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Senate committee advances resolution urging federal action on Alaska LNG project amid scrutiny over costs
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Summary
The Senate Resources Committee voted to report HJR 18 urging federal agencies to expedite approvals and funding for AKLNG. Supporters highlighted job and energy benefits; opponents, including Cook Inlet Keeper and 350 Juneau, criticized transparency and questioned cost assumptions.
The Senate Resources Committee moved House Joint Resolution 18 out of committee April 8 after a second hearing that drew public testimony both for and against efforts to advance a pipeline and LNG export project from the North Slope.
Zach Young, staff to Rep. Mia Costello, summarized HJR 18 as urging federal partners — including the secretaries of interior and energy, FERC and the congressional delegation — to "move forward with urgency to expedite approvals, coordinate agency review, and secure federal funding" so a North Slope pipeline and LNG export project can proceed. He told the committee estimates show "nearly 30,000,000,000,000 cubic feet of natural gas is recoverable" across multiple North Slope fields.
Public testimony included opposition from Doug Woodby of 350 Juneau, who said he did "not support the resolution" and raised a string of economic and governance concerns, including what he described as a credibility gap for AGDC and a lack of disclosed, up‑to‑date cost estimates. Woodby also questioned whether state agencies — including the Permanent Fund — should commit to large investments without clearer legislative oversight.
Ben Messer, energy policy specialist for Cook Inlet Keeper, told the committee that recent cost estimates used in some project analyses are outdated and incomplete, citing a commonly referenced capital‑cost baseline of "$46,000,000,000" and urging developers to release updated numbers before the Legislature lends unqualified support.
Sen. Rauscher said she would not object to the resolution moving from committee but urged stronger language in the committee substitute to reflect conviction about the project's potential. Sen. Wilkowsky moved to report the resolution from committee with individual recommendations and an attached fiscal note; the chair announced no objections and the resolution was sent from committee with those recommendations.
The committee record indicates the resolution will now proceed with the committee’s recommendation and attached fiscal note; no formal roll call vote was recorded during the hearing.
