Story Created:
Dec 7, 2006 at 4:03 AM AKST
Story Updated:
Dec 7, 2006 at 4:21 AM AKST
For the past two days Gov. Sarah Palin has met with a dozen different companies who all want to be included in a possible gas pipeline deal.
Palin says all the companies had fresh ideas to bring to the table. The companies also agreed with the new governor, saying a more open process is needed this time around. The companies say they want the legislature onboard, and the public needs to be involved as well.
Right now Palin says everything is on the table. She hasn't ruled out a possible ownership share for the state, but she did say she wouldn't commit to any timelines for anything at this point. The governor also admits every single company says the project would be lucrative.
“Explorers are not going to risk exploration capital in Alaska if they don't believe they're going to be invited as participants in the gasline. They want access to the gasline. I think [what] we heard that from at least 10 of the 12 participants in these two-day meetings is access to this gasline is extremely important to them,” Palin said.
”This is a doable project. We don't want to again, raise false hopes in terms of timelines here, but it's a doable project, and I think the state would be very wise to continue down this path of inviting all interested participants to give us their input,” Palin said.
Palin says the next step is to finalize a new negotiating team for the state as soon as possible.