OFC sets forum on helping Alaska gas line

The Office of the Federal Coordinator for an Alaska natural gas pipeline is sponsoring a public forum Oct. 18 on what the state could do to help gas line economics for a pipeline to the Lower 48, while supporting an in-state line for Alaska’s needs.

The forum will be held in Anchorage and streamed line on the Internet.

“Alaskans want a natural gas pipeline for the public revenues it will produce, for the oil and gas development it will promote, for the jobs it will create and for the affordable long-term gas supply it will provide to meet local needs. To get all of that will take a big line moving a lot of gas to make it affordable,” Federal Coordinator Larry Persily said in a statement.

He said the forum is intended to start a discussion to get Alaskans thinking about what the state could do to help gas line economics, how much risk the state could or should take on and whether there are benefits and cost savings from working the big pipeline and smaller in-state line together.

Panelists will include William Garner, senior counsel at Dewey & LeBoeuf in Houston, who has extensive experience in energy projects worldwide; Gregg Erickson, longtime Alaska economist; and Dan Fauske, president of the state-run Alaska Gasline Development Corp.

The forum is from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 18 at the University of Alaska Anchorage Fine Arts Building recital hall. It is open to the public and there will be time for questions.

The forum will be streamed line on the Internet at www.arcticgas.gov and there will be a link to submit questions electronically during the forum.

—Petroleum News