Cracking the CODE: q&a with Cindy Roberts, author.

• Author: Cutler, Debbie
• Position: OIL & GAS - Interview

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Our former publisher, the late Vern McCorkle, inserted a detachable booklet in our January 2008 edition called "CRACKING THE CODE--A Citizen's Guide to the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Discussion and the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act (AGIA)" by Cindy Roberts. The second edition is available online at www.akbizmag.com, and is titled "CRACKING THE CODE 2012--A Citizen's Guide to the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Discussion." Beyond the interesting reading, it encourages active study so we can all learn more about the gas pipeline's role in our future.

ABM: Cindy, what prompted you to write the CODE in 2008?

Roberts: Like many Alaskans, I believe that the Alaska natural gas pipeline project is a golden opportunity to revitalize and strengthen Alaska's economy for many years to come, and make it possible for the next generation to enjoy the many benefits from living here that we have. And, I wanted to understand the language of the proposed 2007 Alaska Gasline Inducement Act known as AGIA.

ABM: Why?

Roberts: I was concerned when British Petroleum announced its plan to purchase Arco Alaska in 1999. I was close to the Backbone group and watched carefully as the Federal Trade Commission filed suit to prevent the merger. If the sale had gone through, BP would have acquired monopoly control of more than 70 percent of the North Slope oil fields and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS). BP is a fine company, but it shares the British tradition of monopoly enterprises, such as the East India Co., the Hudson Bay Co., etc. America's tradition is built on competition.

ABM: 13,000 copies of the 2008 CODE went into circulation (and the January issue sold out). Why did you do a 2012 edition?

Roberts: The easy answer--I ran out of copies and was getting requests. The real answer--The gas pipeline issues have moved back to the top of the Alaska agenda.

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The Legislature and governor awarded the AGIA license to TransCanada in December, 2008. Now three years later, the economics of that decision have changed dramatically due to shale gas development in the Lower 48 and western Canada. The cost of transportation to the west Alberta border may be more than the market price. Alaskans need to understand the issue.

ABM: Which gas line option do you support, and why?

Roberts: I strongly support the All-Alaska pipeline endorsed by 62 percent of Alaska voters in 2002. While Alaska is part of the USA, we have always had a...