Prominent Alaskans support bill to task railroad with in-state line

March 18, 2010|by Ted Land

A slew of prominent Alaskans spoke in support of a bill that would task the Alaska Railroad with an in-state gas line. (Daniel Hernandez/KTUU-DT)

JUNEAU, Alaska — A chorus of prominent Alaskans is urging the state legislature to make in-state gas a reality, and now Gov. Sean Parnell is onboard.

The supporters include former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens.

He testified in a committee hearing Thursday evening at the state capitol.

At the meeting, lawmakers heard a bill sponsored by Sen. Lesil McGuire, which proposes the state put the railroad in charge of building an in-state gas line.

McGuire says the state corporation has the resources and right of way to get the job done.

She pulled an all-star lineup out of her contact list to convince colleagues of her plan.

On the agenda are former governors Bill Sheffield and Frank Murkowski, former state senator and now railroad chairman John Binkley, candidate for governor Bill Walker and Stevens, speaking via teleconference from Washington, D.C.

Stevens says declining oil production has brought Alaska to a crisis point.

He says the state should fast track an in-state line, instead of a line to the Lower 48.

"Do something now. Don't go home without doing something now to start this gas pipeline. I do believe unless something starts this year, the economy of our state is going to go downhill very rapidly," Stevens said.

Earlier in the day Senate Minority Leader Con Bunde told reporters the state does not have a good track record on building its own projects.

Some of his colleagues echoed that concern and say AGIA already allows for an in-state line to Valdez with the option of a spur line to Southcentral.

"All people have to do is step up to the plate and put their money where their mouth is and buy gas from the producers on the Slope and commit gas to that project during open season and TransCanada will build an in-state gas line," Sen. Thomas Wagoner, R-Kenai, said.

Parnell sent a letter to McGuire Thursday in support of her railroad bill.

In it, he acknowledges that there are multiple projects working to a similar goal.

Parnell says McGuire's bill is "headed in the right direction."

Contact Ted Land at tland@ktuu.com

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