Natural gas committee contracts with Northern Economic Research

Petroleum News - Alaska Staff

The Joint Committee on Natural Gas Pipelines has contracted with Fairbanks-based Northern Economic Research Associates to provide professional economic services to the Legislature as it continues working to bring Alaska’s North Slope natural gas reserves to market.

Sen. John Torgerson, R-Kasilof, committee chairman, said Jan. 14 the committee has contracted with the economic research firm to provide economic research, analysis and modeling services. The $168,000 contract runs from Jan. 7 to June 30.

“Natural gas represents an important new phase of Alaska’s petroleum and petrochemical industry, and it is important that we have expert advice on how the state should proceed in pursuit of new opportunities,” said Torgerson, who will serve as project director for the contract. “I am pleased that our search for the best talent in the nation led us back to an Alaska company, and I’m confident Northern Economic Research Associates will be a big help in the committee’s work.”

Northern will assist the committee on four specific natural gas projects: construction of a natural gas pipeline through Canada to ship natural gas to North American markets; construction of a natural gas pipeline to Southcentral Alaska or Valdez for export as liquefied natural gas; construction of natural gas pipelines for in-state needs; and construction of a gas-to-liquids plant on the North Slope or other area within the state.