In an ADN article on Aug. 9, Alex DeMarban reported Excelerate Energy is engaged in talks with Southcentral Alaska utilities to import liquefied natural gas, or LNG, into Cook Inlet, since Hilcorp, Cook Inlet’s main gas producer, warned Southcentral utilities that it does not currently have enough gas to provide for future gas contracts, once existing contracts expire. The potential shortfall is because Hilcorp refuses to drill and produce enough new gas supplies, since, God forbid, that could drop the price! They are not a good steward of leases they hold, and this prevents others from drilling and producing gas to keep prices affordable.
The state of Alaska should terminate all leases they hold that are not being developed, at once.
Along the west side of Knik Arm of Cook Inlet, we have a reliable 6-knot tidal current, which could be harnessed to provide power, as previously suggested by our port director. We have many active volcanoes nearby that could be developed for geothermal power, and we have massive rivers that could provide enough electricity to power the whole state. So the concept of importing LNG is exquisitely repulsive.
— Daniel N. Russell
Anchorage
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