Gov. Sean Parnell.jpg)
Governor Parnell has been busy shoring up from his administration’s Palin resignation hangover. His latest attempt to convince voters that he is the guy to keep this election is his recommendation that the 8 centState gasoline tax be rescinded for another two years. He is resisting any challenge to dump AGIA or to consider alternatives to AGIA in the face of admitted probability that the upcoming Open Seasons for both AGIA and Denali will be disappointing.
(Photo: Gov. Sean Parnell, right, with his alter ego, Lt. Gov. Craig Campbell)
Unfortunately for Alaskans, AGIA, like Denali seems to be aimed towards one end only. That end is to the ultimate benefit of the Producers and Canada. Canadian jobs, Canadian infrastructure, and our gas probably looped back and sold and exported to Asia via the soon to be LNG port at Kittimat, B.C.
Parnell has also recently announced his intent to seek the continued suspension of the State’s 8 cent per gallon gas tax for another 2 years. This move will not hurt, but will certainly not be the economic boost that starting the construction of a gas line project will be. Unfortunately for Alaska and Alaskans, this guy is determined to send Alaska’s gas, gas liquids, jobs, infrastructure, and any benefit from in-state use of the gas liquids to Canada. Not a good recommendation for keeping him in the Governor’s seat.
Candidate Ralph Samuels.jpg)
Candidate Ralph Samuels recently attacked Gov. Sean Parnell by opining publically in the 13 Jan., 2010 ADN that DNR Commissioner Tom Irwin should be fired for “bad judgment” and “poor” decisions. This criticism arises from the recent ruling by State Superior Court against the State in the State’s bid to rescind the Pt. Thompson leases of Exxon-Mobil. The Superior Court decision chastised the State for denying Exxon-Mobil “due process” rights in rescinding the leases.
Irwin has been the lead in creating ACES and AGIA, both of which Samuels has heavily criticized.
Samuels, a former legislator and House Majority Leader, has also criticized the Parnell Administration’s defense of ACES, the current tax system on oil development. ACES has been blamed by Samuels and others as the cause of the oil industry decline in Alaska.
Samuels has been successful in avoiding any commitment to any firm plans to arrest the State’s declining economic position, other than to state that he would rescind ACES and build the “bullet” line from the North Slope to Pt. McKenzie. He has stated that that his plan for the bullet gas line would be for the State to finance and build the pipeline as infrastructure, just as the State would a road.
The downside to this plan is the fact that the bullet line, or Noah pipeline as I like to call it, has had no permitting accomplished as of yet, has some serious engineering hurtles to overcome in terms of Hurricane Gulch, and has environmental issues that will need to be resolved. The proposed route passes through 2 parks and crosses at least 7 fish bearing streams. In other words, this route is a magnet for environmental no growth groups lawsuits.
Otherwise, Ralph Samuels has no plan other than to say that the State must “study” and “examine” all options in determining the course of the State’s economic course.
Just what we need, another 30+ years of do nothing studies.
Candidate Bill Walker .jpg)
Bill Walker is an interesting guy. He has worked the last 30 years in the private sector to support and lobby for moving Alaska’s gas to market. At his cost, not the public’s, something he does not brag about nor mention. Walker is an attorney in Anchorage. Walker is currently the Project Manager for the Alaska Port Authority (AGPA), which is promoting the all-Alaska natural gas pipeline from the North Slope to Valdez.
Walker has a matter of fact speaking style that is direct and straightforward. The analogy Walker uses regarding the pipeline situation is simple. He says that Alaska is like the new property owner who has cleared his lot, has power and water installed, and has the complete house package stacked and winter is setting in with the snow falling. Yet, the property owner (the State of Alaska and Alaskans) is waiting for someone else to come and build the house without cost to the property owner.
The analogy is direct and telling. Walker states that Exxon has told him that if there is a pipeline in place, Exxon will send gas to market through that pipeline, no matter who owns the pipeline. Walker says that Shell and others have told him that the State must force the issue and take the risk to build the pipeline, if Alaska wants its gas to go to market within the State’s time frame and not the producers. Therefore, the analogy of the property owner sitting around waiting for someone else to do the job for him. The onset of winter reflects the declining North Slope crude production, decreasing by approximately 5%-6% per year. We are now down to 300,000-400,000 barrels of crude per day through TAPS.
When asked when Alaska could have gas flowing into an LNG train at Valdez for conversion and shipment to Asian markets, notably Japan, Walker states unequivocally that the TAPS corridor route for the all-Alaska pipeline is permitted and ready for the start of construction. That construction of the pipeline and trains will take approximately 3 years.
Contrast Walker’s straight forward assessment with public statements by Samuels and Parnell. It becomes apparent quickly that Parnell and Samuels have no idea of when AGIA, Denali or the bullet line would actually be able to start construction, much less complete permitting.
Walker speaks from first person knowledge without the politically couched terminology of his competitors. His is a fresh voice in this race without the baggage of any former elected State office. Walker was the former Mayor of Valdez during the TAPS construction.
All three Republican candidates are life-long Alaskans, born and raised here. Samuels is in real estate, and Parnell and Walker are attorneys. Parnell and Samuels have served in the legislature, and Walker was Mayor of Valdez.
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