By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Aug. 4 -- The Alaska Senate on Aug. 1 approved a state license for TransCanada Corp. to pursue federal certification for a 1,715-mile natural gas pipeline from Alaska North Slope to the Alberta Hub in Canada.
The Alaska House of Representatives approved the measure last month (OGJ, July 28, 2008, Newsletter).
Gov. Sarah Palin praised the legislature's work, noting that this is a first step, and that it does not guarantee pipeline construction. The license is being awarded under the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act.
The Senate voted 14-5 in favor of granting TransCanada the license. Under AGIA, TransCanada was one of five companies that applied and the only one that satisfied the guidelines, Palin has said previously.
Meanwhile, BP PLC and ConocoPhillips are working on a pipeline proposal called Denali. They announced Apr. 8 plans to build a 4 bcfd gas pipeline that would extend from the ANS to Canada and potentially on to the US (OGJ, Apr. 14, 2008, p. 30).