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ConocoPhillips had sought to build up to five drill sites, dozens of miles of roads, seven bridges and pipelines. The Interior Department approved the project with three drill pads after saying last month that it was concerned about the greenhouse gas impacts of Willow. Its Bureau of Land Management last month recommended a "preferred alternative" that includes three drill sites and less surface infrastructure than originally proposed. The decision comes after the Biden administration on Sunday announced new protections for Alaskan land and water. Environmental groups criticized the Biden administration, saying it was trying to have it "both way" on climate change.

☆ CERAWEEK Biden climate law will stumble without permitting reform, industry warns
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HOUSTON, March 6 - The Biden administration's climate law, which provides hundreds of billions of dollars in clean energy incentives to fight global warming, won't be fully effective without permitting reform, executives told the CERAWeek energy conference on Monday. "If the permitting reform doesn't happen, the IRA may not get its full use and benefit," Bold Baatar, who runs the copper business at mining giant Rio Tinto Plc (RIO.AX)(RIO.L), told the Houston conference. White House Energy Adviser John Podesta told the conference permitting reform was high on the administration's agenda. "The permitting process for clean energy infrastructure, including transmission, is plagued by delays and bottlenecks," Podesta said. "I was a little bit nervous, because when John Podesta kept talking about permitting reform, he only talked about renewables," Sullivan told the conference.

☆ Factbox: What is the Willow project in Alaska, and why do green activists oppose it?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] The sun sets behind an oil drilling rig in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska on March 17, 2011. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File PhotoMarch 13 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden's administration on Monday announced it would approve a trimmed-down version of ConocoPhillips' Willow oil and gas drilling project in Alaska, triggering angry reactions from climate activists. Here are some details about the project:WHAT IS THE WILLOW PROJECT? The Willow project is a $6 billion proposal from ConocoPhillips (COP.N) to drill oil and gas in Alaska. The Willow project area holds an estimated 600 million barrels of oil, or more than the amount currently held in the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the country's emergency supply.

☆ Factbox: Willow oil and gas project in Alaska sparks green opposition
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

March 3 (Reuters) - Environmental and climate activists are rallying online against ConocoPhillips’ proposed Willow oil and gas drilling project in Alaska as the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden weighs whether to greenlight the controversial plan. Here are some details about the project:WHAT IS THE WILLOW PROJECT? The Willow project is a $6 billion proposal from ConocoPhillips' (COP.N) to drill oil and gas in Alaska. The Willow project area holds an estimated 600 million barrels of oil, or more than the amount currently held in the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the country's emergency supply. The Biden administration has also been urging U.S. oil companies to invest in boosting production to help keep consumer energy prices in check.

☆ Sarah Palin came all the way to CPAC to campaign against the election system that cost her Alaska's House seat
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Sarah Palin came all the way to CPAC in Maryland to speak out against ranked-choice voting. But in practice, Republicans have seen their chances thwarted by ranked-choice voting systems in both Alaska and Maine, spurring opposition. Mathias also flipped proponents' argument on its head, arguing that ranked-choice voting actually increases divisiveness. He cited infighting between the two Republican candidates — Palin and fellow GOP candidate Nick Begich — that allowed Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola to prevail in both the special election in August and the general election in November. Bryan Metzger/InsiderConservatives in Washington have begun mobilizing against ranked-choice voting as well, with Republicans in Congress criticizing the system.

Review: Is the Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card the Best Credit Card for You? Alaska Airlines discountsWhen you pay with your Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card, you'll get a $100 discount off a full Alaska Lounge+ membership. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightAlaska Airlines Business Card Fees and CostsThe Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card has an annual fee of $70 per company and $25 per card, and doesn't have foreign transaction fees, so it's a useful card to take on trips abroad. If you're not quite in that range, there are plenty of great travel rewards credit cards that you may be eligible for with good credit score, including the personal Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card (you can read our review of the Alaska Airlines credit card for more information). If you're a small-business owner and fly Alaska Airlines frequently, the Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card is worth it.

