Alaska Dispatch

Palin addresses Big Oil Print E-mail

By Tony Hopfinger

For the first time in months, Gov. Sarah Palin addressed Big Oil on Wednesday, the industry she’s squabbled with for the past 18 months.

Since taking office, Palin has led efforts to raise taxes on oil producers, revoke leases at the Point Thomson oil and gas field, and provoke competition in the industry to jumpstart the long-sought natural-gas pipeline project. But speaking at an industry gathering in Anchorage, Palin’s tone was mostly nonconfrontational, stressing cooperation between the state and industry to show “the lower 48 we protect our environment up here.”

When Palin was introduced at the Resource Development Council's meeting at the new Anchorage convention center, she was met with modest applause. Nobody stood up and the claps lasted less than 10 seconds. She opened her remarks with what has become her post-presidential election stump speech in recent weeks:

“The last few months have been an amazing experience…  The time went so quickly... I got to briefly expand my wardrobe. I got to meet a few VIPs, you know, those that really impact society, like Tina Fey.”

Palin said it’s a critical time for the state, between oil prices dipping to $50 and mounting pressure within Congress to reduce spending and earmarks. “We’re seeing that Alaskans may not be recipients of such largess of federal dollars as before,” Palin said.

Yesterday's defeat of Alaska's U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Senate Republican in history, by Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich will likely mean reduced federal funds for Alaska. The state has long benefited from Stevens' seniority and ability to steer billions of federal dollars to Alaska.

Palin, who was Sen. John McCain’s vice-presidential running mate, said the future of Alaska hinges on developing its resources and the proposed multibillion-dollar natural gas pipeline. (Alaska has the largest proven natural-gas reserves in North America.)

In August, the Alaska Legislature approved an exclusive state license and a subsidy of as much as $500 million to Calgary-based TransCanada Corp. for a pipeline. BP Plc and ConocoPhillips are moving ahead with a competing project. But no construction dates have been set, and neither pipeline project is guaranteed to move forward.

Senate-elect Begich also spoke at the industry meeting Wednesday, but didn’t say much about his victory or what he plans to do as senator.

And officials from the top oil companies operating in Alaska gave presentations, predictably talking about the hardships of exploring for crude now that oil prices are dropping. Still, BP Plc, a giant in Alaska oil, is planning to increase its capital budget.

Doug Suttles, president of BP’s Alaska unit, told industry officials that the company plans to spend $1.2 billion in 2009 on capital projects in Alaska, up from $900 million this year. He said about $400 million of next year’s budget will go to advancing an offshore oil development called Liberty, a heavy-oil project, work on a proposed natural-gas pipeline from Alaska to Alberta, Canada, and proposed development of Alaska’s Point Thomson oil and gas field.

Jim Bowles, president of ConocoPhillips’ Alaska operations, said the company plans to focus on exploration in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and offshore in the Chukchi Sea. He said the company is still coming up with its capital budget for next year.

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Comments (4)
Inappropriate comments
written by Another Outsider, November 19, 2008
Enough already with the over-the-top commentary about Sarah Palin's word-salad speech patterns and references to unfortunate Trisomy-21 defects that have nothing to do with her peculiar personality traits.

They're insulting (which I'm sure is the intent) and unfair.

I'm no Sarah Palinista, believe me -- in fact, nothing would make me happier than watching her fade away into obscurity as the last 2 years of her Alaska gubernatorial reign wheezes to a stagnant end.

But that can only happen if enough clear-minded courageous Alaskans who won't be intimidated or coerced or "favored" by Palin and her clique stand up and demand an accounting of her administration -- which to all Outsiders appears to be at least as corrupt, nepotic, and scandalous as the one she replaced.

Move over, Uncle Ted...
By The Democrats
written by By The Democrats , November 19, 2008
By The Democrats

ATTENTION REPUBLICANS:

RE: SARAH PALIN

Obviously there has been a HUGE mistake…..

Palin’s Dribble, Weasel Wording, Mush-Mush, Asssss-Backwards speak Cleary demonstrates who carries the Down Syndrome trait in her family, because of this we (the democrats) will allow you to send her back to Wacky-silla without prejudice and select another candidate.

For this consideration the Republicans agree to sell Alaska to Russia (with Palin) and never mention the State of Alaska or her again.

P.S. Why does Palin repeat herself in the same sentence and add extra words that don’t belong!! Reading a Quote from her makes me feel like I am in the advanced stages of dyslexia. Does Anyone else have a problem with this? Is there anyone out there from the North Slope who speaks Wacky-silla?

Just say No... to jacksmith
written by RR, November 19, 2008
Vote against moronic posts where they don't belong and can't possibly result in aid to the cause promoted. In fact, vote opposite the post's request. I am, and I'm not in Georgia.
Vote early & often, twice or more, if you can!
-unworking noclass
WE ARE NOT DONE YET
written by jacksmith, November 19, 2008
WE HAVE MORE TO DO:

Democrat Jim Martin is in a runoff against Bush Republican Saxby Chambliss for the Senate seat from Georgia. Bush's Saxby Chambliss voted against spending a few measly dollars to provide health care coverage for Georgia, and Americas needy children. But he supported wasting hundreds of billions of your dollars, and the life BLOOD of Americas finest on an unnecessary war in Iraq.

At a time when 47 million of you have no health insurance coverage, and over 100 million of you with insurance are just one major illness away from complete financial destruction. Bush and Saxby Chambliss voted to make the heart break of bankruptcy relief even harder for all of you to use.

You see, Bush and Saxby Chambliss, and his family don't have to worry about their health care coverage. They have the finest health care coverage your tax money can buy for them. Courtesy of you. The American Tax payer. In fact, no one but the super rich can afford the health care coverage you the tax payer provide for Saxby Chambliss, and his family for FREE! with your tax dollars.

He supposedly works for you. But he doesn't think you and your family should have access to the type of taxpayer supported FREE health care that you provide for him, and his loved ones for FREE!. Doesn't that just make you BURRING MAD!

Vote for JIM MARTIN for US senator from Georgia. Vote for JIM Martin who will be on your side. Vote for JIM MARTIN who will work with President Obama and a majority congress for you. Vote for JIM MARTIN most of all for your-self, your family's, friends, and loved ones. Vote for JIM MARTIN for a better America, and a better World.

Don't let Saxby Chambliss make a chump out of you by tricking you into voting against your own best interest. Saxby chambliss is NOT! on your side. He's not one of you. He is on George Bush's side. And we all know what a catastrophe the Bush Chambliss administration has been the past 8 years.

Contact all your family and friends and do every thing you can to see to it that JIM MARTIN and GEORGIANS! take that senate seat back for Georgia, and America. No matter where you live in America. This is important to you. President Obama will need all the help, and power you can give him to try and fix this catastrophic mess that the Corrupt Bush Chambliss administration has created.

As I said before you will have to vote in overwhelming numbers to overcome the Bush Chambliss "Let Them Eat Cake" vote fraud machine. Vote early if you can. Then help everyone you can get to the polls and vote for JIM MARTIN. You and your loved ones don't have to be Saxby Chambliss's victims anymore.

I know you will get it done. Just like you did for President Obama.

God bless all of you

jacksmith - WORKING CLASS... :-)

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