JUNEAU – Yesterday, Fairbanks Senators Joe Thomas and Joe Paskvan introduced Senate Bill 215 instructing the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) to build a gasline from Cook Inlet to Fairbanks.

“This gasline would be able to serve nearly as many Alaskans as a line from the North Slope to Southcentral, but at a much lower cost and within a faster time frame,” noted Senator Paskvan. “Families and business owners back home need to see a real project which will deliver lower energy costs and SB 215 moves piped gas faster than any other option on the table.”

Putting the construction of a gasline from Southcentral to Interior Alaska under the auspices of the AGDC, will benefit greatly from the right-of-way and permitting work already done for the Alaska Stand Alone Pipeline (ASAP) and the original Beluga to Fairbanks (B2F) line studied by the Alaska Natural Gasline Development Authority (ANGDA). A line north from Cook Inlet would hold a number of advantages over the ASAP such as eliminating the need for a gas processing plant, lower construction costs and an overall shorter line and shorter gas delivery timeline.

“With new energy reserves expected to be found in Cook Inlet, Alaska now has the capacity to extend the benefits of lower cost natural gas to thousands of new families,” said Senator Thomas.

A pipeline delivering Cook Inlet natural gas to Interior Alaskans could save Fairbanks families and businesses over $230 million according to the newly released Fairbanks North Star Borough Gas Distribution Analysis: Preliminary Executive Summary Report. “In addition, by enhancing the marketability of Cook Inlet gas, [a Cook Inlet to Fairbanks gasline] will improve the economics of expanded Cook Inlet gas development, thereby improving the reliability and security of natural gas supply in both the Interior and South Central regions of Alaska,” according to the B2F study by ANGDA in 2009.

“SB 215 is an integral part of Interior Alaska’s energy solution. Combining a legacy pipeline from Cook Inlet to Fairbanks with short term energy assistance and a bridge project that quickly expands the use of natural gas in our community we now can provide the path forward to sustainable and affordable energy,” noted Senator Thomas.

For additional information, please contact Senator Thomas at 465-2327 or by email at sen.joe.thomas@legis.state.ak.us