It is a sad fact of the
matter when NOT a single person of interest has taken a stand to
protect Alaska's past, present and future interest. Look, I was NOT a
supporter of the late U.S. Senator Ted Stevens when he was still
alive and kicking to death the appropriations spending spreedom that
was very generous to Alaska. For some 40-years came the gift of
giving courtesy the U.S. Taxpayers until the law caught up with Ted –
for J-Walking? Today, we have not a MoanaLisa, nor a Begich nor a Don
Young that takes the challenge to support the work or walk-that-talk
as did Ted while sworn and engaged as a United States Senator – at
one time Senior Senator pro-Tempore and what appeared to be an
individual with more power to control government then the entire cast
of Congress that shared the same chambers. See, back in 2004, when
natural gas was starting to peter out in the lower-48 and cause for
concern this nation's mainstay sailing, Ted made it clear and
convincing that Prudhoe Bay natural gas - called “stranded”
because it could not get to consumers in need - that commodity would
soon find a market, readily available to both Alaskans and our
neighbors down south. Yes, it meant another pipeline across the
Alaskan tundra! Which meant a whole new era in Alaskan economics.
Alaska made it big with “Statehood”, made it big with
construction of the Trans-Alaska-Pipeline and wanted more! We know
what riches the oil boom in Alaska fostered, now some 30-years in the
making and still holding ground somewhat strong, so it was time for
the long awaited “other” bonanza boom – getting cheap natural
gas to markets inside and outside of Alaska. Ted saw it as a
necessity, and would utilize his “political capital” to make good
a promise to get Alaska back on the energy exploitation map of
interest. At one time not too long ago, Alaska was “King” of the
oil patch but has fallen way behind. But Ted was a careful thinker
and political tinkerer, and wasn't about to let that natural resource
get away without garnishing a lion's share for his constituency, his
Alaska, not without some semblance of control wherein Alaska would
enjoy a double-dipping frenzy - through resource royalty income along
with high-paying jobs to ditch that pipe into the permafrost! For
years, since the days of Yukon Pacific, “Big Oil” had studied
that same interest upon this “stranded gas” and decided that the
best way to get that energy to the red, white and blue states-in-need
was through an over-the-top route, under the Beaufort Sea and then
down through the McKenzie River delta in Canada. Sure Alaska would
reap the benefit of ownership upon that gas by virtue of “Statehood”
and thus find financial rewards by selling it, but that proposed
route was the “jobs killer” route, as it would not have employed
nearly as many construction workers and aftermath operation employees
as would have been possible with a pipeline route that traversed the
Dalton Highway and then across the Canadian border and then down
towards the other border. So Ted “Hulk” Stevens stood strong and
was adamant that (1) a natural gas pipeline shall be built to
“un-strand” the gas estimated at 500-Trillion
cubic-feet(500,000,000,000,000 then some) and (2) it would create
jobs for Alaskans. So he forced legislation down the throat of his
colleagues across the isle and that became “Public Law”, such
enactment that banned any natural gas pipeline route that went
through the Beaufort – not that it was an unsafe endeavor as it was
proven already feasible – but based on the jobs creation
possibilities with the land routing through Alaska wherein it meant a
100-to-one difference! And for a state that has yet to create a
sustainable jobs infrastructure due the fact that we went sissified
with “Big Oil” paying our way all the way so far, well an
in-state pipeline was what this state needed desperately and not just
for jobs. Alaskans pay 200% more for energy needs then does the
average lower-48 John & Jane Dow, so it was an about face about
time dream – affordable energy, finally! And in that “Public Law”
that has Ted's trademark bullying stamp of approval – the HULK –
there came language that if everybody else failed to find an interest
in building a pipeline that was to cost some $50-billion by best
guess estimates, the “law” mandated that failure by the state of
Alaska and private investment would thus create a “Federal
Corporation” to design and build that line – this was back in
2004! Basically, get off the stool or else. It meant the Fed.'s would
intervene with talent and financial backing to get the pipe-dream out
of the wet-dream stage and a reality. So seeing that nothing has been
accomplished except a waste of time and resources and still no pipe
in the ground, why have NOT the others spoken up? Look, if I can read
and understand the language of the Alaska Natural Gas Act, what
gives? Yes, one should ask where is MoanaLisa MurCowpie on this
issue? Where in hell is Begich? And how come Don Young has not come
