HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes2004-034
Sponsored by: Shealy
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CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2004-34
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SEWARD, ALASKA, SUPPORTING THE PASSAGE OF SENATE
BILL 247, WHICH AMENDS THE NATURAL GAS
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ACT OF 2002
WHEREAS, 70 percent of Alaska's population resides within the Railbelt region
that extends from southern regions of the Kenai Peninsula Borough to Fairbanks North
Star Borough; and
WHEREAS, the economies and communities of the Kenai Peninsula Borough, the
Cook Inlet Basin, and the Railbelt region rely on plentiful supplies of natural gas to provide
reasonably priced heat and electricity for home and business use; and
WHEREAS, current proven reserves of natural gas are insufficient to address long-
term supply requirements for the Railbelt region; and
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WHEREAS, Proposition 3 was passed in the 2002 general election that
established the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority (ANGDA) to evaluate and
attempt to develop an "all-Alaska" LNG pipeline project from the North Slope to
Valdez, with provisions to develop a spur pipeline from Glennallen to the Cook Inlet
Basin; and
WHEREAS, the underlying premise of Proposition 3 that established ANGDA is
that an "all-Alaska" LNG project will "maximize jobs for Alaskans, revenues for the Alaskan
treasury, and access to gas for Alaskans"; and
WHEREAS, the Seward City Council believes that under this premise, the best
route for the ANGDA LNG project follows the disturbed rights-of-way of the Railbelt
from Fairbanks to tidewater in Cook Inlet; and
WHEREAS, a Railbelt route would help to preserve existing utility and industrial
infrastructure, and would promote new development in rural areas and communities
along the Railbelt route, and later the Kenai Peninsula, by providing access to new
supplies of low cost power, heat and raw materials necessary to new value-added
industries; and
WHEREAS, it is the position of the Seward City Council that economics will
decide the success or failure of this project; and
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CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2004-34
WHEREAS, to give the LNG project its best chance for success, ANGDA should base
its decisions on sound project economics, which should include a detailed comparative
analysis of the Railbelt route option from Fairbanks to tidewater in the Cook Inlet Basin
versus the Valdez route; and
WHEREAS, Senate Bill 247 has been introduced in the Alaska State Legislature
that upon passage, would require that both the Valdez route and the Railbelt route to
tidewater in Cook Inlet undergo a full design and cost evaluation before a final route is
chosen.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA, that:
Section 1. The Seward City Council supports and endorses the passage of Senate
Bill 247 which requires both the Valdez and the Railbelt route to Cook Inlet undergo a
full design and cost evaluation.
Section 2 Copies of this resolution shall be forwarded to all members of the
Alaska State Legislature, the Honorable Governor Frank Murkowski and the
Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority.
Section 3 This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption
PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the city of Seward, Alaska,
this 22nd day of March 2004.
THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
c:? -J2;,;~ (ijk#~
C, David Brossow, Mayor
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Shafer, Branson, Dunham, Clark, Valdatta, Amberg, Bossow
None
None
None
ATTEST: