Palin Opposed Plan To Bring Alaska’s Natural Gas To The Lower 48 States
Palin Opposed Plan To Bring Alaska’s Natural Gas To The Lower 48 States
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) often claims that Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) is the country’s top energy expert, citing her work sharing Alaska’s energy wealth with the rest of the country. For example, McCain said she was responsible for “the $40 billion pipeline bringing natural gas from Alaska down to the lower 48.” (However, “the pipeline exists only on paper.”) Similarly, Palin has claimed that her state produces nearly 20 percent of the U.S. domestic supply of energy. (This is a lie.)
Actually, last year, Palin opposed a plan to bring Alaska’s natural gas to the lower 48 states. This past summer, the Department of Energy issued an order allowing ConocoPhillips and Marathon Oil to to export 98.1 billion cubic feet of Alaskan natural gas — roughly the amount of natural gas used by 1.4 million families — to Asia. This had been the practice since 1969, since there were few alternatives to exporting.
However, as Time reports, “since this past May, some of Alaska’s gas could have wound up in domestic hands.” Sempra Energy opened the first Liquified Natural Gas terminal on the West Coast of North America. The facility “is tied directly to the gas pipeline system that leads to California, Texas and Arizona.” However, Palin intervened with the DOE in April 2007, asking it to approve Conoco/Marathon’s exports to Asia:
She asked DOE to condition its approval on guarantees that gas needed in Alaska not be diverted to the better-paying foreign venues — a position she held until this past January, when the producers reached separate agreement with the state to meet its needs.
At no time did Palin or her government cite the desire to preserve Alaskan gas for the lower 48 states. The Sempra terminal began operations just four months after Palin announced unconditional support for the Marathon and ConocoPhillips request and a month before DOE approved their plans to export gas to Asia.
As one of America’s top energy experts, Palin should have known about the Sempra project, which was “well-known and much anticipated in energy circles.”
In addition, as Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) pointed out in a letter to Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman in September, Chugach Electric Association, the largest electric utility in Alaska, also opposed Palin’s request. “Indeed, the Department rejected the pleas from Chugach to condition the export of Alaskan gas on assurances that Alaska’s own need for natural gas was met,” wrote Wyden.
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I’m sick of hearing about this natural gas pipeline. It is never going to happen and Palin knows that. She has been told by the powers that be in Canada that this issue will be tied up in Canadian courts for at least a decade by the Canadian Natives. The pipeline would have to traverse a huge amount of their land, granted to them by the Canadian government, and they refuse to allow that to happen. Palin is quite aware of this (so is McCain) and it is a great source of irritation that they continue to tout this as though it is a done deal.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:28 pmNo alternative to what?
That statement makes no sense. They had plenty of alternatives. They could, for example, leave it in the round.
They had to ship it to asia because there was no pipeline to ship it south? aren’t there lng ports alng the US pacific coast?
WTF???
October 14th, 2008 at 2:28 pm.
Nothing says living high on the hog like a pig in lipstick!
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October 14th, 2008 at 2:33 pm.
Max Blumenthal on Sarah Palin’s Radical Right-Wing Pals and Her Ties to the Pro-Secessionist Alaskan Independence Party
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/10/13/max_blumenthal_on_sarah_palins_radical
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October 14th, 2008 at 2:35 pm.
I’m more of an energy expert and chould be the McPalin Energy Czar. I’m more qualified on the subject of Natural Gas because I fart!
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October 14th, 2008 at 2:37 pmAlaskans win, America loses.
Pretty easy.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:38 pmThis story is old news. Next we’ll learn how many jobs were lost due to several plants who required said fuel being closed!
This lady is the biggest scam in America – the McCain campaign’s representation of her is nonsensical.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:40 pmYou know, I get the feeling that the McCain Campaign was so busy on making a big splash with their VP selection, and counting on the media’s typical acquiescence to anything right wing, that they never really vetted Palin.
