Yesterday, we commented on the passing of our dear, respected economist friend (and sometimes friendly antagonist) of almost 50 years, Arlon Tussing (NGP Photo). Apropos of today's title, he once testified in a way that more liberal readers might have found offensive:
| Comment: Arlon's wise counsel outlives him as those close to him knew it would. Often politicians try to solve, with other peoples' wealth, economic problems better left to free enterprise solutions guided by Adam Smith's invisible hand. -dh |
Before the Congress succumbs to any renewed yearning for a "National Energy Strategy" to serve as a moral substitute for war, it ought to take a hard, cold look at the energy policies of the 'Seventies.
He continued: As a whole the massive intervention of the federal government during the Energy Crisis years did more harm than good, and the good that did emerge was often at an exorbitant cost to consumers and taxpayers. The failures stemmed from the false premise that real energy costs tend to rise instead of fall over the long term, an overemphasis on oil and oil imports, and the assumption that public officials and panels of experts are more competent to pick future technical winners than risk-taking investors.
|
|
Governor Bill Walker (NGP Photo) proposes to cut 185 jobs…. We believe that Alaska Headlamp is providing the single most useful daily report on legislative happenings in Juneau that affect the oil and gas industry. We will link our readers, daily, to that excellent site (See right column), produced by the Alaska Support Industry Alliance. -dh
Analysis, CBC, by Kyle Bakx. The fate of new oil pipelines in Canada is in a sorry state.
|
"Our Own Worst Enemy" Our commentary: And we remind readers to not forget that Governor Frank Murkowski (NGP Photo) in the last decade had created a deal with producers to move forward with a gas export project years ago. …and in a previous generation, your publisher served as Director of Public Affairs for the Arctic Gas Project, participating in passage of the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act of 1976. We will not forget that magnificent project that would have provided a market for both Alaska and Mackenzie Delta gas. It was supported by virtually all of the major North American gas pipeline companies, producers and large city distribution companies–but opposed by Alaska's Governor, Bill Walker, among others. We will not forget that the Arctic Gas Project, due partly to Canadian politics arising from the Justice Berger report and a compliant NEB decision gave the project instead to an ill equipped applicant who then faced a depressed natural gas market upon being certificated in Canada and the United States. Yes, over the years, it can be said that Alaska and Canada have been their own worst enemies, economically at least. With disapproval of Keystone XL and so many other natural resource projects, the U.S. federal government might also join the consortium of those whose motto is: "We are our own worst economic enemy". -dh Reader response: Randy Kerr, Canada, to 1-21-16 "Our Own Worst Economic Enemy": No question, you are right about that Dave. Crazy what’s happening in Canada these last couple of years. It just keeps getting worse and AK doesn’t seem any different. |
The imperiled Northern Gateway project. The Obama-rejected Keystone XL venture. The protest-filled Trans Mountain expansion. And the suspect political support around the Energy East proposal.
With the oil market in a severe downturn and stiff opposition greeting every pipeline proposal, there is debate over whether this country will ever break ground on new export pipelines.
"We run the risk that we missed the window of opportunity."
Even veterans of the oil patch aren't certain of the answer.
"It's a legitimate question," said David Collyer, the former president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP). "It's not out of the realm of possibility." Dave Collyer – former CAPP president
Today's Alaska Headlamp, continued:
Those cuts would leave the state with just over 24,000 workers across all agencies, the smallest figure since 2007.
Senator Anna MacKinnon (NGP Photo), co-chair of Senate Finance, said the governor’s proposal “hasn’t really reduced spending overall in the state’s budget” … “I’m not sure we’re really reducing state government,” she said. “We’re just moving the shell.”
Leave A Comment