Enstar's Cook Inlet gas storage plan (Kenai Loop Pool)
The Regulatory Commission of Alaska denied Enstar's request for an advance determination that its proposed Cook Inlet gas storage project was prudent, in a 17-page order the Anchorage Daily News reported on July 10th, saying the utility lacked basic information. The $240 million plan would have bought the depleted Kenai Loop Pool from AIX Energy to hold 25 billion cubic feet of gas, close to half Enstar's annual demand, and Enstar suspended it after the order. The commission denied Enstar's petition for reconsideration 3 to 2 on August 21st, with a written order to follow. Enstar applied to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission on September 17th to store gas in the Kenai Loop field, with a hearing tentatively set for November 12th. On October 13th the Division of Oil and Gas issued a preliminary written finding that a Kenai Loop storage lease to ENSTAR would best serve the state's interest, ahead of Hilcorp's competing application, and public comment on that finding runs until 5 p.m. on November 13th.
How the public reaches this
Anyone may comment on the Division of Oil and Gas's preliminary written finding for the Kenai Loop storage lease until 5 p.m. on November 13th, per the state's public notice. The RCA prudency question stays with the commission, a governor-appointed, legislature-confirmed body whose dockets the public reaches through formal comment and intervention.
Timeline
Sources
Every document a fact on this page was checked against.
How this decision moved
One dated line per material change, oldest first.
2026-07-11 Tracked from this run's verified claims. RCA denied Enstar's advance prudency determination in a 17-page order (ADN, July 10); Enstar suspended the $240M Kenai Loop Pool storage project. The storage fix for Southcentral's Cook Inlet gas crunch is off the table for now; DNR technical/lease determination and the competing Hilcorp application remain unresolved.
2026-08-03 Reopened. Enstar filed a 31-page petition for reconsideration on July 24, 2026, calling the denial erroneous and the Kenai Loop Pool the only viable commercial storage option in Cook Inlet. The commission has thirty days to respond and inaction denies the petition automatically, which puts the next decision point on or about August 23, 2026, thirty days from the filing. Status moves back from decided to pending. Re-verified today against Alaska Public Media, July 24, 2026.
2026-08-04 Re-verified against Petroleum News, August 2, 2026, and against the commission's July 8, 2026 order, which Alaska's News Source published in full. The petition for reconsideration was filed July 23, 2026, not July 24 as this entry recorded, which puts the thirty day mark on or about August 22, 2026. The order called an advance determination of prudence an extraordinary request not explicitly contemplated in the commission's governing statutes or regulations, and found the record lacked a sufficient factual basis to judge the $240 million investment prudent. Enstar disputes the finding that a DNR pore space lease approval must come first, and says that starting in 2027 it anticipates a surplus when gas supply purchases will exceed customer demand.
2026-08-08 Checked and unchanged. No commission order on Enstar's petition for reconsideration has been published. The 31-page petition, filed July 24, 2026, calls the denial erroneous and describes the Kenai Loop Pool as the only viable commercial storage option in Cook Inlet, at an estimated $240 million against more than 150,000 Southcentral customers. Thirty days from filing keeps the next decision point on or about August 22.
2026-08-15 Checked and unchanged. Enstar's 31 page petition for reconsideration, filed July 23rd, is still before the Regulatory Commission of Alaska with no action reported. Thirty days from filing falls on or about August 22nd, after which the petition is denied automatically. The commission's July 8th order still stands as the operative decision on the $240 million Kenai Loop Pool project.
2026-08-16 Re-verified through Alaska Public Media's account of the filing. Enstar's 31 page petition for reconsideration is still before the commission, which has thirty days to act, after which the petition is denied without an order. That falls in the week of August 22nd.
2026-08-19 Checked and unchanged. Enstar's 31 page petition for reconsideration, filed July 23rd, is still before the Regulatory Commission of Alaska with no action reported. The commission's July 8th order denying an advance determination of decisional prudence for the $240 million Kenai Loop project remains the operative decision. Thirty days from filing falls on or about August 22nd, three days out, after which the petition is denied by operation of law.
2026-08-20 Checked and unchanged. Enstar's July 23rd petition for reconsideration is still before the Regulatory Commission of Alaska with no order reported. The commission's July 8th order denying an advance determination of decisional prudence for the $240 million Kenai Loop project stands. Thirty days from the filing falls on August 22nd, which is the date already on this entry.
2026-08-21 Checked and unchanged. Enstar's petition for reconsideration, filed July 23rd, is still before the Regulatory Commission of Alaska with no reported action. Thirty days from filing falls on or about August 22nd, one day out, after which the petition is denied by operation of law. The commission's July 8th order denying an advance determination of decisional prudence for the $240 million Kenai Loop project remains the operative decision.
