ALASKA IS HOME TO SIGNIFICANT NATURAL GAS RESERVES-

BUT THE STATE STILL FACES A LOOMING ENERGY SHORTAGE ONE MORE THAN A CENTURY-OLD FEDERAL LAW HAS PREVENTED IT FROM SOLVING.

 

OVER 70 PERCENT OF THE POWER PROVIDED BY ALASKA’S LARGEST ELECTRICAL GRID IS GENERATED WITH NATURAL GAS-

THE LARGE MAJORITY OF WHICH COMES FROM THE COOK INLET, THE STATE’S OLDEST PRODUCING FOSSIL FUEL BASIN.

 

HILCORP, THE MAIN COMPANY EXTRACTING THIS GAS, WARNS SUPPLIES HERE ARE DWINDLING-

AND IT MAY SOON BE UNABLE TO CONTINUE OUTPUTTING THE RESOURCE AT CURRENT LEVELS.

 

THE ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES PROJECTED SHORTFALLS IN THE COOK INLET NATURAL GAS SUPPLY BEGINNING IN 2027-

AND THE AREA IS EXPECTED TO BE DEPLETED BY THE MID-2030S

 

IN RESPONSE, OFFICIALS ARE EXPLORING ALTERNATIVE SOURCES, INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF IMPORTING LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS FROM MORE REMOTE REGIONS OF THE STATE TO ITS POPULATION CENTERS.

 

BUT THE MERCHANT MARINE ACT OF 1920, COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE JONES ACT, HAS PREVENTED THIS PLAN FROM MOVING FORWARD.

 

THE LEGISLATION MANDATES THAT SHIPPING BETWEEN U.S. PORTS MUST BE CONDUCTED ON U.S.-BUILT AND -FLAGGED VESSELS.

 

HOWEVER, THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO LNG TANKERS MEETING THIS REQUIREMENT-

MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ALASKA TO TRANSPORT ITS OWN NATURAL GAS WITHIN THE STATE BY SEA.

 

NO LNG CARRIES HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE U.S. SINCE BEFORE 1980-

BECAUSE BUILDING THEM DOMESTICALLY CAN COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS MORE THAN DOING SO ABROAD.

 

THE LACK OF JONES ACT-COMPLIANT LNG TANKERS LEAVES ALASKA DEPENDENT ON COSTLY WORKAROUNDS OR INTERNATIONAL IMPORTS OF ENERGY SOURCES.

 

STATE SENATOR ROBER MYERS HAS INTRODUCED A RESOLUTION URGING CONGRESS TO GRANT ALASKA A WAIVER FROM THE JONES ACT-

ALLOWING FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF LNG ON FOREIGN-BUILT TANKERS.

 

WITHOUT THIS WAIVER, MYERS WARNS THE NEARLY 50 PERCENT OF ALASKANS HEATING THEIR HOMES WITH NATURAL GAS COULD BE AT RISK.

 

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M JACK AYLMER.