More Critical Alaska LNG hearings today. Tune in live, here!
| AP's Becky Bohrer explains the Alaska LNG challenge that the Legislature grapples with this month in Juneau. -dh |
APR, Rachel Waldholz. Who’s the boss of Alaska LNG? I am, Walker says. As lawmakers close out the first week of their special session on the Alaska LNG gas line project, there’s one question in the air — why are we still here?
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Juneau Empire by James Brooks. Alaska LNG project head, Steve Butt (NGP Photo) says project is on course.
KTUU by Austin Baird. TransCanada: Alaska LNG Project no longer 'commercially reasonable' for company
Alaska Headlamp Report to date:
Who's the Boss? The Associated Press and Alaska Public Radio Network covered reports that lawmakers are waiting on Governor Bill Walker to produce details of how, and who, from the state would assume TransCanada's role in the AKLNG pipeline and gas treatment plant. House Speaker Mike Chenault put it this way: "While I respect the governor, I don't think that he has the time to be in charge of the state and also the gas pipeline project and do a good job with both…there needs to be somebody in the administration where the legislature or Alaskans can go to and say, 'What's going on? Where are we at? And, give us an answer!'" The Governor noted that while he is not involved in day to day negotiations, he speaks weekly with counterparts at the state's three oil company partners and gets daily phone updates from officials. There appears to be a common line of questioning this special session:
Can We Get a Straight Answer? Attorney General Craig Richards again cited attorney client privilege in front of yesterday's Senate Finance Committee. Senator MacKinnon and the Attorney General were involved in more than a few testy exchanges as members of the Committee looked for more clarity in the leadership at AGDC. Senator MacKinnon asked AG Richards if she could call AGDC President Dan Fauske and request he waive that privilege, to which Richards responded "I don't know if he has the authority." Headlamp wonders if anyone other the Governor and his Attorney General have any authority on AKLNG anymore.
No longer "commercially reasonable". KTUU covered reports that TransCanada supports the governor's plan to buy its share of the Alaska LNG Project because "it is no longer commercially reasonable" to continue with the current arrangement, according to an official who testified Thursday in the Capitol. Lawmakers questioned whether the statement implies that Alaska LNG itself wasn't viable, to which a TransCanada official responded, "The project, as far as we see it, still has a lot of potential."Headlamp notes the difference between "reasonable" and "viable". The project is still viable at this stage – the arrangement with the state is no longer reasonable according to TC.
First Reads
Senate majority wants exit plan for TransCanada; Walker says he's got it
Alaska Public Radio Network, Rachel Waldholz, October 30, 2015
Alaska Legislature News
Endowment plan for Permanent Fund would add stability to chaotic budget
Alaska Dispatch News, October 31, 2015
AKLNG News
TransCanada: Alaska LNG Project no longer 'commercially reasonable' for company
KTUU, Austin Baird, October 30, 2015
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AK Headlamp is a project of the Alaska Support Industry Alliance.
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