CBC News.  Joe Oliver sworn in as finance minister, Greg Rickford replacing Oliver at natural resources.

Fairbanks News Miner by Matt Buxton.  After a marathon floor session that stretched well past five hours, the Senate passed Gov. Sean Parnell’s Senate Bill 138 that grants the administration sweeping power to partner with North Slope producers to move forward on the first stages of the $45 billion to $65 billion project.

Commonwealth North TODAY:

Today’s forum is on Alaska's Potential Investment in a North Slope Natural Gas Pipeline Project, Dena’ina Center, 3rd floor, room A, 11:30 a.m. in Anchorage. 

CWN Series Discussion on Alaska's Investment in a

Natural Gas Pipeline Project

Gasline Knott.jpgIn February, Commonwealth North hosted the UAA Seawolves Debate Team to debate both sides of the question, Should the State of Alaska take an ownership stake in a North Slope gas pipeline project?  The team did an excellent job of representing both sides of this important public-policy issue.  The debate was both entertaining and informative and was also the beginning of a series of forums Commonwealth North will hold to present an in-depth analysis of possible State participation in a North Slope gas pipeline project. 

Over the next several months, Commonwealth North will present three panels to discuss various aspects of this topic on March 19, April 23, and May 21.  The panels will address a number of issues Commonwealth North Members and other Alaskans are concerned about. 

The implications of State participation in a gas pipeline project.   

  • Could State participation be financially beneficial to the State?
  • Would State participation increase the likelihood of the project's success?
  • Are there options for Alaska other than an equity share that would help move the project forward?
  • What are the possible benefits to the producers of State participation?

Panelists for TODAY, March 19th:

Nikos TsafosNikos Tsafos, Founding Partner of enalytica and currently advisor to Alaska Legislature on Natural Gas Projects; former Director of Global Gas Practice for PFC Energy; former Researcher, Burke Chair in Strategy, Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Dan DickinsonDan Dickinson, Trained as a geologist at Brown University and currently holds a CPA license for Alaska. He has served in several state and municipal administrations, including as the director of tax for the State of Alaska in both the Murkowski and Knowles administrations. His consulting practice concentrates on state and local taxes (SALT) with a focus on oil and gas.

Pat GalvinPat Galvin, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for Great Bear Petroleum Operating LLC. He is a former Commissioner of Revenue for Alaska under Governor Palin, and has a long history of working on Alaska oil and gas issues, including the pursuit of a natural gas pipeline. In addition to his law degree, Pat has an MBA in Finance and Taxation.

Larry persilyLarry Persily will moderate the panels.  Persily is the federal coordinator for Alaska natural gas pipeline projects and a former deputy commissioner at the Alaska Department of Revenue.

Additional panelists for this series will include: Gregg Erickson, Tim Bradner, Steve Rieger and others.