SCS CSHB 369(RES): "An Act relating to an in-state natural gas pipeline, the office of in-state gasline project coordinator, and the Joint In-State Gasline Development Team; requiring the development of an in-state natural gas pipeline plan, to be delivered to the legislature by July 1, 2011, that provides for a natural gas pipeline that is operational by December 31, 2015; directing the Joint In-State Gasline Development Team to assume responsibilities under sec. 19, ch. 14, SLA 2009; requiring expedited review and action by state agencies or entities relating to the in-state natural gas pipeline project; clarifying the purpose of the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority; relating to definitions of certain terms that relate to a project that may be developed by the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority; authorizing the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority to issue bonds for energy projects; and providing for an effective date."
00 SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 369(RES) 01 "An Act relating to an in-state natural gas pipeline, the office of in-state gasline project 02 coordinator, and the Joint In-State Gasline Development Team; requiring the 03 development of an in-state natural gas pipeline plan, to be delivered to the legislature by 04 July 1, 2011, that provides for a natural gas pipeline that is operational by December 31, 05 2015; directing the Joint In-State Gasline Development Team to assume responsibilities 06 under sec. 19, ch. 14, SLA 2009; requiring expedited review and action by state agencies 07 or entities relating to the in-state natural gas pipeline project; clarifying the purpose of 08 the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority; relating to definitions of certain terms 09 that relate to a project that may be developed by the Alaska Natural Gas Development 10 Authority; authorizing the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority to issue bonds 11 for energy projects; and providing for an effective date." 12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
01 * Section 1. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section 02 to read: 03 LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. (a) The legislature finds that 04 (1) by 2018, declining oil flow through the Trans Alaska Pipeline System will 05 seriously diminish state revenue; 06 (2) Cook Inlet natural gas reserves are depleting at a rate that could cause 07 significant short-term shortages for residential and commercial gas users in Southcentral 08 Alaska by 2013; 09 (3) a proposed natural gas pipeline to deliver North Slope gas reserves to the 10 North American domestic gas pipeline grid at a connection in central Alberta will not produce 11 revenue for the benefit of the state before 2020; 12 (4) the state's significant reserves of natural gas should be made available on a 13 priority basis in the state to enhance employment opportunities, expand the state's economy, 14 and supply a significant portion of community energy needs; 15 (5) the Alaska Railroad Corporation is a public corporation charged with 16 promoting economic development in the state, enjoys unique authority, and may issue 17 revenue bonds to finance construction of a natural gas pipeline; 18 (6) the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority is studying a pipeline spur, 19 aggregating in-state demand for natural gas, and facilitating delivery of natural gas and 20 natural gas liquids to Alaskans; and 21 (7) in light of competing demands for future uses of the state's North Slope 22 natural gas reserves, an aggressive effort involving planning, permitting, and coordination of 23 information sharing, of necessary agreements and commitments, and commercial negotiations 24 among interested parties is necessary for completion of construction of an in-state natural gas 25 pipeline that will provide significant direct benefit to the people of the state at the earliest 26 possible date. 27 (b) It is the purpose of sec. 4 of this Act 28 (1) to give general direction to the Joint In-State Gasline Development Team 29 to plan and develop construction of a high pressure in-state natural gas pipeline sufficient to 30 provide for the distribution of natural gas for residential and commercial purposes at locations 31 along the pipeline route;
