"Alaska LNG"

As a Democrat running for re-election in an oil-producing state, she’s setting herself apart from the mainstream of her party on energy.

The Wall Street Journal reported last month that buyers in Japan and South Korea aren’t confident in the project, and don’t plan to make investments or sign contracts.

Anchorage and the rest of urban Alaska are facing a natural gas supply shortage.

It’s been on the table for as long as Alaska has been an energy state, though the costs of constructing the pipeline have long been considered prohibitive.

The federal Department of Energy announced last week that it’s ordering a supplemental environmental review of the Alaska LNG project.

A state corporation is in the middle of making another push to get a natural gas pipeline built from the North Slope to the Kenai.

Walker was joined by the man he tapped to lead the state’s gasline corporation during his administration — Keith Meyer. They are partnering with Fairbanks entrepreneur Bernie Karl and a labor union — Laborers Local 341. 

Getting this approval helps make the project less risky for investors and partners to consider — because it defines the environmental impacts.

The report concludes the $43 billion export project could have significant impacts on the environment — but would be a boost for state and local economies.

It’s the first time in years that private industry in the state has pitched in money to move the gasline project forward.