Less than ten years after oil started flowing, Alaska’s economy cratered. The recession was quick and deep. Ten banks failed, real estate values plummeted and tens of thousands of people fled the state. It was Alaska’s great recession, 20 years before the rest of the country went through almost the same thing.

Ep. 6: When the lights went out - Alaska’s great recession

The world is getting warmer. The weather is getting weirder. And in Alaska, we have a front row seat. This summer, Alaska’s Energy Desk returns with all-new episodes of our podcast, Midnight Oil.  Season Two is called The Big Thaw. Last season, we looked back -- at the state’s roller-coaster history with oil. This time, we're looking forward, to one of the biggest question marks ahead: climate change. What does it mean to be an oil state in a warming world?

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

If you liked Midnight Oil, you'll surely like Cruise Town, a new podcast from KTOO about Juneau, Alaska -- a town of 32,000 people, playing host to over a million cruise ship passengers every year. It explores how Juneau became a cruise town, what it’s like to live in a cruise town and what the city’s future holds in light of the industry’s explosive growth.

Check out Cruise Town

Alaska is on the verge of a new oil boom -- and the village of Nuiqsut is right in the middle. Oil development is affecting Nuiqsut more than any other indigenous community in Alaska. And the village faces tough choices. How do you maintain a way of life when the oil industry is knocking on your door?

Bonus: The Neighbors

Midnight Oil is back! Alaska is on the verge of a new oil boom -- and the village of Nuiqsut is right in the middle. Oil development is affecting Nuiqsut more than any other indigenous community in Alaska. And the village faces tough choices. How do you maintain a way of life when the oil industry is knocking on your door? Reporter Elizabeth Harball tells the story in a bonus episode of Midnight Oil coming May 9, 2019.

Bonus Episode: Coming Soon

Alaska’s new governor promised to pay dividends of more than $6,000 when he was running for office. But delivering on that promise isn’t going to be simple. It might not even be possible, because the legislature that holds the permanent fund’s purse strings. What do lawmakers think about Dunleavy’s promise? Will they work with him or against him to balance the budget and pay big dividends?

Paying Dividends, Ep 1: Making Good

Midnight Oil listeners know that Alaska’s an oil state and that Alaskans get a personal cut of the state’s oil wealth every year in the form of a dividend. But oil prices are way down and the state has a multi billion dollar budget deficit. Our new podcast ‘Paying Dividends’ explores the struggle our governor and lawmakers face to keep paying those oil checks and also keep the state running.

Ep. 6: When the lights went out - Alaska’s great recession

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