Northwest Territories spurns Alaska energy study

Gary Park

The Alaska Legislature’s joint committee on gas pipelines is getting a divided, sometimes chilly response as it tries to woo Canadian governments to participate in a joint study of northern energy development.

The Yukon is in; the Northwest Territories are out; Alberta and British Columbia are weighing their decisions.

Sen. John Torgerson, chairman of the Alaska Legislature’s joint natural gas pipelines committee, told reporters in Edmonton that members of the committee came to Canada because they wanted to talk to “colleagues and friends in all the provinces and territories” about joining Alaska “in a joint committee where we could talk over a lot of these questions and problems before they get to be a big media event.”

Torgerson also said Alaska’s position on the pipeline routing is not negotiable.

“There’ll be no pipeline unless it comes down through the state.”

Yukon has joined, Torgerson said.

But Northwest Territories Energy Minister Joe Handley rejected the invitation, saying the Alaskans refused to let the committee discuss all routing options for shipping North Slope gas to the Lower 48.

“We don’t want to be part of the committee because the Alaskans have done things on their own and now they’re coming to the table after the fact,” he said.

Alberta Energy Minister Murray Smith said the province may join the study after sending a delegation to a special meeting in Anchorage next month. “We’re going through the process and looking at joining the committee,” Smith said.

Although the Alberta government has avoided choosing a preferred route for Arctic gas, Premier Ralph Klein said earlier this year he wants Mackenzie Delta gas moving before a line is constructed through Canada from Alaska.

“We’re supportive in Alberta of both pipelines coming down, although if one is to have priority we would give it to the Canadian line,” Klein said.

“It would be an economic boost to Alberta companies because most of the supply of pipeline materials, engineering and all of the things associated with transporting that gas, the exploration, the recovery would involve Alberta companies.”