.EU News.  UPI.  The oil and gas sector in the Canadian province of Alberta hinges on the outcome of the open season for TransCanada’s gas pipeline to the Lower 48 states.  Calgary Herald (Story and map).  In a potential blow to Alberta’s petrochemical sector, the proposed Alaska pipeline could bypass the province depending on the outcome of an open season filed Friday by the main sponsors — Calgary-based TransCanada Corp. and Irving, Texas-based Exxon-Mobil Corp.  KTUU by Rhonda McBride.  "This is all about the shippers," said Bud Fackrell (NGP Photo-right below), the Denali Pipeline president.  Some argue that the biggest threat to Alaska’s gas line is huge reserves of shale gas in the Lower 48.  "North America is not sitting there waiting for Alaska Gas. Shale gas and unconventional gas is being developed," Fackrell said. ADN by Sean Cockerham.  "Can anyone afford to spend $41 billion and find a way to pay for that investment when natural gas is so cheap?" said Senate President Gary Stevens (NGP Photo-left above), a Kodiak Republican. "I think we all have to question that and wonder how it’s going. … There’s reason to be concerned, reason to be fearful of what the future is for Alaska."  That was the environment faced by TransCanada Vice President Tony Palmer (NGP Photo-left below) when he came to the state Capitol Monday and assured lawmakers that the project is right on track. The company on Friday filed its plan for an "open season" during which it hopes the oil companies will commit to be its customers and ship the North Slope natural gas they produce.  (Commentary: If Alaska Legislators come to believe the prospects for North Slope gas are so dim, the argument for moderating oil taxes to allow for the return of a healthy oil exploration and production investment climate increases.  Without a gas pipeline, and with an oil pipeline 2/3 empty the state will soon not have a pot to spit in.  Is this depressing?  Of course, and without corrective action it is the omen of a coming depression.  What if the Denali and/or TransCanada gas pipeline projects produced positive open season results?  Alaska’s election year rejection of a fiscal certainty package for gas pipeline investors would still cause further delay of a project.  Election year or not, this is the year to both moderate the oil and gas tax burden and to provide fiscal certainty regarding that burden to future investors.  There is no defensible reason to delay.   -dh)