2026-08-26 The thirty days ran. Enstar filed its 31 page petition for reconsideration on July 23rd, and Alaska Public Media's account of the rule is that the commission has thirty days to respond and that inaction is an automatic denial. Thirty days fell on August 22nd, which has now passed with no order reported anywhere this entry can reach. The Regulatory Commission of Alaska's own site refuses an automated read, so the absence of a published order is not proof that none exists, and this entry says only what can be checked. The July 8th order denying an advance determination of decisional prudence for the $240 million Kenai Loop project is still the operative decision, and Enstar has said the project is suspended without it.
2026-08-30 Reconsideration was denied. In a notice dated August 21st, 2026 and posted August 24th, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska voted 3 to 2 against Enstar's request to reconsider the July 8th order, which had refused an advance determination of prudency for a roughly $240 million gas storage investment at the Kenai Loop gas field. Commissioners DeVries, Johnston and Springsteen were in the majority, with Espindola and Vogler dissenting. The commission said it wanted "to further explain the basis for that denial in a written order" but had no time to prepare one before the August 22nd statutory deadline, so that order is still to come.
2026-09-03 Checked and unchanged. Nothing has published since the Regulatory Commission of Alaska refused reconsideration in its notice dated August 21st, 2026, so the denial of an advance determination of prudency stands and the storage proposal stays suspended.
2026-09-07 Checked and unchanged. Enstar's appeal of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska's denial of the Kenai Loop Pool storage project stands where the August rulings left it and no new order has been posted. The utility's petition of July 23rd, 2026 put the project at $240 million and said it serves more than 150,000 Southcentral customers.
2026-09-11 Checked and unchanged. Nothing new has been posted since the August rulings. The record still runs from the Regulatory Commission of Alaska's July order denying Enstar an advance determination of decisional prudence for the Kenai Loop Pool project, through Enstar's 31 page petition for reconsideration filed July 23rd, 2026, to the denial of that petition in August. Enstar's own description of the reservoir, in president John Sims's words, is that it is "almost perfect for what Enstar views as short term and long term needs". The estimated $240 million cost would be the largest single capital investment in the utility's history, and Southcentral goes into this heating season without the storage it would have added.
2026-09-15 Checked and unchanged. Nothing new has been posted since the August rulings. The record still runs from the Regulatory Commission of Alaska's July order denying Enstar an advance determination of decisional prudence for the Kenai Loop Pool project, through Enstar's petition for reconsideration, to the commission's 3 to 2 denial of that petition on August 21st with a written order to follow. That written order has not appeared.
2026-09-24 Checked and unchanged. No written order on the Regulatory Commission of Alaska's August 21st denial of reconsideration has been reported, and nothing newer than the July and August rulings appears in coverage of the Kenai Loop Pool project.
2026-09-28 Checked and unchanged. Coverage of the Kenai Loop Pool project still runs no later than the Regulatory Commission of Alaska's July and August rulings, and no written order on the August 21st denial of reconsideration has been reported.
2026-10-02 Checked and unchanged. Searches of statewide coverage today found nothing on the Kenai Loop Pool newer than the Regulatory Commission of Alaska's July and August rulings, and no written order on the August 21st denial of reconsideration has been reported.
2026-10-06 Petroleum News reported on October 4th that the Army Corps of Engineers issued a public notice on September 29th for Hilcorp's 7.38-acre gas storage pad in the Beluga River unit, processed on an emergency basis, with comments due October 30th. The same report says the Division of Oil and Gas is still weighing competing storage proposals from Hilcorp and Enstar at Kenai. No written order on the RCA's August 21st denial of reconsideration has been reported.
2026-10-10 Searched statewide coverage today and found nothing on the Kenai Loop Pool newer than the Petroleum News report of October 4th on Hilcorp's Beluga River storage pad, whose Army Corps comments remain due October 30th. The Division of Oil and Gas has published no decision between the competing Hilcorp and Enstar storage proposals. Checked and unchanged.
2026-10-14 Petroleum News reported on October 11th that Enstar applied to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission on September 17th to store gas in the depleted Kenai Loop field. Enstar's reservoir simulation puts initial gas in place at 32.3 billion cubic feet, and its conceptual nine-well plan would hold about 20.5 billion cubic feet of working gas. Written requests for a hearing are due by 4:30 p.m. October 20th, and the commission has tentatively set a hearing for November 12th at 10 a.m. Hilcorp has also applied to use the same state leases, and the Division of Oil and Gas has published no lease decision.
2026-10-15 The Division of Oil and Gas issued a preliminary written finding on October 13th concluding that a Kenai Loop gas storage lease to ENSTAR would best serve the state's interest, and called Hilcorp's competing application insufficient. ENSTAR's proposal would hold about 20.5 billion cubic feet of working gas with about 8 billion cubic feet of cushion gas. Comments on the preliminary finding must be received by 5 p.m. on November 13th, per the state's public notice.
