KTUU Opinion by Senator John Coghill (NGP Photo).  

Respectfully, Gov. Bill Walker, with the best of intentions, has proposed “up-sizing” the Alaska Stand Alone Pipeline project, ASAP, as leverage for prospective negotiations with producers in the Alaska liquefied natural gas project, AKLNG.

On its face that “sounds good.” Unfortunately, up-sizing ASAP may result in significant negative consequences.

As we listened to testimony this session, a few themes developed: 1. the State, if Governor Walker continues on his path, may itself become a “risk factor” for alignment with AKLNG, and 2. if the State pursues two projects at once, it may likely undermine both projects.  More….