Alaska

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said she will call state lawmakers into special session on Oct. 18 to reconsider the state’s petroleum profits tax (PPT), which, according to a recent report, is yielding $800 million less than was expected.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said Friday she will call state lawmakers into special session on Oct. 18 to reconsider the state’s petroleum profits tax (PPT), which she said is not working out as planned and needs revision.

Questar Exploration and Production (E&P) plans to spend more than $1 billion to limit the impact of its operations in the Wyoming Pinedale Anticline area on habitat and wildlife, a company official told the House Natural Resources Committee Tuesday.

Cap Rock Holding Corp. last week agreed to acquire SEMCO Energy Inc., parent of utilities SEMCO Energy gas Co. in Michigan and ENSTAR Natural Gas Co. in Alaska, in an $867 million cash and debt deal.

Cook Inlet, AK, producers and others have until March 19 to respond to a request for proposal (RFP) for gas supplies from Alaska Pipeline Co. and ENSTAR Natural Gas Co. The companies have supplies termed up through 2008 but will need additional supply beginning in 2009.

Cook Inlet, AK, producers and others have until March 19 to respond to a request for proposal (RFP) for gas supplies from Alaska Pipeline Co. and ENSTAR Natural Gas Co. The companies have supplies termed up through 2008 but will need additional supply beginning in 2009.

With its Alaska business forever tied to the possibility that natural gas supplies could be curtailed, Agrium Inc. plans to switch its Nikiski nitrogen plant in Kenai, AK, from gas to coal. A final decision on coal plant construction is scheduled for 2008, and if it moves forward, the revamped plant would be operational in late 2011, company officials said.

Congressman Devin Nunes (R-CA) has introduced new legislation that would open up a portion of the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil and gas drilling and would use the leasing revenue and the federal share of royalties from the ANWR production — estimated at $40 billion — to fund a number of renewable energy programs.

Congressman Devin Nunes (R-CA) has introduced new legislation that would open up a portion of the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil and gas drilling and would use the leasing revenue and the federal share of royalties from the ANWR production — estimated at $40 billion — to fund a number of renewable energy programs.