'I will support the first economically viable project that can be built....' *.

• Author: McCorkle, Vern C.
• Position: Gas pipelines - Brief Article

To our way of thinking, the governor will get his wish and will announce a gas pipeline project before the Legislature goes sine die in May--but it will be built in counterparts. First, the Alaska Gasline Port Authority will start breaking ground by 2007 with flow to Valdez by 2012. It has private money to build the line and a major leaguer to buy the gas. What the governor must do is use his power and the prestige of his office to persuade the Alaska North Slope producers-BP, ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil--to allot a portion of Alaska's gas under their control to the Port Authority project.

Second, just before the lights go out in Anchorage and the Kenai, a spur line to Southcentral Alaska probably will be built simultaneously by consort Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority. Enstar has signaled interest in participating with that leg.

Lastly, when it suits...