1-30-12

Steve Forbes Wows Alaskans!

Alaska Dispatch by Alex DeMarban.  Apocalyptic natural-gas nightmare still a concern for Southcentral Alaska

Petroleum News by Kristen Nelson.  House plan combines existing bills, wraps ANGDA into AGDC with same board

This January 2012 message from the Chairman of the Retired Public Employees Association, Bob Doll, reflects why it is critical now to both cut government spending and improve the investment climate leading to sustained economic growth, as Steve Forbes advocates below.  The State of Alaska owes $4 billion to the Teachers’ Retirement System and more than $6 billion to the Public Employees Retirement System.  Those debts  represent deposits which the state should have made into PRS/TRS, but did not, and interest which it should have earned on the trust funds, but has not.  As bad as it may be at the moment, the state’s obligation will only increase in the years to come.  Entire message/  (Comment: One wonders why the public hears of no bills in the Legislature to completely pay off PERS/TERS liabilities with over $10 billion in current state savings accounts--and thus free our children of that debt.    -dh)

Factbox: Enbridge pipeline to the Pacific: facts and issues - Reuters - (Reuters) - Enbridge Inc's Northern Gateway pipeline is aimed at opening up lucrative overseas markets for surging Canadian oil sands production, but it has become highly contentiousLarry Persily, Federal Coordinator, By Dave Harbour as Ottawa and the oil companies that support the project seek to fend off opposition from environmental and aboriginal groups.

From Larry Persily (NGP Photo), the Federal Coordinator's office: The public can offer input on the environmental impact statement for the proposed $32 billion to $41 billion Alaska natural gas pipeline project during seven meetings scheduled between Jan. 30 (TODAY) and Feb. 13. 

Forbes Notes

by
Dave Harbour
 
Dan Sullivan, Anchorage Mayor, by Dave HarbourLast week the Anchorage Economic Development Commission (AEDC) convened one of the largest luncheon meetings in Anchorage's history as Mayor Dan Sullivan (NGP Photo) and publisher Steve Forbes gave 1500 patrons a lot for their money.
 
After Sullivan revealed exceptionally strong statistics comparing Anchorage's quality of life with that in other cities, Bill Popp (NGP Photo), President Bill Popp, AEDC, by Dave Harbourand CEO of AEDC noted that AEDC forecasted 1,100 jobs would be added to the Anchorage economy. “We were a little off but happily so, as we expect that Anchorage will end the year with about 1,500 new jobs added to the economy,” stated Popp. “Last year was Anchorage’s second year on the growth track since 2009. As we move into 2012 all signs indicate that this trend will continue.”
 
Forbes (NGP Photo, with Junior Achievement members) entertained the audience with a non-stop barrage of commentary targeted to Alaska's particular ecomic challenges and America's general economic roadblocks.  He later autographed his books after posing for this photo with the students.
 
On Alaska, Forbes said that the State had the worst energy tax structure in the world -- except for North Korea.  "With a sustainable tax structure," he said, "you attract investment and get the hay while the haying is good".   "If we get a change in November, maybe ANWR will be opened and not just be a place reserved for mosquitoes."
On America.  "This is not the 'new normal',"  Forbes said, "it is the 'new abnormal' and there is no excuse for it.  I love the Washington excuse," he said, "that if you have a financial crisis 'the economy will be slow'."  He described the stability a gold standard gives an economic system.  He spoke of the rising value of gold during the last decade as compared with the relative stagnancy of stock values--due the increased liquidity provided by the Federal Reserve and overall government spending.
HOUSTON, TX: Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), has partnered with the Colorado Oil and Gas Association andColorado Farm Bureau to host the upcoming 2012 Colorado Election Energy Summit being held on February 6, 2012 at the Colorado School of Mines.  The event will be the first in the U.S. presidential race to discuss the importance of responsible energy development for the nation’s economic future and move towards increased energy security. This release not only announces the event, but also welcomes presidential candidate Rick Santorum as a featured, and confirmed, guest.

Huffington Post: Alaskan State Representative Submits Resolution To Turn Central Park Into Wildlife Refuge - Republican state representative Kyle Johansen (NGP Photo) Kyle Johannsen, Ketchikan, ANWR, Central Parksubmitted this hilarious resolution Monday to the state legislature asking the federal government to, "declare Central Park to be a wilderness area and to prohibit any further improvement or development of Central Park unless authorized by an act of Congress." (Comment:  Rep. Johannsen does have a point, as from the Alaskan point of view, members of Congress from northeastern states who regularly oppose natural resources development in Alaska do not have to deal with a substantial percentage of their home states locked up as national parks, wildlife refuges, national monuments, national forests or wildnerness areas like Alaska does.  - AG)