 Senate Provisions for Gasline Development Good for Alaska, Nation April 26, 2002
"The Senate bill contains all the provisions that Alaska sought to make the natural gas line project economically viable and meet the needs of Alaskans," Knowles said. "It prohibits the so-called 'over the top' route and provides access to gas for residential and business purposes in Alaska, and access to the pipeline for future discoveries and production of natural gas. The bill also provides a needed financial safety net for investors against future volatility in the natural gas market." Knowles and Ulmer worked with the Senate Democratic leadership to ensure that the amendments were introduced in late February. The amendments follow the recommendations of the Governor's Alaska Highway Natural Gas Policy Council, composed of 28 Alaska business and civic leaders, for addressing the needs of specifying route, providing access, and reducing risk. "The gasline holds great promise for jobs for Alaskans, not only in construction and operation of the pipeline, but also in new industries based on gas as a feedstock," Ulmer said. "The energy bill could help keep Alaska energized." Knowles added that the Senate bill is in the nation's interest, providing a stable source of domestic produced energy that can meet the nation's needs for decades to come. Clean burning natural gas is the fuel of choice for home heating and electric generation and the Alaska Highway pipeline could deliver 4.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day to the nation's Mid-west, nearly ten percent of the nation's daily gas consumption. Knowles expressed his disappointment that the Senate proposal failed to include provisions to allow responsible development of the oil and gas potential in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). While it may be an uphill battle, the state will support efforts to have the ANWR provisions included in the conference committee process according to the news release.
Source of News Release:
|