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Senators question AKLNG filing timelines and say regulatory certificate could take six months
Summary
Lawmakers told reporters a Feb. 5 FERC filing by the pipeline sponsor includes optimistic schedules; the Regulatory Commission of Alaska said a fitness/certificate review could take about 180 days, and sponsors have not provided public fiscal details.
Senators on the floor pressed for clarity about the Alaska gas pipeline after reviewing a Feb. 5 FERC filing and speaking with regulatory staff, saying some of the sponsor’s timeline targets appeared optimistic and that key regulatory steps will take time.
Reporter Becky Bohr asked what clarity the legislature had obtained about where the project stands. Senator Giesel (Speaker 8) said the sponsor had not shared detailed fiscal information: ‘‘We know nothing about the fiscals,’’ she said, adding that the company told legislators not to worry and that it ‘‘will bear all of the cost’’ and assume overruns. Giesel told senators the company had submitted a FERC filing that outlines a timeline but that the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) has said the fitness/certification step typically requires about 180 days — a window that would slow any near‑term push to put pipe in the ground.
Giesel also said the pipeline sponsor will need RCA certification of financial and managerial fitness rather than relying on a prior statutory recognition that applied to previous projects. She told the chamber that, based on RCA guidance, ‘‘we’re talking six months just right there’’ for certification. The senator described the FERC filing as ‘‘perfunctory’’ and expressed skepticism that the project could meet its optimistic construction milestones without further disclosures and the RCA process.
Why it matters: The project — described in committee testimony and filings as privately financed — could have major fiscal, land‑use and regulatory implications for the state. Senators flagged the absence of public fiscal data, outstanding RCA certification requirements and unresolved tax‑structure questions, including proposals the governor may advance.
What’s next: Senate Resources will continue oversight; Giesel said AGDC and other state representatives are expected at further committee sessions to answer questions. The transcript records follow‑up reporter questions about early construction filings (man camps and access roads) and senators reiterating skepticism about aggressive timelines.
Attribution: Quotes come from recorded floor exchanges and reporters in the transcript.