front and center to support Ted – who is now deceased and cannot
make waves upon legislation that he created when he had the power –
all in efforts to look after his interest, which means Alaska's
interest at heart. So I have taken the lead on this issue and already
sent a correspondence of demand to the Secretary of Energy to make
sure what is of “law” is abided upon, that the “Fed.'s” get
involved and put a stop to the stalling of building a natural gas
pipeline, even if it takes the U.S. Treasury to open up the safe and
throw money our way. I challenge all Alaskans to call, write,
twitter, twat, whatever your fancy, contact your delegation and
demand that the Secretary of Energy immediately form a “Federal
Corporation” as allowed by law and fund a pipeline at least to the
Canadian border. See, when our delegation was asleep at the wheel,
the lower-48 has found new ways to get blood out of a turnip –
through freak'n fracking. Which means there is now a glut of gas, but
that will one day run on empty or amuck when it ruins all the ground
water. So we need to get a pipeline built at least to the border,
with assistance from Uncle Sam – sorry Tea-Party. Look, do you want
jobs building a pipeline or a temporary job dismantling the military
infrastructure in Alaska, which may soon become a realty nightmare
when the brass decides it costs too damn much to do business in
Alaska – due the high cost of Joe's cruddy coal? Talk about doom &
gloom, when that military wrecking ball shows, that my friend is what
will happen if we let our delegation continue to drag its feet on law
that is there to help us! How many designs are on the stool shelf
that still doesn't get affordable gas to my grill? Look, we need no
further excuses or delays, as the “law” spells it out clear and
convincing. We have given the state and private interests more then
enough time and we have read and heard enough excuses, too which I am
really sick and tired of hearing – because it is lame and there is
no excuse when we have a “law” that dictates differently. It is
all so simple and should be remembered the next time that MoanaLisa
or Begich or Young come to the podium with re-election smiles,
realize that their insensitivity to the high cost of energy is backed
by a no-give-a-shit attitude, especially when they had the tools to
get something accomplished besides honoring all the excuses – that
dereliction today brings us no closer to a natural gas pipeline then
where we were back in 1974. In a nutshell, their dereliction to NOT
enforce the “law” that was endorsed and sponsored by Ted Stevens
has cost you well over $15000 in lost income, per bread winner here
in Alaska - because they stoop to new lows and have not the guts to
support old glory. And we pay them? So we must act now, to get the
Fed.'s to intervene and get the ball rolling, or else we will become
nothing but a bunch of unemployed demolition experts, just like our
Alaskan delegation when it comes to protecting our interests, but
they still get a paycheck. Take Alaska's future with some seriouness!
To: Dr. Ernest
Moniz/Secretary of Energy
From: Spam MaGee
Subject: Alaska Gas
Pipeline Act – Requirement of Study by Secretary of Energy
Dear Dr. Moniz;
The below listed
requirement was made “Public Law” by the 108th
Congress on or about October 9. 2004. To date, there has been no
“application for the issuance of a certificate of public
convenience and necessity” and I request that the Secretary of
Energy as required under this “Public Law” perform as mandated by
Congress the following without delay:
a) REQUIREMENT OF STUDY- If no application for
the issuance of a certificate or amended certificate of public
convenience and necessity authorizing the construction and operation
of an Alaska natural gas transportation project has been filed with
the Commission by the date that is 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct a study of
alternative approaches to the construction and operation of such an
Alaska natural gas transportation project.
- (b) SCOPE OF STUDY- The study under subsection (a) shall take
into consideration the feasibility of--
- (1) establishing a Federal Government corporation to
construct an Alaska natural gas transportation project; and
- (2) securing alternative means of providing Federal
financing and ownership (including alternative combinations of
Government and private corporate ownership) of the Alaska natural
gas transportation project.
- (c) CONSULTATION- In conducting the study under subsection
(a), the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of the Treasury
and the Secretary of the Army (acting through the Chief of
Engineers).
- (d) REPORT- On completion of any study under subsection (a),
the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that describes--
- (1) the results of the study; and
- (2) any recommendations of the Secretary (including
proposals for legislation to implement the recommendations).
Spam MaGee
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