ADN by AP.  Gov. Sean Parnell (NGP Photo) says a bill aimed at building an in-state natural gas pipeline quickly is heading in the right direction.  Parnell says he wants to work with Republican Sen. Lesil McGuire (NGP Photo) on her bill to give responsibility for an in-state line to the Alaska Railroad Corp.

Alaska Dispatch by Rena Delbridge.  … there are as many plans as there are people with platforms, especially in an election year, and each leader is as passionate as ever that his or her way is The Way.  … Former Gov. Bill Sheffield (NGP Photo-l), now a board member of the Alaska Railroad Corp., sees a classic Alaska-sized opportunity for the state to pay for a $4 billion in-state line and waive some fees to keep costs low for consumers. … Former Gov. Frank Murkowski (NGP Photo) said Alaska is "awash in proposals,"   …  Bill Walker (NGP Photo-l below), a candidate for governor and for years an advocate of an "all-Alaska" line to Valdez, just wants action.  … Parnell is running for governor this year. So are Republicans Ralph Samuels (NGP Photo) and Walker, who testified on Thursday. Bob Poe (NGP Photo-r), a Democratic candidate, issued a press release saying he’ll unveil a new gas plan on Friday.  One voice missing on Thursday? That of former Gov. Sarah Palin (NGP Photo), who drove AGIA’s creation but was also responsible for her administration’s in-state gas team. In summer 2008 she announced a new private-public partnership on an in-state gas line. She joined hands with Enstar, which had been evaluating a line, and the Alaska Natural Development Authority, which was exploring a spur line off a large-diameter line. Before long, Palin tapped Harry Noah as her in-state gas czar to head that work. He quit late last year, frustrated with a "civil war" brewing within the administration over funding and support for the various gas lines. Parnell asked Bob Swenson to take over.  Palin has been conspicuously absent from the renewed debate over gas options. Her representatives did not respond to a request for comment.

News Miner by Chris Eshleman.  “I do believe we’re at a crisis point now,” former Senator Ted Stevens said, adding that the prospect of liquefied natural gas sales in Asia represents “a profit margin we ought to enjoy.”   Stevens’ comments come a week after he told an Anchorage audience that the state should plunk billions down to help build an in-state gas pipeline through Fairbanks to Southcentral. Ripples from the speech immediately reached Juneau, where a variety of in-state distribution bills are in play, including one from House Speaker Mike Chenault that would ask voters to consider state aid for such a pipeline.  The comments came during a hearing on a pitch by Sen. Lesil McGuire, R-Anchorage, to task the Alaska Railroad Corp. with leading a study of the in-state pipeline proposal.