Gov. Bill Walker scheduled meetings with two of President Obama’s cabinet secretaries while he was in Washington Tuesday for the swearing in of Alaska’s new U.S. senator.
He says he talked to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell about the road options to the Greater Moose’s Tooth field on the North Slope. That wasn’t the only road they discussed. Walker says Jewell seems resolute in opposing a road between King Cove and Cold Bay, but he says it was good to hear her exact reasons. Walker says he doesn’t think it’s a lost cause.
“Well I’m not convinced of that. Sometimes a fresh set of eyes on it is a good thing,” Walker said. “So I’m going to take a look and see if there are some options available in advancing that road project.”
He took up the Prince Rupert ferry dock with Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. Walker says they discussed the possibility of a waiver from the requirement to use U.S. steel, an issue Walker says he’s still undecided on himself.
“The main thrust of the meeting was that. We also talked about some of the issues associated with moving liquefied natural gas by train,” he said. “It’s something that’s been discussed. It’s an option for moving Cook Inlet gas from the Mat-Su area to Fairbanks.”
It was the new governor’s second trip to the nation’s capital since he was sworn in. He says he doesn’t plan to make the trip so frequently in the future.
Correction: An earlier version of this story said the governor “made the case” to Sec. Foxx for a waiver from the U.S. sourcing requirements for the Prince Rupert dock. The governor’s office says he did not request a waiver.
Liz Ruskin is the Washington, D.C., correspondent at Alaska Public Media. Reach her at lruskin@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Liz here.
