted oil and gas development in the coming years, including the construction of a liquefied natural gas pipeline long sought by Alaska political leaders. "The decades-old dream of cheap plentiful natural gas may soon be a reality with signed agreements on the near horizon," he said. Watch the speech: Dunleavy said he would continue to seek policy changes in the state's education system that have been opposed by many lawmakers. Majority leaders in the House and Senate said this year they want to increase the state's education budget — after years of flat funding that has strained school budgets across Alaska — without tying the funding increase to any policy changes. But Dunleavy said he wanted funding increases to be coupled with policy changes, including expanding charter schools and publicly-funded homeschooling options, though he did not provide specifics on the policies he would seek. "I'll talk to anyone about more money if the conversation is also about different approaches and better outcomes, and that's what my education initiatives will include this year," he said. Leaders in the House and Senate said the speech was aspirational and hopeful, but lacked indications that the governor was willing to work with bipartisan coalitions governing both chambers. House Speaker Bryce Edgmon said he hoped that the governor would show willingness to work across the aisle on education and other policies. "Otherwise, we're in for a long and protracted session," he said. 'We have hope' House and Senate leaders said they hoped Dunleavy would share his vision for boosting the state's revenue and solving a projected deficit, but Dunleavy's speech made no mention of the $1.5 billion deficit budget he introduced last month. Senate Majority Leader Cathy Giessel, an Anchorage Republican, said it was "somewhat embarrassing" that Dunleavy did not mention the deficit in his budget. Dunleavy said resource development projects could, in the future, boost the state's coffers. But many of the oil and gas projects he cited would only boost revenue several years in the future. Dunleavy said a "North Slope renaissance" was just beginning. "Money doesn't grow on trees. If we want more money for programs, we need more resource plays to fund them," Dunleavy said. Dunleavy touted executive actions taken by the Trump administration to remove restrictions on resource development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. Dunleavy said he "couldn't be more excited" for the Trump term, again calling him "the most pro-Alaska President we've ever had." The line got loud applause from a joint session of the Alaska Legislature. Rep. Frank Tomaszewski, R-Fairbanks, stood and applauded. "We have a second chance at opportunities that looked like they slipped away just four years ago," said Dunleavy. "Under the Trump administration, we have hope," he added. Edgmon said he was disappointed that Dunleavy did not mention the expected challenges created by the freeze in federal funding announced by Trump earlier today. "I think that's going to have potentially sweeping effects on all Alaskans, all sectors of the state," Edgmon said. Dunleavy presented an upbeat vision of oil and gas projects broadly, including a costly natural gas pipeline that if constructed, would be the largest in the world. Earlier in the month, Dunleavy and Frank Richards, president of the Alaska Gasline Development Corp., revealed that Glenfarne, a New York-based company, was pursuing plans to develop the state's long-planned $44 billion Alaska LNG project. In Tuesday's address, Dunleavy again touted the project as a "game-changer" for Alaska, but he appeared to acknowledge the inevitability of importing gas to bridge a projected gas supply shortfall — at least in the near-term. "We'll address the short-term shortage of natural gas for Southcentral, and we recognize that some of those solutions may be painful and certainly won't be popular, but they will be temporary," he said. Giessel said she was glad that Dunleavy recognized the "desperate situation" created by the natural gas shortage. Sen. Bill Wielechwoski, an Anchorage Democrat, said that situation was due to "unfortunate, tremendous inaction" by the Dunleavy administration earlier in his tenure. Wasilla Republican Sen. Mike Shower, the Senate minority leader, said nobody wants to import natural gas due to the anticipated extra costs. But getting Alaska's stranded supplies to market is not possible yet, he said. "So until we can, we're gonna have to import it," he said in an interview. Enstar, Southcentral Alaska's natural gas utility, recently announced that it was advancing plans to import gas through a converted facility in Nikiski. Trump has appeared hostile to renewable energy since returning to the White House last week. On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order to suspend new leases for wind projects. Dunleavy, however, reiterated on Tuesday his openness to renewable energy projects and carbon capture. He previously said he is "agnostic as to the electron." and used Tuesday's address to again tout the need for expanded wind, solar and geothermal power generation in Alaska — alongside power from fossil fuels. Dunleavy said he would introduce legislation "to ensure we have the most competitive licensing process that attracts professional talent." Dunleavy also said he would pursue permitting and regulatory reform. Anchorage Republican Rep. Mia Costello, the House minority leader, described the speech overall as "optimistic." She said "the horizon for oil and gas development is also very encouraging," and that work should be done in career and technical education to get Alaskans ready for those jobs. Wielechowski said the contrast between Dunleavy's rosy projections for resource development and the current economic reality of Alaska reflect "a tale of two economies going on in this state." "You have one group of people doing very well — the wealthy, the powerful, the privileged, the connected, the huge corporations — they're doing great. But the average Alaska, I think if you ask them on the street, 'How are you doing?' They're struggling to get by," Wielechowski said. 'Expand these opportunities' Dunleavy touted early results from a bill he championed to improve reading instruction for Alaska students. That bill was adopted in a bipartisan vote in 2022. "The early data is very encouraging," Dunleavy said. Some educators said it's too early to tell if the bill is achieving its intended purpose. The governor also again referenced a national study conducted by a Harvard researcher that found Alaska's charter schools were outperforming those in other states. State researchers found the high performance of Alaska charter school students can be explained by demographic differences between charter school students and students in other public schools. Senate President Gary Stevens, a Kodiak Republican, said he didn't think it was "legitimate" for the governor to keep mentioning the Harvard report "because it has been disproved by some of the experts." Dunleavy also blasted a lawsuit backed by a union representing Alaska teachers asserting that the state's publicly-funding homeschooling program is violating the state constitution by funneling public education funding to private schools. The Alaska Supreme Court sent the litigation back to the Superior Court after asking the plaintiffs to add specific school districts as defendants. The litigation is still active. "Parents and students shouldn't be put on a waitlist to attend their schools of choice," said Dunleavy. "We should be working to expand these opportunities, not stopping them." Stevens said Dunleavy's ideas on charter schools were "a non-starter for many of us who believe in public education and don't want to see those changes made."
