Pipeline to Nowhere?

Alaska natural-gas pipeline is far from a done deal 4

Photo: triciaward

In her speech at the Republican National Convention last week, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin touted her role in moving forward a plan for a natural-gas pipeline from Alaska's North Slope to the Lower 48. The GOP veep candidate declared, "That pipeline, when the last section is laid and its valves are opened, will lead America one step farther away from dependence on dangerous foreign powers that do not have our interests at heart." She failed to mention, however, that the project is far from a done deal. It so far exists only on paper, and federal approvals are years out. In addition, Palin is in a bit of a catch-22: She gained a reputation for standing up to Big Oil when she stridently criticized the former governor's pipeline plan as a handout to Exxon Mobil, BP, and ConocoPhillips -- but she must gain the cooperation of those companies, which have development rights to much of the North Slope, in order to make the pipeline operational. Meanwhile, BP and Conoco have announced plans to move forward with their own separate pipeline. Realistically, only one pipeline will be built; whatever form that will take, there will assuredly be much political and regulatory wrangling to come.

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  1. CargoCult Posted 12:57 pm
    11 Sep 2008

    Palin's Pipeline to the Tar SandsThe pipeline does not go to the lower 48. The pipeline goes to the Alberta tar sands.  Why can't ANYONE get this story right?

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  2. CyberBrook's avatar

    CyberBrook Posted 3:35 am
    16 Sep 2008

    Palin is FailinIf you like George W. Bush, you'll love Sarah Palin!

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  3. dhaich Posted 10:02 am
    16 Sep 2008

    Check your facts.The pipeline that this article is talking about, the one that was endorsed by the Alaskan senate in August, is planned to tie into Alberta's NGTL gathering system which moves most of its gas into the US and Eastern Canada.  Because all the gas is mixed together, you cannot say for sure where the Alaska gas will end up.  However, more supply into the NGTL system means more supply available for the US.
    I guess no one can get the story right because there are so many folks throwing out information without validating it first.  It's a shame.

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  4. dhaich Posted 10:09 am
    16 Sep 2008

    Catch-22?Huh.  How does critizing the previous governor's pipeline plan preclude her from gaining the cooperation of the three big producers on the North Slope.  There is an obvious lack of understanding of this process on the author's part that should preclude them from writing on the subject.
    I'm not a huge fan of Sarah Palin but give her some credit.  She's negotiated a deal that is good for the people of Alaska and the US; even if it doesn't qualify her to be the VP.

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