And now its all coming back to roost.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:43 pmTe ADN unloads on the Palins:
http://www.adn.com/opinion/view/story/555236.html
A sample:
“Sarah Palin’s reaction to the Legislature’s Troopergate report is an embarrassment to Alaskans and the nation. She claims the report “vindicates” her. She said that the investigation found “no unlawful or unethical activity on my part.” Her response is either astoundingly ignorant or downright Orwellian.”
Then they really let her have it:
“Gov. Palin and her husband felt so passionately about Wooten because the case was so personal to them. Their passion blinded them to any other considerations. They had no sense that the power of the governor’s office carries a special responsibility not to use it to settle family scores. They had no sense that legal restrictions might prevent the troopers from firing Wooten. They had no sense that persistent queries from the governor’s office might be perceived as pressure to bend state personnel laws.
Gov. Palin and her husband were obsessed with Wooten the way Capt. Ahab was obsessed with the Great White Whale. No Wooten, no peace. Has Gov. Palin committed an impeachable offense? Hardly. Is what she did indictable? No. But it wasn’t appropriate, especially for someone elected as an ethical reformer. And her Orwellian claims of “vindication” make this blemish on her record look even worse.
You asked us to hold you accountable, Gov. Palin. Did you mean it?”
October 14th, 2008 at 2:47 pmI am so not surprised
October 14th, 2008 at 2:52 pmSarah is looking out for herself and will give dimes to the citizens of Alaska. She is still working in the best interest of the Gas employer and Oil companies in Alaska. Look girlfriend knows they pay her big bucks and that’s what counts. She doesn’t know anything about Govenment or the USA only what’s in it for herself. Now that Sarah has made it to the big stage of America look for her to dump the First Dude. If you notice Sarah Palin DOESN’T WEAR HER WEDDING RING, that the hint and the wink message she gives out.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:53 pmThe verbiage in this article is quiet twisted I really can’t make heads or tails of it it seems that the Alaskans want to keep all the gas even though they don’t need it or sell it to the Asians?
October 14th, 2008 at 2:57 pmWhen it’s all said and done that pipeline is just another Palin story of greatness to be realized at some time in our grandchildren’s life time This woman is the quintessential snake-oil salesman
TP WTF?
October 14th, 2008 at 2:58 pm“As one of America’s top energy experts, Palin should have known about the Sempra project…”
Your making it sound as if she is one just not very smart.
Badmoodman Says:
Has Gov. Palin committed an impeachable offense? Hardly. Is what she did indictable? No. But it wasn’t appropriate, especially for someone elected as an ethical reformer. And her Orwellian claims of “vindication” make this blemish on her record look even worse.
You asked us to hold you accountable, Gov. Palin. Did you mean it?”
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I understand why it wouldnt be indictable but exactly WHY wouldnt it be an impeachable offense? She abused power and broke the ethics statute. Looks like an impeachable offense to me.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:59 pmPalin = Parvenu
October 14th, 2008 at 3:00 pmI would like to see Obama pass a law that no company producing natural resources (oil, gas, coal, etc) can export that natural resource until such time as all the needs have been met in the USA. It is totally ridiculous that oil companies drilling in the USA export that oil to the higher paying foreign market and then we end up in importing that higher priced oil from Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. I think our natural resources should be nationalized, but that’s not going to fly anytime soon. So as an alternative we could forbid exporting our natural resources until such time as our needs have been met.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:01 pmThe almighty dollar is their god. While they are in the process of nationalizing our banks, why don’t they go ahead and nationalize the oil industry in order to keep American oil and gas in American hands? Huh?? Oh never mind. Once again the almighty dollar trumps all. Cha-ching.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:05 pmLook, if you’re going to borrow trillions from the Chinese and fight wars in oil rich areas to secure the natural resource for yourself (or, more appropriately, once American, now multinational, oil companies), you’ve got to provide your creditor with what it wants somehow. Nothing says thank you to your communist benefactor like cheap natural gas from America.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:06 pmAssuming that we have a fair, legal, election and Sen. Obama is our next President, I think he should find a job for Bible Spice in return for the service she’s rendered his campaign. Perhaps she could serve as an “ambassador” between the NHL and Russia?
