In Today's ADN, Paul Jenkins opines that:  … "With a pen stroke, Walker switched the board’s focus from pipeline to politics, with a different outlook and differing goals and needs.

"Now, Walker wants to beef up ASAP, the Legislature’s baby, and have it compete with the larger project. ASAP started life in 2010 as a small-diameter, in-state backup to the producer's gigantic Alaska LNG Project to move gas from the North Slope to Nikiski.

"ASAP was bumped up to a 36-inch diameter line, but Walker considered it uneconomical — even threatened defunding. Now, for whatever reason, he wants to boost its capacity — and sell gas to Asian buyers.

"While the state owns a minority chunk of the larger project, ASAP allows Alaska complete ownership — and all the risk. It could sell pieces to other investors — buyers, perhaps — but retain control, Walker says."