by Ted Land
Thursday, April 8, 2010
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Lawmakers in Southcentral Alaska are applauding a big announcement from ConocoPhillips Thursday afternoon.
Cook Inlet operations manager Dan Clark told the state Senate Resources Committee that his company wants to keep the Nikiski liquefied natural gas plant running for a few more years, and is seeking an extension on the operating permit until March of 2013. The current federal permit with the Department of Energy expires in about a year.
The plant employs about 60 people and generates about $16 million a year in royalties and taxes.
"It's evident to us that there will be additional deliverability beyond what local needs are for the next couple of years, beyond the current export license," Clark said.
The permit extension is for existing volumes of gas and does not request any increases.
Contact Ted Land at tland@ktuu.com