October 14th, 2008 at 3:08 pm“We” don’t produce anywhere NEAR enough energy to sustain ourselves. The US is a net importer of energy, hugely. “Our” oil and gas are shipped to places where there are more conveniently and ‘economically’ consumed than they would be if they had to be processed through “our” system. Ironically, under that scheme, USer “energy” would become unaffordable because of its scarcity. Unless the energy ‘bidness’ were nationalized, that is; which it should be, probably; especially if there’s truth to the assertion they already make, that energy security IS national security.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:11 pmI’m curious… how much revenue did the other 49 states share in from the sale of national natural resources to other countries?
We already know that Alaska receives $1.84 for every $1 paid in federal taxes (nation’s 3rd largest welfare state), and that they have the largest revenue stream per capita from earmarks, and that they have no state income or sales tax, AND every man, woman and child just received a check for $3,200 for this year’s share.
PEACE
October 14th, 2008 at 3:13 pmwhy don’t they go ahead and nationalize the oil industry in order to keep American oil and gas in American hands?
I understand your sentiments but that might not be the best idea. One of the problems with Alaskan oil/gas is that it’s expensive. Between the remoteness and climate, it’s among the most expensive energy on earth. One way to mitigate that cost is by reducing shipping distances and Asian oil terminals are closer than the Gulf of Mexico where most of our oil/gas terminals are located. There really isn’t a huge benefit to keeping “our” oil.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:22 pmLurker Says:
TP WTF?
“As one of America’s top energy experts, Palin should have known about the Sempra project…”
Your making it sound as if she is one just not very smart.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
I think that’s TP’s dripping sarcasm coming through!
October 14th, 2008 at 3:22 pmPigstick on a lip.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:36 pmPalin needs to stop calling her crack pipe a “natural gas pipeline”. Screw her ethics violations, time to call in the child welfare people! I think “unfit” is a good word for her in more ways than one.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:55 pmNo wonder Alaskans want to secede; they’re practically are with the way things go on up there. Talk about a welfare state. The extra tax money looks like the big pay-off to me.
I bet she never saw a bill that stated any of her lies. she is a fine woman who prefers to skate on the line of right and wrong via stealing, using her powers to make people grovel and she demands and accepts favors for her own benefit. Good qualities in have in a dictatorship.
The lower 48 should be able to benefit too.
She is awful.
October 14th, 2008 at 5:11 pmNice, Sarah. Country First.
October 14th, 2008 at 5:27 pmThe Almighty Dollar trumps domestic energy production and consumption.
This opens the door for the real argument against ANWR drilling:
Oil goes on the world market after extraction. Alaskan oil is likely to go to Japan and Korea. Shipping oil from Alaska to Japan makes economic sense.
Drill, baby, drill. Maybe some jobs for oil workers like Todd Palin but insignificant to domestic energy prices.
Yet again…
McCain-Palin are LIARS, HYPOCRITES and FRAUDS.
McCain-Palin are LIARS, HYPOCRITES and FRAUDS.
McCain-Palin are LIARS, HYPOCRITES and FRAUDS.
McCain-Palin are LIARS, HYPOCRITES and FRAUDS.
McCain-Palin are LIARS, HYPOCRITES and FRAUDS.
October 14th, 2008 at 10:41 pmI’m confused. I thought Palin fought for and got passed a measure where the State of Alaska puts up $500 million in seed money for a pipeline that follows the MacKenzie River into Alberta where much of the natural gas would be used in the process to extract oil from the tar sands in Alberta. This story makes no mention of that and instead touts a deal to sell Alaska’s natural gas to Asia.
What gives? Or is she doing both? Can someone help me out on this?
October 14th, 2008 at 10:53 pmBedava Porno izle,
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March 31st, 2009 at 10:16 am