2026-10-16 Alaska Public Media reported on October 16th that the City of Kenai wrote to Natural Resources Commissioner John Crowther on October 7th asserting that the city owns the Kenai Loop reservoir pore space, citing an outside legal opinion, and that City Manager Terry Eubank called the preliminary finding's omission of that dispute misleading. Division of Oil and Gas director Haley Paine wrote the finding. Comments go to dog.bif@alaska.gov and remain due 5 p.m. November 13th, as the state's notice set out.
2026-10-17 Re-read the Division of Oil and Gas public notice today. Comments on the preliminary finding for a Kenai Loop gas storage lease must be received by 5 p.m. November 13th, and requests for disability accommodation are due October 30th. Checked and unchanged.
2026-10-19 Re-read the Division of Oil and Gas public notice today. It was published October 13th, comments on the preliminary finding for a Kenai Loop gas storage lease of about 500 acres must be received by 5 p.m. November 13th, and requests for disability accommodation are due October 30th. Checked and unchanged.
2026-10-19 Read the Division of Oil and Gas preliminary written finding of October 13th in full today. It weighs ENSTAR's May 7th application against Hilcorp's May 11th application for the same reservoir and favors ENSTAR, finding Hilcorp provided about one quarter of the requested data and did not present a dynamic reservoir model. ENSTAR plans about 20.5 billion cubic feet of working gas, about 8 billion of cushion gas and a peak of 150 million standard cubic feet a day with nine wells. The finding says the state has clear authority over the pore space, and the City of Kenai disputes that in an October 7th letter reported by KDLL. Comments remain due by 5 p.m. November 13th.
2026-10-22 Re-read the Division of Oil and Gas public notice today. Comments on the preliminary finding for the Kenai Loop storage lease remain due by 5 p.m. November 13th, and the notice shows no change to that date. Checked and unchanged.
2026-10-25 Re-read the Division of Oil and Gas public notice today. Comments on the Kenai Loop storage lease preliminary finding remain due by 5 p.m. November 13th. The notice was last modified October 14th and still carries one attachment, the director's signed preliminary decision. Checked and unchanged.
Articles on this decision
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Cite this
Alaska AI Docket, Enstar's Cook Inlet gas storage plan (Kenai Loop Pool).
Tracked since July 11th, last verified
October 25th. https://alaskaaihq.com/docket/enstar-cook-inlet-gas-storage/ · Reuse permitted under
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Questions about this decision
Answered from this record, rebuilt every day. The same answers come back instantly from the box on the docket page, where you can ask about anything else on it.
What is Enstar's Cook Inlet gas storage plan (Kenai Loop Pool)?
The Regulatory Commission of Alaska denied Enstar's request for an advance determination that its proposed Cook Inlet gas storage project was prudent, in a 17-page order the Anchorage Daily...
Who decides Enstar's Cook Inlet gas storage plan (Kenai Loop Pool)?
Regulatory Commission of Alaska (prudency); Alaska DNR (storage lease and technical determination)
Can I comment on Enstar's Cook Inlet gas storage plan (Kenai Loop Pool)?
Anyone may comment on the Division of Oil and Gas's preliminary written finding for the Kenai Loop storage lease until 5 p.m. on November 13th, per the state's public notice. The RCA prudency question stays with the commission, a governor-appointed...
When is the deadline for Enstar's Cook Inlet gas storage plan (Kenai Loop Pool)?
November 13th, 16 days out. Comments on the Kenai Loop storage lease preliminary finding due, 5 p.m.
Where is Enstar's Cook Inlet gas storage plan (Kenai Loop Pool)?
Kenai Loop Pool, Cook Inlet near Kenai
Has Enstar's Cook Inlet gas storage plan (Kenai Loop Pool) been decided?
It is open for comment. Read the Division of Oil and Gas preliminary written finding of October 13th in full today. It weighs ENSTAR's May 7th application against Hilcorp's May 11th application...
What happens next with Enstar's Cook Inlet gas storage plan (Kenai Loop Pool)?
AOGCC hearing on the Kenai Loop application tentatively set, 10 a.m., November 12th, 15 days out.
What changed on Enstar's Cook Inlet gas storage plan (Kenai Loop Pool)?
Read the Division of Oil and Gas preliminary written finding of October 13th in full today. It weighs ENSTAR's May 7th application against Hilcorp's May 11th application...
What kind of decision is Enstar's Cook Inlet gas storage plan (Kenai Loop Pool)?
A regulatory docket, decided by Regulatory Commission of Alaska (prudency); Alaska DNR (storage lease and technical determination).
When did Enstar's Cook Inlet gas storage plan (Kenai Loop Pool) start?
Tracked since July 11th, 109 days ago. The earliest date on its record is July 10th.
Where can I read the sources for Enstar's Cook Inlet gas storage plan (Kenai Loop Pool)?
Alaska DNR Division of Oil and Gas, Alaska Public Media, Anchorage Daily News, Regulatory Commission of Alaska, Alaska's News Source, Petroleum News. Every one is listed with its date on the decision page.
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