Last newsletter of 2019! Last Newsletter of 2019! Happy Holidays — and Hilcorp December 24, 2019 Dear Friends and Neighbors, Happy Holidays! It's been hectic at the office as we get ready for session while preparing for the season of celebrations with family and friends. Now it’s Hannukah, which means fried food. Is it any wonder why I love this time of year? Edric Carrillo from my office speaking with a constituent at our Holiday Open House. Thanks For Coming. Let’s Talk! Dozens of folks came through the Capitol for our delegation’s Holiday Open House on Friday. It was great talking to so many neighbors about the issues facing Alaska right now (plus holiday cookies!) I look forward to talking with more folks around the district in a couple of weeks. Here's the schedule for upcoming town halls: Gustavus Library: Jan. 6, 6-8pm Skagway AB Hall: Jan. 8, 6-8pm Klukwan Jilkaat Kwaan Center: Jan. 9, 6-8pm Haines Chilkat Center: Jan. 10, 6-8pm  If you can't make it, or you’d rather talk one-on-one, give me a call at 465-4947 and we’ll find a time that works. Pondering the Patch & Pipe I went to Anchorage last week for a Joint House and Senate Resources Committee meeting. We got together to ask questions on the record about what the future would look like if Hilcorp buys all of BP’s Alaska assets. The focal points were competition on the North Slope, Alaska jobs, and the pipeline. There have been questions for a long time about how much chance new companies really have to compete on the North Slope. Sure, smaller operators can get leases from the state, but they often have a tough time breaking in with the major producers to get space in their processing & treatment facilities before oil goes into the pipeline (which the producers also own.) That means a few large companies have a lot of leverage in our state‘s oil patch. Hillcorp taking over all of BP's operations doesn't help that balance. They'll have around 26% of Prudhoe Bay's operation, 32% of Pt. Thomson, and half each of Milne Point, Liberty, and ANWR. There's also the issue of jobs. BP has agreements with Alaska workers and labor organizations that put Alaskans to work first. Hilcorp‘s history doesn’t really include union workers or strong commitments to local hire. That’s a problem for an industry built on extracting Alaska’s resources. Finally, if Hilcorp buys out BP, that will include around half the Trans Alaska Pipeline System. There were some questions about that, too, but it shone a spotlight on something else. Oil will flow through the pipeline for a long time to come, but some day it’ll need to be demolished and cleaned up. Its been years since the state estimated the price tag for that. But TAPS owners have been collecting money toward the eventual cost since day one. The kicker is: they’ve collected several times the last estimate, and regulators haven’t required them to keep the cash in an account. Alaska just expects these companies will stay solvent indefinitely and uphold their obligations. That’s a risky approach when the owners are publicly traded companies. It’s riskier still as the companies get smaller and don’t have to report their finances to the public through the Securities and Exchange Commission. This was the first hearing on the proposed purchase. We need to have a few more to make the right decisions to protect Alaska’s future. With Rep. Story, presenting a Citation in memory of Speardon James—a wonderful Alaskan taken from us too early. Happy Holidays Above all, my staff and I wish you and yours a happy, healthy holiday, and a wonderful new year. Edric, Cathy, and I hope you get some time with loved ones. We look forward to seeing what this 2020 brings. All my best, Did someone forward you this newsletter? Did you fall into it through the series of tubes? Want more? SUBSCRIBE Events around District Q Juneau Swing in the New Year Celebrate with fun and dancing to the music of the Juneau Big Band on Dec. 31. Here’s more. Juneau "Silent Sky" Go check out Perseverance's astronomical new play, starting Jan. 10. Here are the details. Haines First Friday Come out for the first Friday of the new year on Jan. 3. The month’s theme is “Cold Nights, Hot Soup” — sounds perfect for January. Here are details. Skagway 78th Annual Eagles Christmas Eve Pageant Join Santa and his elves for this longstanding tradition on Dec. 24. Here’s more. Is there an event in our district I should know about? Please call or email! Visit Me! Alaska State Capitol Room 419 Juneau, AK 99801 800 550 4947 907 465 4947 Email Me! ‌ ‌ ‌ Contact My Staff: Edric Carrillo 907 465 6419 [email protected] Cathy Schlingheyde 907 465 6827 [email protected] Senator Jesse Kiehl | Alaska State Capitol, Rm. 419, 4th Avenue & Main Street, Juneau, AK 99801 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | About Constant Contact Sent by [email protected]