Governor Bill Walker signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Japan-based Resources Energy Inc, declaring his commitment to partner with them in developing Alaska’s liquefied natural gas market.
Walker has called the step taken today an important first step in the state’s energy future.
The cooperation agreement was also signed by Resources Energy CEO Shun Shimizu who said the company will first focus on the smaller scale LNG project in the Cook Inlet and larger North Slope gas development later.
Japanese officials have said they have been considering LNG to replace nuclear energy after the 2011 earthquake that shut down the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
