By the Fish and Wildlife Service’s ANWR comment period conclusion yesterday, Alaska’s State Senate President and Speaker of the House had joined with Anchorage’s Mayor and others to support reasonable development of ANWR’s oil and gas resources as called for in section 1002 of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.  See previous comments.

Governor Sean Parnell’s Comment (NGP Photo, below-L)

Senate President Gary Stevens‘ Comment (NGP Photo-L)

House Speaker Mike Chenault’s Comment (NGP Photo-R)

 

Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan’s Comment (NGP Photo-below)

 

Associated Press by Becky Bohrer.  Federal regulators approved plans Monday allowing a second gas pipeline project in Alaska to begin seeking shipping commitments in what’s known as “open season.”  Monday’s decision by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission sets the stage for overlapping open seasons by competing projects, though it’s widely expected that there will be just one major gas line — if one gets built at all.  Backers of Alaska’s two projects have seen the buy-in of the North Slope’s major players — Exxon Mobil Corp., BP PLC and ConocoPhillips — as critical to the viability of a natural gas pipeline, which has long been seen as a way to create jobs and help shore up revenue for the state as North Slope oil production declines.  TransCanada Corp. began its 90-day open season April 30. It holds an exclusive license with the state, under terms of the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act pushed by then-Gov. Sarah Palin (NGP Photo-L), that provides up to $500 million to advance a project. TransCanada is working with Exxon Mobil Corp. to do so and has reported early, positive interest.  Denali, which got the go-ahead Monday and is proceeding without the special state incentives, plans to begin its open season July 6. Denali is a joint effort of BP and ConocoPhillips, and its president, Bud Fackrell (NGP Photo, above-R), has defended Denali’s proposal as highly competitive.  …  Gov. Sean Parnell (NGP Photo-L) has called the open seasons a positive for Alaska and said he’d work to protect Alaska’s interests throughout the process. Among his challengers are Republicans Bill Walker (NGP Photo-L), who supports a so-called “all Alaska” line and Ralph Samuels (NGP Photo-R), a former state representative who has called the inducement act a “colossal mistake.” … TransCanada and Denali have put forth plans to deliver about 4.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day to North American markets by larger lines to Canada, with goals of being in service by around 2020. Denali Bill Walkerestimates its project cost at $35 billion; TransCanada, $32 billion to $41 billion.  TransCanada also has offered a shorter, cheaper option — at $20 billion to $26 billion — that would lead to a liquefied natural gas facility that could export fuel by ship. Denali spokesman Dave MacDowell said Denali would consider such an option as well, if its potential customers asked it to do so.  The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission did require some changes to Denali’s plan….  MacDowell said none of the issues raised in the regulators’ decision caused Denali any concern.