☆ Alaska Republican Censured for Asking If Child Abuse Benefits Society
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

An Alaska Republican has been censured by his colleagues for asking if fatal child abuse benefits society. At a hearing this week, Rep. David Eastman asked a witness if dead children save taxpayer money. ACT doesn't have a stance on abortion, per Alaska Public Media. On Wednesday, every one of his colleagues agreed to condemn him, voting 35-1 to censure him, according to Alaska Public Media. We cannot allow such atrocious, indefensible language to go undenounced," Alaska Democratic state Rep. Andrew Gray said, the outlet reported.

☆ See the photos that won National Geographic’s ‘Pictures of the Year’ contest
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Audrey Wan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

National Geographic announced the winning photographs from its first "Pictures of the Year" photo competition. The photo will be featured in an upcoming issue of National Geographic's U.S. magazine. Their photos will be published on National Geographic's Your Shot Instagram page, which has some 6.5 million followers. Salt wells on a hillside in the Salt Mines of Maras in Peru. An LiThe mines comprise around 4,500 salt wells, each of which produces some 400 pounds of salt per month.

☆ Virgin wins $160 mln in trademark dispute with Alaska Airlines
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Sam Tobin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Virgin units Virgin Aviation TM Ltd and Virgin Enterprises Ltd argued Alaska is liable to pay a roughly $8 million “minimum royalty” payment every year until 2039. Virgin granted a trademark licence to Virgin America to use its brand in connection with the operation of a U.S. domestic airline before Alaska Air Group Inc. completed its $2.6 billion acquisition of Virgin America. Alaska merged its operations with Virgin America in 2018 and stopped using the Virgin brand the following year. Virgin told London’s High Court in October that Alaska, as the legal successor to Virgin America Inc, is obliged to make the annual payment. The judge added that the terms of the agreement “must be approached from the perspective of Virgin and Virgin America ... and not from the perspective of Alaska”.

☆ Downed Chinese balloon aimed for Hawaii but was blown off course, U.S. official says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] The suspected Chinese spy balloon drifts to the ocean after being shot down off the coast in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, U.S. February 4, 2023. REUTERS/Randall HillWASHINGTON, Feb 15 (Reuters) - U.S. officials believe a Chinese balloon that was shot down after crossing the continental United States originally had a trajectory that would have taken it over Guam and Hawaii but was blown off course by prevailing winds, a U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Wednesday. U.S. military and intelligence agencies tracked the balloon from when it lifted off from Hainan Island near China's south coast, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday. The U.S. military said on Monday it had recovered critical electronics from the balloon as well as large sections of the vessel itself. Reporting by Jonathan Landay; Writing by Eric Beech, editing by Deepa BabingtonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ US officials say getting their hands on China's spy balloon was a 'key' reason for shooting it down near a South Carolina beach
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

US officials say balloons have crossed over the US before as part of a wider Chinese surveillance program. The eight-day wait and the sensitivity of those bases have alarmed lawmakers, who called defense officials to Capitol Hill on Thursday to explain their handling of the incident. US sailors recover a high-altitude surveillance balloon off of Myrtle Beach on February 5. US sailors recover a high-altitude surveillance balloon off of Myrtle Beach on February 5. A Chinese spy balloon drifts to the ocean after being shot down off the South Carolina coast on February 4.

Beijing condemned the shooting down of the balloon as an "obvious overreaction" and urged Washington to show restraint. Some U.S. Republicans have questioned why the balloon was not shot down before it was allowed to travel across the United States. Senior U.S. officials have offered to brief former Trump administration officials on the details of what the White House said were three China balloon overflights when Donald Trump was president. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China learned its balloon had drifted over the United States after being notified by Washington. On Sunday, Colombia's military said it sighted an airborne object similar to a balloon after the Pentagon said on Friday another Chinese balloon was flying over Latin America.

