FAIRBANKS — The commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural
Resources defended the state’s natural gas pipeline efforts and promoted
Outer Continental Shelf drilling Thursday, saying both are in the
country’s best interests.

Tom Irwin cautioned against dependence on foreign oil and underdeveloping
Alaska’s resources in a speech at the Alaska Miners Association symposium
at the Westmark Hotel.

He said the U.S. could “shut down” in a matter of weeks if Middle Eastern
oil producers cut off their supply.

“We can argue if we want development or not,” he said. “But those
arguments go away when we go to anarchy.”

Irwin suggested combining renewable energy, such as wind power, with
developing offshore reserves and natural gas as Alaska’s best direction.

“We need to be wise enough to know what to do if they — the ‘they’ who
are bringing oil into our country — turn off the spigot,” he said.

Alaska can make a major contribution through its North Slope natural gas,
he said.

“It’s the energy of the future,” he said. “It’s clean energy. It’s the
baseload energy for the very world we’re part of.”

Irwin promoted the state-backed gas line, a TransCanada project
proceeding under the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act. He conveyed
confidence in an AGIA pipeline because of the recent inclusion of Exxon
Mobil.

“I hear these naysayers saying, ‘Oh, it won’t work. It can’t work. We’re
right,’” he said. “They’re right if we stop. We can defeat ourselves. The
key is: You don’t stop at open season,” the point later this year at
which gas suppliers can commit their gas to a project.

Of the Denali gas pipeline project by ConocoPhillips and BP, he said,
“It’s great to have competition.”

Irwin expressed dismay at the repeal of a federal policy that would have
lifted the decades-long ban on offshore drilling this year. 

He cited figures that show a possible 27 billion barrels of oil available
on the Outer Continental Shelf off the North Slope.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has said new plans for opening Outer
Continental Shelf drilling will be released by the end of March.

Though Irwin spoke eagerly about developing a gas pipeline to Lower 48
markets, he urged patience for the prospect of an in-state “bullet” line
to bring natural gas to the Interior.

“We need to study this,” he said. “We need to study (hydroelectric
power). We need to look at all our alternatives.”

Getting a cost, schedule and tariff are the first steps, he said.

Irwin’s speech also touched on other areas under the Department of
Natural Resources authority.

The former general manager of the Fort Knox Gold mine near Fox
congratulated the mine on 3 million work hours without an accident that
caused a worker to lose time.

Echoing Gov. Sean Parnell’s comments from Wednesday, Irwin railed against
federal regulations that he believes restrict responsible development in
Alaska. He encouraged the mining community to become more politically
involved.

As head of a department that includes agricultural, wildlife and forestry
responsibilities, he added that a balance between the environment must be
found for development to be successful.

“My kids and grandkids are here,” Irwin said. “They can’t stay in Alaska
if the don’t have work. They don’t want to stay in Alaska if we screw it
up.”

Contact staff writer Joshua Armstrong at 459-7523. 
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