Could it be?

Could it be that at long last, something is going to happen?

This made the news on Wednesday:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/biz/6469570.html

Part of the reason this is so important can be found in this extremely well written article:

http://www.anchoragepress.com/articles/2009/06/05/news/doc4a26b94ba1fa4815668611.txt

The development of Alaska's resources are critical to our future here. The Governor, never mind the political warts, understands that we each own a part of it, and that it is her duty to see that development goes forward to sustain the state.

I was just about sickened when Murkowski's agreement with the oil companies was tossed out, even though the means by which he got that agreement really bothered me. And never mind that I felt the tax structure was a big bad deal. Tying our hands for 45 years was just flat over the top.

Then along came ACES, where the legislature upped Alaska's taxes to the highest in the world. I though that the ELF and existing taxes were more than adequate and likely too high as it was. ACES does nothing to encourage exploration and development. I thought it was nothing but a punitive act since the oil companies were making record profits.

And that leads us to AGIA. In case anyone is wondering, there was no "license" given to TransCanada to build the line. Really. It was a simple agreement between the pipeline company and the State, and we sweeetened the deal by promising them half a billion dollars for their efforts. Which they get to keep if the pipeline does not get built.

So in between all this, oil futures surged to record highs, then receded, and have started creeping up again. Heck, the other day I read a report that predicted oil at $250 a barrel. Positively blows the mind, doesn't it? But high energy prices really put a crimp on the economy last summer, and then of course we have had the housing collapse, the banking failures, TARP, and all the rest since then.

But I have to say that I did not expect ExxonMobile and TransCanada to agree to anything. This is an exciting development for the state, but time will tell whether or not this turns out to be boon or a boondoggle for us all. I am just hopeful that it means my son might have a job about the time he graduates from high school, and that the activity on the Slope gives Alaska and Alaskans, some cushion from the economic melt down in the Lower 48.