Earlier this month TransCanada Alaska president Tony Palmer told the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce that industry interest in his company’s natural gas pipeline plan has been high in the first week of their open season. Trans Canada is allied with Exxon-Mobil in seeking bids for the pipeline over the next 90 days. Overlapping that period in July, a second venture, formed by ConocoPhillips and BP, will also be seeking bids.
These two open seasons for the largest construction project in the world are taking place under rules set by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and are being watched over by Larry Persily, who is charged by federal law with the job of facilitating the process. He says the public will probably not know much of anything about the gas pipeline negotiations until late this year. FERC carefully keeps it all confidential, guarding against an unfair advantage for any of the competing producers.
Steve Heimel, APRN – Anchorage
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