Alaska, Hawaii, talks future natural gas deals

Hawaii needs natural gas and Alaska has plenty, but possible sales are years away.

That’s according to industry and government experts who spoke Thursday in Anchorage at a panel discussion assembled by Alaska U.S. Sen. Mark Begich.

Vast gas resources on Alaska’s North Slope still lack a means of getting to market.

Smaller fields of Cook Inlet south of Anchorage are seeing more drilling but continue to devote most of what they extract to the needs of Alaska.

Robert Isler of Hawaiian Electric Co. says his state isn’t ready to buy liquid natural gas as it converts from power generated by diesel. He says Hawaii must first answer questions on gas infrastructure such as docking facilities, regasification plants and pipelines.

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