Juneau, Alaska – Governor Sean Parnell on Wednesday applauded the Senate’s unanimous passage of Senate Bill 23, the governor’s legislation to provide more affordable energy to Alaskans.

“I appreciate the Senate’s work to jumpstart this project and provide energy relief for Alaskans by developing Alaska’s gas,” Governor Parnell said. “Our focus continues to be on providing the lowest cost of energy to as many Alaskans as possible. This legislation will serve as a springboard to leverage our abundant North Slope gas reserves to the Interior and Southcentral Alaska, as well as other regions of the state.”

The bill authorizes the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) to provide up to $275 million in financing, in conjunction with the private sector, for a project that includes a natural gas liquefaction plant and a liquefied natural gas distribution system to move North Slope gas to Interior Alaskans, lowering energy costs within the Fairbanks North Star Borough.

The bill now goes to the Alaska House of Representatives.