Michael Giberson
Tom Fowler of the Houston Chronicle reports:
Only one of five applications to build an Alaskan natural gas pipeline will move on to a public comment period, Gov. Sarah Palin said Friday.
The application from pipeline giant TransCanada met or exceeded all the state’s requirements for the massive project, Palin said, while applications by Chinese firm Sinopec, a small California firm called AEnergia and two Alaska government groups were deemed incomplete.
“We have long stated that it only takes one good application,” Palin said. “We’re thrilled to have a project sponsor willing to build a pipeline on terms that benefit all Alaskans.”
The state is still reviewing a pipeline proposal made by Houston-based ConocoPhillips outside the formal bid process.
The article also notes that both ConocoPhillips and TransCanada have publicly said they would be willing to work with partners on the project. Fowler later posted additional information on the four unsuccessful applicants on the Newswatch: Energy blog.
See my previous, pessimistic post on the topic, “Alaska gas pipeline: Will the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act get construction started?” Call me somewhat less pessimistic now, given this news, but I’m wondering what effects a somewhat more Democratic federal government will have on the effort to develop this massive fossil fuel resource.