01 (2) to give general direction to the Joint In-State Gasline Development Team 02 that, to the maximum extent practicable, the plan for development of an in-state natural gas 03 pipeline required under AS 38.34.040 is compatible but not competitive with the projects 04 described in AS 41.41 and AS 43.90; and 05 (3) to direct the executive director of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation 06 to oversee all aspects of the project described in sec. 4 of this Act. 07 * Sec. 2. AS 18.56.086 is amended to read: 08 Sec. 18.56.086. Creation of subsidiaries. The corporation may create 09 subsidiary corporations for the purpose of financing or facilitating the financing of 10 school construction, facilities for the University of Alaska, facilities for ports and 11 harbors, prepayment of all or a portion of a governmental employer's share of 12 unfunded accrued actuarial liability of retirement systems, or other capital projects. A 13 subsidiary corporation may also be created for the purpose of planning, 14 constructing, and financing in-state natural gas pipeline projects or for the 15 purpose of aiding in the planning, construction, and financing of in-state natural 16 gas pipeline projects. A subsidiary corporation created under this section may be 17 incorporated under AS 10.20.146 - 10.20.166. The corporation may transfer assets of 18 the corporation to a subsidiary created under this section. A subsidiary created under 19 this section may borrow money and issue bonds as evidence of that borrowing, and 20 has all the powers of the corporation that the corporation grants to it. However, a 21 subsidiary created for the purpose of financing or facilitating the financing of 22 prepayment of a governmental employer's share of unfunded accrued actuarial liability 23 of retirement systems may borrow money and issue bonds only if the state bond rating 24 is the equivalent of AA- or better and subject to AS 37.15.903. A subsidiary 25 corporation created for the purpose of planning, constructing, and financing in- 26 state natural gas pipeline projects or for the purpose of aiding in the planning, 27 construction, or financing of in-state natural gas pipeline projects is exempt from 28 AS 36.30, including AS 36.30.015(d) and (f). Unless otherwise provided by the 29 corporation, the debts, liabilities, and obligations of a subsidiary corporation created 30 under this section are not the debts, liabilities, or obligations of the corporation. 31 * Sec. 3. AS 36.30.850(b) is amended by adding a new paragraph to read:
01 (48) a subsidiary of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation created 02 under AS 18.56.086 for the purpose of planning, financing, or constructing in-state 03 natural gas pipeline projects or for the purpose of aiding in the planning, financing, or 04 constructing of in-state natural gas pipeline projects. 05 * Sec. 4. AS 38 is amended by adding new sections to read: 06 Chapter 34. In-State Natural Gas Pipeline. 07 Sec. 38.34.010. In-state gasline project coordinator. (a) The position of in- 08 state gasline project coordinator is created in the Office of the Governor. The Office of 09 the Governor shall provide administrative support for the position. The position shall 10 continue until one year after commencement of commercial operation of the in-state 11 natural gas pipeline. 12 (b) The governor shall appoint an individual to the position of in-state gasline 13 project coordinator. The coordinator is in the exempt service under AS 39.25.110. The 14 person serving as the in-state gasline project coordinator may be removed from the 15 position at the discretion of the governor, who shall appoint another person to the 16 position. 17 (c) The in-state gasline project coordinator shall collaborate with other state 18 agencies or entities to coordinate and facilitate the provisions of AS 38.34.020. 19 Sec. 38.34.020. Expedited review and action by state agencies or entities. 20 (a) A state agency or entity conducting a review or taking action relating to the in-state 21 natural gas pipeline project under this chapter shall expedite the review or action in a 22 manner consistent with the timely completion of the project. 23 (b) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, a state agency or entity 24 may not include in any project certificate, right-of-way, permit, or other authorization 25 a term or condition that is not required by law if the in-state gasline project 26 coordinator determines that the term or condition would prevent or impair, in any 27 significant respect, the expeditious construction and operation or expansion of the in- 28 state natural gas pipeline project. 29 (c) Unless required by law, a state agency or entity may not add to, amend, or 30 abrogate any certificate, right-of-way, permit, or other authorization if the in-state 31 gasline project coordinator determines that the action would prevent or impair, in any
