May 22, 2017  

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20426
Submitted via www.ferc.gov 

Re: Alaska Gasline Development Corporation application for the Alaska LNG project, Docket Nos. CP17-178-000

To Whom It May Concern:

The Resource Development Council (RDC) is writing to express support for furthering the application process for the proposed Alaska LNG project, a project that would benefit all of Alaska and our future economy.

RDC is an Alaskan business association comprised of individuals and companies from Alaska’s oil and gas, mining, forest products, tourism and fisheries industries. RDC’s membership includes Alaska Native Corporations, local communities, organized labor, and industry support firms. RDC’s purpose is to encourage a strong, diversified private sector in Alaska and expand the state’s economic base through the responsible development of our natural resources.

The Alaska LNG project is positioned to become a significant component of Alaska’s economy in the 21st century. The project would create thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of permanent jobs. Moreover, it is important to recognize that historically, for every oil and gas industry job, an estimated 20 additional jobs are generated across Alaska’s economy.

The project is expected to generate billions of dollars in revenues annually to the State of Alaska. Providing a market for Alaska’s natural gas is secured, the Alaska LNG project will likely spur further exploration across the North Slope and Interior Alaska, leading to increased throughput and an extended life for the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS). Additionally, the project would generate more private sector economic activity and jobs for Alaskans.

The project has three major components: a gas treatment plant located at Prudhoe Bay, an 807-mile long pipeline to Southcentral Alaska with off-takes for in-state use of natural gas, and a natural gas liquefaction plant in Nikiski at tidewater.

The Alaska LNG project could make affordable natural gas available to Fairbanks and other communities, which in recent years have experienced the highest energy rates in the nation to heat their homes in the harsh Arctic climate. 

With trillions of cubic feet of stranded natural gas, this project could be essential to providing affordable energy to Alaska and the world.

We believe a newly constructed gas pipeline will utilize proven technologies that will enable safe operations while minimizing environmental impacts. RDC is confident this project can be built in an environmentally responsible manner, as was TAPS, which was constructed 40 years ago.

Thank you for your consideration of our comments.

Sincerely,
Resource Development Council for Alaska, Inc.