HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 2004-08CITY OF KENAI
Suggested by: City Council
RESOLUTION NO. 2004-08
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, SUPPORTING
THE PASSAGE OF SENATE BILL 247 TO AMEND 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,
WHEREAS, Proposition 3 was passed in the 2002 general election and 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 an "all-
Alaska" LNG project will "maximize jobs for Alaskans, revenues for the Alaskan
treasury, and access to gas for Alaskans"; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Kenai believes, 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 the 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 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 City of Kenai that economics will decide the success
or failure of this project; and,
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 and,
upon passage, would require both the Valdez route and the Railbelt route to tidewater
in the Cook Inlet undergo a full design and cost evaluation before a final route is
chosen.
Resolution No. 2004-08
Page 2 of 2
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI,
ALASKA:
Section 1' The Kenai City Council supports and endorses the passage of
Senate Bill 247; and,
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.
ATTEST:
Carol L. Freas, City Clerk
PASSED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, this fourth day of
February, 2004. ---
~VILLIAMS, MAYOR
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