Alaska LNG Project DEIS Testimony
September 12, 2019 • Anchorage, Alaska

Good evening. My name is Carl Portman, Deputy Director of the Resource Development Council for Alaska, Inc.

RDC is a statewide, non-profit, business association comprised of individuals and companies from Alaska’s oil and gas, mining, timber, tourism and fisheries industries. Our membership also includes Native regional and village corporations, local governments, organized labor and industry support firms. RDC’s mission is to help grow Alaska’s economy through the responsible development of natural resources.

Should the Alaska LNG Project move forward, it would be one of the most important projects to Alaska’s economy. The $43 billion AK LNG Project would be the largest integrated natural gas/LNG project of its kind.

The project would provide significant economic benefits to Alaskans from the Arctic coast to the southern reaches of the state through the creation of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in new revenues to the state. Other benefits include access to a generation of domestically-produced clean natural gas for homes and businesses. The project is expected to generate 29,000 jobs during construction and approximately 1,000 jobs during operation.

Connection to the Interior Gas Utility would provide a long-term, economic energy supply for Fairbanks and interior communities. Interconnection of the main gas pipeline to the existing Southcentral pipeline network would provide long-term energy supplies for residential, commercial and industrial users. The additional in-state natural gas could also support new resource development projects in need of affordable energy.

The DEIS found that most project impacts would not be significant and would be reduced to minor impacts with the implementation of proposed avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures. Moreover, a 40-plus year track record in Alaska has demonstrated that oil and gas development can coexist with traditional subsistence activities, cultural resources, wildlife, and the environment.

In Alaska, the project would reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the use of natural gas. Through potential sales, it would also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide clean energy to a significant portion of the world population.

RDC encourages FERC to move expeditiously to the FEIS and a positive Record of Decision.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment.