Lawmakers grill Alaska’s gasline corporation on its budget

Sen. Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, and Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasill, listen to Alaska Gasline Development Corporation President Keith Meyer, aduring a Senate Finance meeting focusing oncorporation's budget on Tuesday, February 14, 2017, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/Alaska's Energy Desk)
Sen. Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, and Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, listen to Alaska Gasline Development Corporation President Keith Meyer, during a Senate Finance meeting focusing on the corporation’s budget on Tuesday in Juneau. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/Alaska’s Energy Desk)

The state corporation (Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, or AGDC) charged with taking the lead on the massive Alaska liquid natural gas project is again having its finances questioned.  On Tuesday, members of the Senate Finance committee pressed the corporation’s president Keith Meyer for detailed information about his budget.

The corporation has been tasked with managing two different gas pipeline projects and the legislature appropriated millions into two separate funds for those projects.  Meyer has asked for legislative approval to shift millions between those two accounts.

Anchorage Republican Sen. Anna MacKinnon says the corporation has not been transparent about how the money has been spent, so far. 

“What we’ve been trying to understand is whether you’ve been cross-pollinating those funds and we haven’t had access to any of the records to actually audit how you’ve handled those funds,” MacKinnon said.

The agency has about $102 million between the two funds. But as the state takes over the mega-project, lawmakers have questioned how the corporation will pay for the additional millions of dollars it could take to finish an application to the Federal Regulatory Commission, or FERC, and to buy the land its needs for a plant on the Kenai Peninsula. 

Sen. Natasha Von Imhof, R-Anchorage, questions representatives from the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation during a Senate Finance meeting focusing on the corporation's budget on Tuesday, February 14, 2017, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/Alaska's Energy Desk)
Sen. Natasha Von Imhof, R-Anchorage, questions representatives from the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation during a Senate Finance meeting focusing on the corporation’s budget on Tuesday, February 14, 2017, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/Alaska’s Energy Desk)

MacKinnon and other members of the committee quizzed Meyer over the costs of the corporation’s satellite offices in Houston and Tokyo. Anchorage Republican Natasha Von Imhof asked about a $50,000 sponsorship of the Iditarod.  

“And, how is sponsoring the Iditarod ceremonial start going to help you reach your goals of securing a buyer in Asia, obtaining a tax exempt status and applying for FERC?” Von Imhof asked.

Meyer says the Iditarod sponsorship coincides with a summit the corporation is hosting that will bring potential customers to the state to see sites where the gas line could be constructed.

“The attendees pay to attend. There are sponsors, we’ve got some very nice sponsors. We’re not done with sponsorships yet actually; they’re still coming in. AGDC is funding some of this as well and depending on how many sponsors, that amount may change,” Meyer said.

Going forward, Meyer told the finance committee that the corporation would be more transparent, including sending regular updates to lawmakers who sign confidentiality agreements.

He also says the corporation isn’t planning to ask the legislature for any more money this year.

MacKinnon told Meyer that lawmakers needed more from the corporation.

“Mr. Meyer, I want you to know that there are people that I represent that are asking us to kill the project. That are requesting information and that they believe that it is not in the best interests of the state to move forward,” she said.

An ongoing audit of the corporation isn’t expected to be finished until well after the legislature gavels out, but MacKinnon says she’ll have the corporation in front of her committee again this session.

Rashah McChesney

Daily News Editor

I help the newsroom establish daily news priorities and do hands-on editing to ensure a steady stream of breaking and enterprise news for a local and regional audience.

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