01 significant respect, the expeditious construction, operation, or expansion of the in-state 02 natural gas pipeline project. 03 Sec. 38.34.030. Joint In-state Gasline Development Team. (a) The Joint In- 04 State Gasline Development Team is established in the Alaska Housing Finance 05 Corporation. The development team consists of five members as follows: 06 (1) the commissioner of transportation and public facilities, or the 07 commissioner's designee; 08 (2) the chair of the board of directors of the Alaska Railroad 09 Corporation or the chair's designee; 10 (3) the chief executive officer of the Alaska Natural Gas Development 11 Authority; 12 (4) the in-state gasline project coordinator; and 13 (5) the executive director of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation. 14 (b) The executive director of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation is the 15 chair of the development team. 16 (c) The development team may hire staff, enter into contracts, and exercise 17 other powers necessary to carry out its functions. The development team shall 18 separately account for expenditures made to carry out its functions and submit to the 19 legislature a quarterly report of those expenditures. The development team shall also 20 submit to each member of the legislature monthly updates on the progress of the in- 21 state natural gas pipeline project. 22 Sec. 38.34.040. Duties of the development team. (a) The Joint In-State 23 Gasline Development Team shall produce a project plan for the development of an in- 24 state natural gas pipeline. The development team shall ensure that the project plan is 25 completed and delivered to the legislature by July 1, 2011. The project plan must 26 specify and document how an in-state natural gas pipeline can be designed, financed, 27 constructed, and made operational by December 31, 2015. 28 (b) The Joint In-State Gasline Development Team shall assume executive 29 authority over and managerial responsibility for all activities enumerated under sec. 30 19, ch. 14, SLA 2009, including work previously completed, work in process, and 31 work for which money has been encumbered but that is not completed on the effective
01 date of this subsection. 02 (c) The project plan must include specific plans to coordinate and facilitate 03 construction, ownership, operation, and management of a natural gas pipeline serving 04 Fairbanks, the southcentral region of the state, and other communities whenever 05 practicable, connecting with or enhancing the existing gas pipeline system, and 06 reaching to tidewater in the Southcentral region of the state. 07 (d) The development team's work product shall include an analysis of 08 alternative possible routes and the selection of a route that, consistent with the other 09 requirements of this section, 10 (1) is economically feasible; 11 (2) makes natural gas available to residents at the lowest possible cost; 12 (3) allows for connecting lines to serve industrial, residential, and 13 utility customers along the entire route, and in other regions of the state that can be 14 served at commercially feasible rates; 15 (4) uses state land and existing state highway and railroad rights-of- 16 way to the maximum extent feasible; 17 (5) uses existing highway and railroad bridges, gravel sources, 18 equipment yards, maintenance facilities, and other existing facilities and resources to 19 the maximum extent feasible. 20 (e) With the intent that any project-related assets acquired or developed be 21 available for transfer or sale to the entity best able to complete the project, the 22 development team shall 23 (1) prepare plans and designs necessary for construction of the in-state 24 natural gas pipeline project; 25 (2) coordinate with entities qualified to build, own, and operate the 26 natural gas pipeline; 27 (3) identify, apply for, and obtain rights-of-way and other permits for 28 the project route; 29 (4) work with other entities to promote gas supply and purchase 30 contracts required for the project to be commercially viable; 31 (5) prepare cost estimates for the project design, construction, and
01 operation to determine the project's economic feasibility and the projected cost of 02 natural gas to consumers; 03 (6) coordinate with and, to the fullest extent possible, use existing 04 work by other state agencies and entities before contracting for new reports and 05 research and analysis; 06 (7) determine regulatory authority over the pipeline project and 07 perform any necessary compliance requirements; 08 (8) identify and apply for, or support extension of, existing permits for 09 export of Alaska natural gas if that export improves project economics and will reduce 10 the price of natural gas to in-state consumers. 11 (f) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any rights to a natural gas 12 pipeline corridor obtained by a state agency under eminent domain may be transferred 13 to a private entity. 14 (g) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a state agency acquiring an 15 interest in land by eminent domain may grant a permit authorizing a private person to 16 construct, manage, and operate a gas pipeline over, under, along, across, or upon the 17 land. 18 (h) In preparing the project plan required in this section, the development team 19 may consider all aspects of the in-state natural gas pipeline project, including public, 20 private, or joint construction alternatives, marketing of natural gas, financing 21 alternatives for pipeline construction, procurement of natural gas from producers, 22 maximization of local hire, opportunities for promoting value added industries, gas-to- 23 liquids manufacturing opportunities, production and delivery of liquefied natural gas 24 or propane to Yukon River, interior, and coastal communities, alternatives for 25 transporting natural gas to other locations in the state, the acquisition of natural gas 26 commitments sufficient to ensure the long-term feasibility of the in-state natural gas 27 pipeline project, and the development of a global natural gas trading hub in the state. 28 (i) The Joint In-State Gasline Development Team shall take all action 29 necessary to complete its responsibilities under this section. 30 Sec. 38.34.050. Cooperation and access to information. (a) Notwithstanding 31 other laws, the Joint In-state Gasline Development Team may have access to
01 information of all state agencies or entities, including confidential information, that 02 may relate to the in-state natural gas pipeline or prove useful in planning, design, 03 construction, or operation of the pipeline. Confidential information received by the 04 development team shall be kept confidential. 05 (b) All state agencies or entities shall cooperate with and, except for requests 06 from the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act coordinator (AS 43.90.250), give priority to 07 requests for information from the Joint In-state Gasline Development Team. The 08 development team shall avoid duplicating studies, plans, and designs that have already 09 been produced or otherwise obtained by other state entities. 10 (c) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, the Department of Natural 11 Resources shall grant the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation a right-of-way lease 12 under AS 38.35 for the gasline transportation corridor if 13 (1) the corporation submits a complete right-of-way lease application 14 under AS 38.35.050; 15 (2) the lease application is made the subject of notice and other 16 reasonable and appropriate publication requirements under AS 38.35.070; and 17 (3) the corporation agrees to be bound by the right-of-way lease 18 covenants set out in AS 38.35.120. 19 (d) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, a right-of-way lease 20 granted under (c) of this section is subject to AS 38.05, except that the best interest 21 findings requirements of AS 38.05 and the permit requirements of AS 38.05.850 do 22 not apply to a lease made under this section. 23 Sec. 38.34.060. Conflicts of interest. (a) If a member of the Joint In-state 24 Gasline Development Team acquires, owns, or controls an interest, direct or indirect, 25 in property, an organization, or a business that might be affected by the in-state natural 26 gas pipeline project or other matter under consideration by the development team, the 27 member shall immediately disclose the interest to the development team. The 28 disclosure is a matter of public record and shall be included in the minutes of the first 29 meeting of the development team held after the disclosure. 30 (b) The members of the development team are subject to AS 39.50 and 31 AS 39.52.
01 Sec. 38.34.099. Definitions. In this chapter, 02 (1) "in-state natural gas pipeline" means a pipeline for transporting 03 natural gas that runs from the North Slope to tidewater in the state; 04 (2) "North Slope" means that area of Alaska lying north of 68 degrees 05 North latitude. 06 * Sec. 5. AS 39.25.110 is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: 07 (43) the in-state gasline project coordinator appointed under 08 AS 38.34.010. 09 * Sec. 6. AS 41.41.010(a) is amended to read: 10 (a) There is established the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority, the 11 purpose of which is to provide one or more of the following services and functions in 12 order to bring natural gas from the North Slope or other regions of the state to 13 market, including 14 (1) the acquisition and conditioning of [NORTH SLOPE] natural gas; 15 (2) the design and construction of the pipeline system; 16 (3) the operation and maintenance of the pipeline system; 17 (4) the design, construction, and operation [,] of other facilities 18 necessary for delivering the gas to market, including markets in the state [AND TO 19 SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA]; and 20 (5) the acquisition of natural gas market share sufficient to ensure the 21 long-term feasibility of [THE] pipeline system projects [PROJECT]. 22 * Sec. 7. AS 41.41.010(d) is amended to read: 23 (d) The acquisition of natural gas from the North Slope and other regions of 24 the state, including the Alaska outer continental shelf, and its delivery to markets 25 in the state for use by markets in the state or to tidewater for shipment to market by 26 the authority are [IS AN] essential government functions [FUNCTION] of the state. 27 * Sec. 8. AS 41.41.990(3) is amended to read: 28 (3) "project" means the gas transmission pipeline, together with all 29 related property and facilities, to extend from [THE PRUDHOE BAY AREA ON] the 30 North Slope of Alaska or other regions of the state to a market in the state, or be 31 available to a market in the state, and [EITHER] to tidewater at a point on Prince
01 William Sound [AND THE SPUR LINE FROM GLENNALLEN TO THE 02 SOUTHCENTRAL GAS DISTRIBUTION GRID] or [TO TIDEWATER AT A 03 POINT ON] Cook Inlet, and includes planning, design, and construction of the 04 pipeline and facilities as described in AS 41.41.010(a)(1) - (5). 05 * Sec. 9. AS 41.41.990 is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: 06 (4) "North Slope" means that part of the state that lies north of 68 07 degrees North latitude and includes the Brooks Range foothills. 08 * Sec. 10. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 09 read: 10 TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS. (a) In discharging its obligations, the Joint In-State 11 Gasline Development Team shall 12 (1) seek letters of intent from buyers and sellers of natural gas to ship gas 13 using the facilities of the project and, from information obtained, by February 15, 2011, 14 define the project parameters that would allow the project to be commercially viable; 15 (2) seek letters of interest from private pipeline construction and operating 16 companies to develop the project; the work under this paragraph should be initiated between 17 November 15, 2010, and shall be completed by March 15, 2011; 18 (3) prepare and submit to the governor and the presiding officer of each house 19 of the legislature, by December 15, 2010, any initial legislation necessary to advance the 20 project; 21 (4) prepare and submit a report at each of the dates set out in (1) - (3) of this 22 subsection to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the president of 23 the senate. 24 (b) The parties having responsibility for contracts, permit and acquisition 25 applications, and studies in progress on the effective date of this Act initiated or entered into 26 by the Office of the Governor or a state agency or entity that relate to an in-state natural gas 27 pipeline shall transfer those obligations and initiatives to the Alaska Housing Finance 28 Corporation. Transfer of those obligations and initiatives may not be unreasonably delayed. If 29 the corporation forms a subsidiary under AS 18.56.086 for the purpose of planning, 30 constructing, and financing in-state natural gas pipeline projects or for aiding those projects, 31 the corporation shall transfer the obligations and initiatives to its subsidiary.
01 * Sec. 11. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 02 read: 03 ALASKA NATURAL GAS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY: LEGISLATIVE 04 AUTHORIZATION AND APPROVAL OF BONDS FOR NATURAL GAS PROJECTS TO 05 ENSURE ENERGY SUFFICIENCY. (a) Subject to (b) of this section, the Alaska Natural 06 Gas Development Authority is authorized to issue bonds under the power granted to it in 07 AS 41.41.300 to acquire a gas supply, develop the Cook Inlet and Fairbanks markets, and 08 plan, permit, and design gas transmission systems to mitigate gas shortfalls, the effect on 09 consumers, and the economy of high cost energy, and ensure energy sufficiency for Alaskans. 10 The maximum principal amount of bonds that the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority 11 may issue under this section is $250,000,000. The Alaska Natural Gas Development 12 Authority may issue the bonds in a single issuance or in several issuances, without limitation 13 as to number of issuances or timing, and as the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority 14 determines best furthers the purpose of financing the projects described in this section. The 15 Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority shall negotiate with interested parties and shall 16 enter into agreements with interested parties to provide revenue sufficient to accomplish the 17 purposes described in this subsection. 18 (b) Unless the issuance is approved under this subsection by law, bonds may not be 19 issued under (a) of this section without the prior written approval of the Legislative Budget 20 and Audit Committee. If the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee approves or fails to 21 approve the issuance of bonds, the committee shall notify the Alaska Natural Gas 22 Development Authority and all members of the legislature in writing. On or before the fifth 23 day of the next session that convenes after the day notice is received by the Alaska Natural 24 Gas Development Authority, the authority may request the legislature to approve or 25 disapprove the bond issue by law. 26 (c) This section constitutes the approval required by AS 41.41.320 for the issuance of 27 the bonds described in this section. 28 * Sec. 12. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).