From Elizabeth Bluemink --

The federal Bureau of Land Management said Monday it has appointed Ron Dunton to run its Office of Pipeline Monitoring in Anchorage. He replaces Jerry Brossia, who retired last year.

Dunton has been working for BLM in Alaska as a gas pipeline project manager since 2009. His career with BLM began in 1969. He previously worked for the BLM in Washington, D.C., New Mexico and Idaho. Much of his past experience involved wildfire management on BLM land.

From Bill White –

Two University of Alaska Anchorage economists are forecasting that construction spending statewide this year will grow 4 percent, to $7.1 billion.

From Bill White --

Kenai Peninsula cut-flower peony growers have formed a collaborative marketing group.

The growers say they’ll be branding their flowers for national and international markets. They have 34,000 peonies in the ground in Homer, Sterling, Soldotna and Fritz Creek, they said.

Daily News reporter Elizabeth Bluemink wrote a story in 2009 about the peony industry taking root in Alaska. She wrote:

From Bill White --

Rachael Petro is the new chief executive of the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce.

Petro recently was deputy commissioner of the state Department of Administration and previously held other positions in the executive branch and with the Legislature, the chamber said.

"Petro is the perfect leader to ensure that the 'Voice of Alaska Business' is heard and that policies are adopted to attract investment and jobs," said Kip Knudson of Tesoro Alaska Co., the chamber's board chairman.

Becky Bohrer, The Associated Press --

JUNEAU — BP estimates that it could begin producing oil off Alaska's coast in 2013, despite the fact that construction of the massive Liberty rig has been suspended indefinitely.

BP said last fall that it was suspending construction of the rig to review its engineering and design plans, and ensure the Liberty project can be done safely.

From Bill White --

Wards Cove, a major seafood company in Alaska, has been sold to BSAI Partners, the companies announced.

BSAI is a joint venture between Siu Alaska Corp. and Coastal Villages Pollock. Siu is a subsidiary of Norton Sound Economic Development Corp. Coastal Villages is owned by Coastal Villages Regional Fund.

Chris Kahn, The Associated Press

NEW YORK - Exxon Mobil earned $9.25 billion in the last three months of 2010, its most profitable quarter since the record third quarter of 2008.

The largest publicly traded oil company said Monday that net income grew 53 percent in the fourth quarter as it produced more oil to take advantage of higher prices.

From Bill White --

A website that typically provides accurate info on the Apple Store chain says the retailer will be opening a store in the Anchorage Fifth Avenue mall downtown. Maybe by late this year.

The site says:

Apple has settled on the large second-level space that Eddie Bauer is vacating at month’s end, and which is adjacent to a busy pedestrian skybridge over West 6th Avenue leading to Nordstrom.

From Bill White --
Sam Robert Brice

This year’s inductees in the Alaska Business Hall of Fame are the Brice family of Brice Inc., Harry McDonald of Carlile Transportation Co. and the Quinn Brothers of Capital Office Systems.

Selected for posthumous recognition is Jim Bowles, the late president of Conoco Phillips Alaska Inc.

Junior Achievement of Alaska Inc. and Alaska Business Monthly magazine sponsor the hall of fame.

From Elizabeth Bluemink --

The trans-Alaska pipeline returned to full production on Wednesday after a series of emergency shutdowns prompted by a leaky pipe in early January.

The pipeline operator, Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., said Wednesday that it is now producing 630,000 barrels of oil per day — its normal output. So far, the company has not detected any problems caused by the low temperature of the oil flowing through the line.

The company said it is still monitoring for ice buildup or other problems that may have developed in the line during the shutdowns.

From Elizabeth Bluemink --

Two Lower 48 businessmen who committed to raise millions of dollars to develop an Alaska gold mine on an island just south of Kodiak were arrested Wednesday on counts of securities and wire fraud.

The men are accused of bilking millions of dollars from unwary investors in the Sitkinak Island gold mine and an unrelated real-estate scheme in the Lower 48.

From Bill White --

Conoco Phillips, the largest oil producer in Alaska, said its profits from Alaska (see page 6 of the link) last year totaled $1.735 billion. That compares with a $1.54 billion profit in Alaska in 2009.

Worldwide, the company posted an $11.4 billion profit last year.

The main reason for Conoco’s higher profit from Alaska was higher oil prices.

From Chris Kahn, The Associated Press --

NEW YORK - Conoco Phillips said Wednesday its fourth-quarter net income jumped 54 percent as oil prices increased and its refining operations turned a profit.

The Houston company reported net income of $2 billion, or $1.39 per share, for the final three months of 2010. That compares with $1.3 billion, or 86 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue grew 22 percent to $53.2 billion.

From Tim Huber, The Associated Press --

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Obama administration's own experts estimate their proposal for protecting streams from coal mining would eliminate thousands of jobs and slash production across much of the country, according to a government document obtained by The Associated Press.

From Bill White --

Chugach Electric Association said it has refinanced $275 million of debt at a weighted average interest rate of 4.57 percent.

The new lending will pay off old debt that was coming due this year and next, the Anchorage power company said. The old debt carried interest rates ranging from 6.2 to 6.55 percent, so Chugach’s annual borrowing costs will fall, the utility said.

From Bill White --

Northrim Bancorp Inc. reported profits of $9.1 million last year, up 17 percent from a year earlier.

The increase reflects continuing improvement in credit quality, increased gains from sales of foreclosed real estate and lower expenses, the Anchorage-based banking company said.

Pat Reilly
From Bill White --

Pat Reilly, long-time former owner and chief executive of Rain Proof Roofing in Anchorage, has resumed ownership and management of the roofing contractor.

Rain Proof was founded in 1962 and Reilly joined the business in 1973. He became president in 1983, succeeding Jack Markley, the company said.

Reilly sold the business in 2002 to UIC, the Native village corporation in Barrow. He retired from the company three years later.

From Bill White --

The state says Alaska exports grew 30 percent through October last year.

Gov. Sean Parnell pegged the total value of Alaska exports during those 10 months at $3.8 billion.

Among the exports are:

-- Pollock, salmon and other seafood.
-- Zinc and lead, primarily from the Red Dog mine near Kotzebue.
-- Gold from a variety of mines from the Interior to Southeast.
-- Forest products from Southeast.

Seafood was up 12 percent to $1.7 billion in value. A banner year for salmon helped lift that number, the state said.

By Michael Rubinkam, The Associated Press --

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Activist shareholder groups want energy companies to do a better job of reducing the risks of hydraulic fracturing, the drilling technique that's unlocked vast stores of previously inaccessible natural gas while raising concerns about environmental contamination.

From Bill White --

First National Bank Alaska posted a $40.4 million profit last year, up 9 percent from a year earlier, the Anchorage-based bank said.

“While the demand for loans remains flat in the face of Alaska’s uncertain economy, the bank enjoyed improved performance during the year in two key areas: our ability to limit significant loan losses, as well as reduced expenses related to foreclosed properties in 2010,” said Jason Roth, chief financial officer.