8-24-12

Joe Arness: Clearly, some portion of our current income stream should be dedicated to energy security. That would include both renewable and non-renewable sources. Simply giving lip service to such planning will leave us wanting as time goes by...there needs to be a funded, thoughtful program whose purpose is to review and encourage alternatives.

 

Cathy Giessel: Rising energy costs affect businesses and citizens. The Legislature must act to facilitate an in-state natural gas pipeline, bringing that fuel to as many Alaskans as possible. The Legislature has begun this process through two different pipeline projects. The first was a large diameter pipeline through Canada to the Lower 48, called Alaska Gasline Inducement Act (AGIA). Significant natural gas production in the Lower 48 has made that project less likely to proceed.  The Legislature established the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) to pursue a smaller diameter, in-state gasline to supply Alaskans and to allow for exported gas. The Alaska Stand Alone Gas Pipeline (ASAP) was told to find the most economic way to bring gas to Alaskans and to tidewater, either in Prince William Sound or Cook Inlet. AGDC has been making great progress on the ASAP. The State is considering several possibilities for partnering on the project.