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Suncor (TSX:SU), Canada's largest energy company, boosted its stake in the Fort Hills oil sands project​

ADN by Pat Forgey.  The big oil companies that plan to produce and ship North Slope natural gas have agreed to pay $16.5 billion in property taxes on the huge project, but they'll pay them to the state instead of local governments, Revenue Commissioner Randy Hoffbeck said Wednesday.

Financial Post: TransCanada layoffs.  

“This past Monday, employees were informed of organizational changes being implemented over the next several months. At this time, our new structure has resulted in a reduction of some senior leadership positions. Moving forward, staffing levels will be further impacted,” wrote company spokesman James Millar in an email.

Alaska Governor Bill Walker, Legislative Special Session, LNG, Photo by Dave HarboourNGI Daily by Joe Fisher.  Alaska Gov. Bill Walker (NGP Photo) plans to hold a special session of the state legislature next month related to the Alaska LNG project. The main, and perhaps only, topic is expected to be a potential state buyout of TransCanada Corp.'s stake.

Alaska Journal of Commerce by Tim Bradner.  

Steve Butt, ExxonMobil, Ak-LNG, Alaska gas pipeline, gas conditioning plant, cook Inlet, Photo by Dave Harbour, NikiskiAlaska LNG Project managers presented an upbeat report on technical progress of the giant gas project in a Sept. 9 briefing to legislators, but also warned of the economic challenges faced.

Steve Butt (NGP Photo), an ExxonMobil official who is manager of the overall project, described the possible complications of an expansion of the pipe diameter requested by Gov. Bill Walker. However, if the expansion were done the goal would be to keep the project on schedule for a 2018 or 2019 construction decision, he said.

Butt said there are about 1,000 people at work on….  More…

A deal would have to occur by Dec. 15 due to provisions of agreements between the state and the pipeline company. Lawmakers have received notice of the special session, which is expected to end by Thanksgiving.  More….

Forbes by Brigham A. McCown.   Alaska was long at the vanguard of America’s energy industry. At one time the State of Alaska accounted for as much as one-quarter of the entire country’s domestic oil production. Alaska’s vast fields also served as a source of pride – and the backbone of the state’s economy. As production surged, it was common to hear industry men revel in the United States’ diminishing reliance on foreign supplies as they worked rigs up and down regional reserves.

Yet, as energy development in the lower 48 has burgeoned over the past decade, those refrains have waned….   More…