Alaska Gov. Parnell touts energy plan
Published Wednesday, September 30, 2009
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FAIRBANKS — Gov. Sean Parnell stressed the need for affordable Alaska energy during a speech to the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, saying the state needs a well-rounded philosophy to meet its future needs.
Parnell spoke at the chamber’s annual membership meeting at the Westmark Hotel, using the occasion to tout four elements of a state energy plan — oil and gas development, renewable energy, conservation and assistance to those who need help.
He told the crowd that filled the Westmark conference room that affordable energy can allow modern residents to enjoy the same chances that the state’s pioneers once had.
“This can still be a land of opportunity,” he said.
Parnell’s speech didn’t delve into many specific details, instead highlighting a comprehensive approach to energy that he said his administration will pursue.
Much of the speech focused on the development of a natural gas pipeline in Alaska in the near future.
Parnell said the interest of four major companies — TransCanada, Exxon Mobil, BP and ConocoPhillips — was a good omen for a future gas pipeline.
“Now the challenge is to get them working on the same proposal, the same project,” Parnell said, drawing chuckles from the audience.
Parnell said a few milestones in the gas line process are coming up, perhaps most notably an “open season” solicitation for gas suppliers that will be held in 2010.
He said there will likely be conditions placed on any proposals that are offered by those customers and that the state is eager to see whether it can build negotiations from those terms. He warned that it might not be an entirely smooth process.
“There may be times when milestones feel like rocks,” Parnell said. “The road’s going to get bumpy at times.”
Parnell stressed that an energy solution will require more than a gas line to Outside markets. He said an in-state line for Alaska customers also is a priority, whether it’s a spur off a larger gas line or a “bullet line” that delivers smaller quantities of gas to local markets.
Parnell said Alaskans also need to focus more on energy conservation as a step toward independence. He said an energy review was just completed on the drafty Governor’s Mansion in Juneau, and he urged others to take steps to conserve fuel in their own lives.
Emerging forms of alternative energy also need to be part of a broader solution. He said recent tours of a wood-pellet plant in Delta Junction and a wind farm on Kodiak Island emphasized the need for new approaches to energy needs.
“We are not putting all of Alaska’s energy needs in one basket,” he said.
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“Now the challenge is to get them working on the same proposal, the same project,” Parnell said, drawing chuckles from the audience.
The funny/sad thing is experts who have researched the North America energy markets also chuckle at the AGIA plan to carry gas from Alaska to a market that ALREADY has plenty of gas. What's the point? There is so much gas in North America that the Canadians are getting ready to export gas to the premium world markets- just like Alaska voters have (repeatedly) asked.
Its time for a governor who will not ignore the market realities and the wishes of Alaskans.
Another cold winter is almost upon us. Another winter where the Interior and rural Alaska will NOT have affordable energy or clean air.
Enough!
http://www.billwalkerforgovernor.com/
Exporting LNG is economical and more efficient than attempting to maintain a gas line over six times the length of the existing oil line. Why hasn't any of the administrations even considered the port authority plan?
Wonder why no one has come up with a plan to pipe Slope gas to the Alaska's north west coast, like Nome or Kotzebue and then have an under the Bering sea pipeline (fifty miles) to Russia and then down it goes to market in Asia. Heck this is where Shell has bought all the off shore leases. Won't even need to ship from the slope, just pipe it direct from the wells in an undersea pipeline. Wonder if this is why Siberia is building the LNG plant on the coast as we speak. Alot can happen in ten years.
Yes, yes, yes. I think we're all in agreement that there is a need.
So...do something about it!
Enough talk, enough money getting dumped into repetitive feasibility studies, enough in fighting, enough kowtowing to Big Oil.
Do Something!
Five comments, if this had been a Palin speech we would have had over 100 by now.
Hemp-The Wonder Weed! should be a part of a clean energy plan. North Dakota and Ohio have freed industrial hemp, and Alaska should follow suit. We can grow a lot of fuel! Not enough to run the state, of course, but enough to make a dent in the need for clean, sustainable energy. It's also the most nutritious food on the planet, so health care bills will go down too if Alaskans started eating a bunch of hemp seeds. But hey, let's just keep feeding the corporate hands that rip us off, OK? I have little hope that things will ever change, but I had to get my two cents worth in.
Why is it that time-after-time the same people are re-elected? I remember someone saying right before the last vote, "First Gas to Fairbanks Wins"! Where is he right now? Why is it they never do anything in Juneau either? Or at least I have not saw any articles that I can remember of. I guess if we re-elect the same ones, we get the same results - NOTHING!
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