Taking a break from capital budget discussions, members of the Senate Finance today grilled the Governor’s new appointees to the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation.
Senator Mike Dunleavy asked Hugh Short why he’s interested in the role…
Short: “I think that the background that I have growing up and born in Bethel, raised into the place where I’m at in my career right now has been an amazing journey. I think it’d be a huge honor to be able to use skills that I have to create the next big infrastructure that will anchor the state’s economy for the next 100 years.”
Others were asked how they’d deal with the dueling projects: the ASAP and AK LNG Projects. Nominee Rick Halford answered…
Halford: “If you can maintain a stream of information that is logical on an economically viable alternative at minimum cost, it makes sense, but if it is a real competitive project and that’s the way it’s viewed then it can create some problems.”
Halford said a strong relationship between the Governor and the Legislature is more important to the process than the specific details in SB 138 (the gasline structure bill) or HB 132 (which would prohibit AGDC from pursuing anything but the AK LNG Project until one of three milestones is met).
The third man chosen by Governor Walker was Joe Paskvan.
