FERC delivers report on Alaska gas line

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission dutifully filed its first report to Congress Feb. 1 on progress made in licensing and constructing the Alaska natural gas pipeline. In 13 pages drafted under provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, FERC summed up the issue, the players and the plan, but offered little new insight into the gas line’s prospects. The new law also requires the commission to make additional reports to Congress every 180 days until first gas flows in the pipeline.

FERC listed three potential projects being seriously considered, including one currently being negotiated by the State of Alaska and North Slope gas producers. Despite ongoing impediments, the industry and governmental agencies are pursuing resolution of all issues, jurisdictional, environmental, permitting and financing raised by development of an Alaska pipeline, the commission said. It also noted that further development of the respective projects “will only occur after the project sponsors have concluded a successful negotiation with the State of Alaska under the state’s Stranded Gas Act.

For a look at the complete report, visit “What’s New” on the commission’s Web site, www.ferc.gov/.

—Rose Ragsdale