The United States operates a military base and nuclear missile silos in Montana, a state bordering Idaho. Military officials developed a plan to shoot down the balloon on Wednesday as it flew over Montana. BALLOON MANEUVERSThe U.S. government has declined to say which sites the Chinese balloon surveyed. On Friday, the Pentagon said it expected the balloon to keep flying over the United States for several more days. "That will make it fairly easy, actually," a military official said of the recovery operation in the Atlantic.

☆ China flew spy balloons over the US while Trump was president, but nobody realized until after he left office, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Chinese spy balloons had crossed into the US at least three times under Trump, officials said. Trump and former defense officials said over the weekend they were not aware of this. The sightings were only discovered "after the prior administration left," senior defense officials told both The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. "It never happened with us under the Trump administration and if it did, we would have shot it down immediately," Trump told Fox News Digital on Sunday. It's also unclear if balloons spotted during the Trump administration were shot down.

☆ A suspected Chinese spy balloon was seen operating near a US nuclear base housing 150 Minuteman ICBMs
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The US is tracking a suspected Chinese spy balloon, which has been hovering over Montana. Montana Senator Steve Daines said he feared it was targeting the state's nuclear missile base. Montana is home to the sprawling Malmstrom Air Force Base, which stores nuclear weapons. Malmstrom Air Force Base is one of three such bases in the US to contain Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles, a strategic nuclear weapon. Malmstrom maintains 150 intercontinental ballistic missile silos across its 13,800-square-mile complex, according to The Telegraph.

☆ China admits the 'spy balloon' over the US belongs to it, but insists it wasn't for spying and ended up there by accident
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The US is tracking what it termed a Chinese spy balloon, which has been hovering over Montana. On Friday, China confirmed the balloon belonged to it but said it was not being used for spying. In an official statement, China's foreign ministry said the balloon is a civilian airship used mainly for "meteorological research." "Clearly, the intent of the balloon is first surveillance, and so the current flight path does carry it over a number of sensitive sites," the official said. This has alarmed some officials, including Montana Senator Steve Daines, who said the fact the balloon was occupying Montana airspace "creates significant concern."

☆ Biden administration moves toward approval for major Alaska oil drilling project
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Emma Newburger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Biden administration on Wednesday recommended a scaled-down version of a major oil drilling project in the North Slope of Alaska, taking a step toward approving the $8 billion Willow plan that climate groups have long condemned. The Biden administration has 30 days to issue a final decision on whether to approve the Willow project. The Willow project would produce about 600 million barrels of oil over 30 years and would generate around 278 million metric tons of carbon emissions, according to Interior estimates. Kristen Miller, executive director of the nonprofit Alaska Wilderness League, called the Willow project a "massive climate disaster" and urged the administration to reverse its decision to advance the plan. "We should be prioritizing ways to preserve this irreplaceable ecosystem, by protecting critical wildlife and subsistence resources and avoiding increased climate pollution.

If everyone in the world expertly utilized credit card rewards to travel for free, there wouldn't be such amazing travel opportunities out there. Identify your travel goalsBefore you begin collecting credit card rewards, you should first identify your travel goals. Amex Membership Rewards points Capital One miles Chase Ultimate Rewards points Choice Privileges points Citi ThankYou points Hilton Honors points Hyatt points IHG Rewards points Marriott Bonvoy points Wyndham Rewards pointsYou travel with a large family Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Recommended credit card strategies for beginnersThe best practice for anyone new to credit card rewards is to invest in flexible points. You'll need: An annual fee-incurring Hilton credit card One of the greatest deals in credit card rewards is the free night certificate that comes with select American Express Hilton credit cards.

