Alaska is a cold state where residents need energy to keep the chill at bay. Fortunately, the state is blessed with natural resources, including abundant oil and natural gas that can help satisfy that need. Unfortunately, as I've written before, a nationalistic, century-old law requires that shipping between American ports be conducted only by U.S.–built and –flagged ships. And there aren't any liquid natural gas tankers that satisfy the requirement. Now Alaska officials are seeking a waiver so they can use their own resources to resolve a growing energy crunch.
Resource-Rich but Starved for Energy
"Alaska is facing an acute energy shortage," state Sen. Robert Myers (R–Fairbanks) told a State Senate Transportation Committee hearing on his proposed waiver resolution on March 20. "The Alaska Department of Natural Resources has projected shortfalls in the Cook Inlet natural gas supply beginning in the very near future. As such, various utilities are now discussing liquefied natural gas imports to solve the crisis. Alaska is in a unique quandary in which it prides itself on its oil and gas resources yet is unable to utilize its own natural gas from the North Slope gas fields."
