Free Republic

New Gov. Bill Walker took office Dec. 1 and ordered immediate changes in top echelons of state government. Walker brought back several top officials from Gov. Sarah Palin’s administration for senior positions in the natural resources and revenue departments. Walker defeated former Gov. Sean Parnell by about 6,200 votes in the Nov. 4 Alaska elections. Parnell first took office in July 2009 when Palin resigned before the end of her term. Out were several state commissioners and deputy commissioners including Joe Balash at the Department of Natural Resources, Susan Bell at Commerce and Economic Development, Bill Streur at the Department...

Denali - The Alaska Gas Pipeline announced today that its open season efforts have not resulted in the customer commitments necessary to continue work on its Alaska North Slope gas pipeline project, which has an overall estimated capital cost of $35 billion (2009 dollars). Denali will withdraw its Federal Energy Regulatory Commission pre-file application and, over the next few months, close out its operations. "Denali is ending its efforts because of a lack of customer support," said Bud Fackrell, Denali President. "Denali is a market-driven company. As such, we cannot spend the billions of dollars necessary to advance the project...

The proposed multibillion-dollar TransCanada gas pipeline from the North Slope took a step forward this afternoon with the receipt of bids from potential shippers willing to pay to move gas to markets. "The Alaska Pipeline Project can report that we've received multiple bids from major industry players and others for significant volumes," said Tony Palmer, a TransCanada Corp. vice president. Reading from a short prepared statement, Palmer said, "We're encouraged about the future advancement of the project if key conditions can be resolved. Although we need to further assess the results, we're encouraged by the bids received, the interest expressed...

Legislative opponents of Trans-Canada Corp.'s state-backed natural gas pipeline project stripped much of the money Gov. Sean Parnell has sought for the state's role in pushing it forward from the budget adopted by the House Finance Committee on Tuesday. Finance Co-chair Mike Hawker, R-Anchorage, acknowledged that it was a "substantial reduction" but said money could be provided later and was not an attack on the pipeline. Parnell said he would continue to seek the money that was cut. House Democrats who had backed the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act under which Trans-Canada had won state support criticized the cuts as an...

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- It is called Alaska's natural gas pipeline, but it's also Canada's and the United States' pipeline. And the heavy lifting on this $27 billion project has to start way before the first shovel hits the ground. "We are dealing with the largest commercial-private project in North America," said Tom Irwin, Department of Natural Resources commissioner. "The detail of engineering and planning and design is huge." ExxonMobil's participation announced last week, while not a commitment, is a step closer to making this project a reality. The project will require 2.5 million tons of steel, and much more. Railroads...

Quick, what was the biggest Sarah Palin story of the past week or so? Was it her rousing introduction of Michael Reagan in Anchorage where she eloquently spoke of his father, President Ronald Reagan? And how about in her speech where she took President Barack Obama, and his big government policies, head on? Maybe it was her trip to Auburn, NY where she celebrated the life of former Secretary of State William Seward, in conjunction with Alaska’s 50th year of statehood, an event that saw Palin draw over 20,000 people. Seward is the one who pushed for the purchase of...

Palin on Blitzer 1Palin on Blitzer 2 Sarah takes no prisoners. Critizes Obama on Israel, Defense and Spending. Calls Letterman perverted.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 09-145 Historic Agreement Moves AGIA Forward Governor Applauds Private-Sector Alignment June 11, 2009, Dallas, Texas - TransCanada Corporation and ExxonMobil announced today they have reached terms on a gas pipeline development agreement. TransCanada and ExxonMobil have agreed to work together to progress the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act (AGIA) Gas Pipeline Project. AGIA was created as a commercial vehicle for advancing the Alaska gas pipeline project through the first stages of development of what will be the largest private energy project in the world. "In a volatile world with growing energy needs, the time is now to...

JUNEAU -- Gov. Sarah Palin surprised state legislators Wednesday by indicating she is willing to negotiate how much the state taxes natural gas in order to attract oil companies to a pipeline project. "We are open to changes in the state's fiscal structure to allow this project to happen. ... We are open to whatever it takes to make sure that this project happens for our state and for our country," Palin told reporters.

Whereas Turkey began accession negotiations with the European Union on October 3, 2005; (Introduced in House) HRES 999 IH 109th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 999Urging Turkey to respect the rights and religious freedoms of the Ecumenical Patriarch. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 12, 2006 Mrs. MALONEY (for herself, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. ANDREWS, Mr. HINCHEY, Ms. WATSON, Mr. DOYLE, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mrs. LOWEY, and Mr. BACA) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations RESOLUTIONUrging Turkey to respect the rights and religious freedoms of the Ecumenical Patriarch. Whereas Turkey...

If you believe in the just case that Hagia Sophia should be restored to its proper religious role as a church, for which it was built in the first place, then we ask you to support our petition to the EU Parliament that Turkey should not be admitted as a member of the European Community until it restores Hagia Sophia to its original purpose as a church and not a museum. We need a minimum of 1.000.000 signatures in order to force the European Union to consider this proposal seriously and debate it immediately as one of the conditions to...