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By: Jennifer Thompson

The federal coordinator's office for an Alaska natural gas pipeline is sponsoring a public forum Oct. 18 on what could be done to help the economics of a large pipeline from the North Slope to the Lower 48 states, while also supporting a smaller in-state spur line to serve Alaska's needs. The forum will be held in Anchorage and streamed live 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," said Federal Coordinator Larry Persily.

The forum is intended to start a discussion to get Alaskans thinking: What could the state do to help gas line economics? How much risk can or should the state take on? Are there benefits and cost savings from working the big pipeline and smaller in-state line together, forming one overall path to a prosperous future for Alaska?

The Office of the Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects will bring together panelists knowledgeable about the state's economy and the economics of large energy projects to discuss the state's fiscal options for assisting in any gas line development. The panelists will discuss potential financing options and how the two projects could benefit by working together.

"The economics of any large-scale gas pipeline project are daunting. Shippers must commit years in advance by signing binding contracts worth more than $100 billion to move their gas down the line, regardless of the market price in 2020, 2030 and beyond," Persily said. "The worry of construction cost overruns is real. The timing of production and property taxes is within the state's control and is a big factor in any investment decision on the pipeline, such as the billion-plus dollars in property taxes payable during pipeline construction. The forum will discuss these issues."

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

The forum is set for 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, at the University of Alaska Anchorage Fine Arts Building Recital Hall (Room 150). The forum is open to the public, and there will be time for questions. Seating will be limited, though overflow space will be available in a room down the hall.

The forum also will be available via live Internet streaming Oct. 18 and will be available online after the event, too. Streaming information and other forum details, including biographies of the speakers, supplemental materials and a link to electronically submit questions during the forum, can be found on the federal coordinator's website www.arcticgas.gov.

Congress established the Federal Coordinator's office in 2004 to expedite and coordinate federal permitting for a pipeline to deliver natural gas from Alaska's North Slope to U.S. markets. 

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Public forum to look at what could help the Alaska gas pipeline