☆ Biden restores protections for Alaska's Tongass National Forest after Trump rollback
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Emma Newburger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Biden administration on Wednesday announced it's reinstating restrictions on logging and road-building on about nine million acres of Alaska's Tongass National Forest, the world's largest intact temperate rainforest. The rule, which was finalized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, repeals a Trump administration decision that stripped safeguards for the forest in southeastern Alaska. The rainforest is also considered critical for carbon sequestration and storage to help mitigate climate change. The country's forests absorb carbon dioxide equivalent to more than 10% of U.S. annual greenhouse gas emissions, according to the USDA. "As our nation's largest national forest and the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world, the Tongass National Forest is key to conserving biodiversity and addressing the climate crisis," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement.

☆ A tiny, remote village in Alaska is mourning the death of a mother and baby in a rare polar-bear attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Bethany Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A polar bear killed a mother and baby in Wales, Alaska, earlier this week. The bear killed 24-year-old Summer Myomick and her 1-year-old son Clyde Ongtowasruk on January 17 after it chased multiple residents of Wales, Alaska. A map showing the location of Wales, Alaska Google Maps/Insider"The polar bear was chasing them and tried to get in as well. Only 160 people live in Wales, Alaska, and a GoFundMe has been set up for the family of the deceased. This fatal bear attack is the first of its kind in over 30 years.

How to earn Alaska Airlines milesThere are two types of Alaska miles: Elite-qualifying miles and redeemable miles. Earn Alaska miles for car rentalsYou can opt-in to earn Alaska miles when you rent cars through Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, National, or Thrifty. Redeem Alaska miles for domestic flightsOne of the most popular ways to redeem Alaska miles is for domestic award flights on Alaska and its partner American Airlines. Redeem Alaska miles for flights on partner airlinesUsing Alaska Airlines miles for award flights on partner airlines is perhaps the best way to use your Alaska miles. Donate Alaska Airlines miles to charityYou can donate your Alaska miles to over a dozen different charities, in 1,000-mile increments, and with no maximums or fees.

Airline credit cards tout many flashy perks in order to entice new customers and maintain existing ones. However, one of the most underrated airline credit card benefits might just be a companion ticket. First, only a handful of airline credit cards actually offer them, which means consumers might not even be aware they exist. Let's look at the best credit card companion certificates by airline. What to know about airline credit card companion certificatesCompanion tickets offered by airline credit cards are amazing benefits that can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year — if you know how to maximize them.

☆ Alaska Airlines personal and business cards are adding new benefits, including priority boarding and 2x bonus categories, but it's not all good news
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Jasmin Baron | Read More | Read Less | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +23 min

Alaska Airlines credit cards are getting a makeover, with new perks and changes to earning categories. Alaska AirlinesBank of America has announced changes to the Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card and Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card . and Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card . Eligible accounts include business checking, business savings, business CDs, and Merrill business investment accounts. No other changesLike the Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card, the Bank of America Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card isn't making changes to its annual companion fare or 20% inflight rebate.

☆ Photos from space show 11,000 beavers are wreaking havoc on the Alaskan tundra as savagely as wildfire
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Beavers are invading Alaska's Arctic tundra as it warms, transforming the landscape like wildfire. As the Arctic tundra warms, woody plants are growing along its rivers and streams, creating perfect habitats for beavers. The beaver ponds create lush oases that could increase biodiversity, but they also play a role in accelerating the climate crisis. All in all, satellites reveal more than 11,000 beaver ponds have appeared across the tundra. Environmental Research Letters/Imagery © DigitalGlobe"All of western Alaska is now really densely populated with beaver ponds," Tape said.

In this guide, we'll give you a crash course on how to quickly earn credit card rewards and book free travel. If everyone in the world expertly utilized credit card rewards to travel for free, there wouldn't be such amazing travel opportunities out there. Identify your travel goalsBefore you begin collecting credit card rewards, you should first identify your travel goals. Recommended credit card strategies for beginnersThe best practice for anyone new to credit card rewards is to invest in flexible points. You'll need: An annual fee-incurring Hilton credit card One of the greatest deals in credit card rewards is the free night certificate that comes with select American Express Hilton credit cards.

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