Stevens and Begich promote energy plans
 Click here to go directly to this story within the full PDF version of this issue, with any maps, photos or other artwork that appears in some of the articles.
Email it to an associate.
Both want a similar mix of traditional, renewable and alternative fuels, plus conservation measures and consumer protection
Eric Lidji Petroleum News
As the election year entered its final half and the state embarked on a new fiscal year, Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, and Gov. Sarah Palin jointly discussed the energy issues facing Alaska on July 2.
In the state during a congressional break around Independence Day, Stevens laid out an energy plan based on increasing all forms of production, as well as enacting new legislation to limit market speculation and curb litigation that delays new development.
Palin mainly provided support; news of her appearance came just before the meeting began. But sitting in the Federal Building in downtown Anchorage, the two politicians refused to discuss campaign issues.
The event came just a few days after Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, a Democrat running for Stevens’ senate seat, began a statewide tour to promote his energy plan.
Open ANWR and share OCS Stevens four-part plan involves increased domestic production of traditional fossil fuels, increased spending toward renewable and alternative fuels, several measures to promote conservation and new protective policies designed to remove legal roadblocks to production and limit the role of speculators in oil markets.
Many of the ideas come from existing legislation Stevens has sponsored or co-sponsored recently, including several bills that have stalled this year.
Stevens wants to allow drilling in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and use all the revenue generated from the fields to fund alternative and renewable energy projects, as well as grants for efficiency and weatherization. Stevens estimated that these revenues would hit $300 billion over 30 years.
While the federal waters around Alaska are currently open to drilling, the state doesn’t share in the revenues to the extent that states around the Gulf of Mexico do. Stevens wants to give Alaska 37.5 percent of the revenues from Offshore Continental Shelf development, with a quarter of that money going directly to coastal communities.
Begich’s plan would also call for opening ANWR and increasing Alaska’s share of offshore drilling to 37.5 percent, but would use OCS revenues, rather than ANWR revenues, to fund renewable energy projects.
Stevens wants to further streamline the permitting process for an Alaska natural gas pipeline to the Lower 48. Begich wants to work with developers to guarantee spur lines and dedicate a portion of the revenues from the project to local communities.
Increase alternative power To increase renewable and alternative sources of power, Stevens wants to study energy storage options and technology for capturing methane, and wants to have the U.S. Department of Energy conduct an inventory of the water resources in Alaska. He would also promote grants and tax incentives to increase nuclear power.
Begich calls for generating at least 25 percent of electricity across the state and the country from renewable sources by 2025. In Alaska, that would mean developing wind, geothermal, tidal, hydropower and biofuels, as well as methane extraction from the Anchorage Regional Landfill.
To increase conservation, Stevens would allow federal employees to work from home to reduce commutes, while Begich would create a revolving loan fund to retrofit government buildings with energy efficient technology.
Protection for consumers Stevens recently co-sponsored legislation along with Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., to decrease speculation in oil markets by restricting the role of institutional investors and limiting trading only to companies with actual energy-related assets. The Begich plan involves, “stopping Wall Street speculation of oil markets that is driving up oil prices.”
Stevens also wants quicker timelines for lawsuits involving energy development. He wants to pass legislation requiring appellate courts to decide those cases in 90 days.
Begich wants to “Close tax loopholes for multinational oil companies” and use the extra revenue toward developing renewable resources.
| 
