KENAI, Alaska — Hundreds of community members from across the Kenai Peninsula gathered Tuesday to voice support for Glenfarne’s Alaska LNG project and the economic opportunities it could bring to Alaska workers, businesses and families.
Speakers reflected on the Kenai Peninsula’s deep roots in Alaska’s oil and gas industry and the potential for Alaska LNG to build on that legacy while opening new opportunities for the next generation of Alaska workers. They pointed to the project’s potential to create thousands of jobs for Alaskans while delivering more affordable, reliable energy for local families.
“For generations, we’ve known about the hundreds of trillions of cubic feet of natural gas that are currently stranded on Alaska’s North Slope. This is the best opportunity that we have had in our lifetimes to see that gas brought to market,” said Congressman Nick Begich (R-Alaska).
Last week the Alaska House of Representatives passed a tax reform bill by an overwhelming 87% bipartisan margin to deliver hundreds of millions of dollars in new annual state and local revenue and create a successful policy climate for Alaska LNG to move forward. The measure is now before the Alaska State Senate.
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman (D-Nikiski), provided a statement from Juneau, “The North American LNG industry was born right here on the Kenai Peninsula and today Glenfarne is developing a major new local opportunity. This project holds the potential for hundreds of new permanent local jobs, reliable, affordable energy, and a transformational investment for the Kenai Peninsula. Alaskans have waited too long for these natural gas resources to be put to work. As the legislature wraps up the special session on tax reform that will help enable Glenfarne to advance Alaska LNG, I’m encouraged by the bill that passed the House to make Alaska’s taxes competitive, support our region with community impact funding, and prioritize Alaska workers. The overwhelming, bipartisan result in the House gives this legislation positive momentum as the Senate begins our deliberations.”
Attendees also heard from Doug Fletcher, vice president of pipeline construction at Glenfarne, who discussed the project’s potential impact on Peninsula communities and the role the region’s skilled workforce and established energy infrastructure could play in a project of this scale: “In just over a year Glenfarne has made historic progress with Alaska LNG, and the incredible support from Kenai and other Alaska communities is helping propel Alaska LNG forward. Seventy-five percent of Alaskans support this project because of the enormous benefits it holds for the Alaskan people.”
Local residents, trade workers, business leaders and elected officials turned out for the family-friendly event at Davis Block & Concrete in Kenai, where attendees heard directly from project and industry leaders about what it means for the Kenai Peninsula and for Alaska to build the line. The free event featured hotdogs, ice cream, door prizes and activities for kids.
The turnout reflects how much is at stake for the Kenai Peninsula area and the confidence residents have in what Alaska LNG can deliver for the state right now and for generations to come.
Press release provided by Lauren Giliam, Thompson & Co. PR.
