Alaska Gasline Development Corporation

In 2009 in response to declining Cook Inlet gas supplies and crippling interior energy costs, the Alaska Legislature initiated a publicly financed effort to explore the feasibility of developing an in-state only, North Slope natural gas pipeline. In 2010, following the passage of HB 369 (Chapter 7, SLA 2010), the initiative transferred to the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC), a newly formed subsidiary of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation. That initial work culminated in the Alaska Stand Alone Pipeline (ASAP) project plan, which was originally delivered to the Legislature in July 2011, and then refined and re-proposed in January 2013. In May 2013, HB 4 (Chapter 11, SLA 2013) established AGDC as an independent, public corporation of the State of Alaska. AGDC has a legal existence separate and distinct from the State and is located within the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, for administrative purposes only.  In 2014, with the passage of SB 138 (Chapter 14, SLA 2014), the Corporation’s mission and authority were further expanded to include having primary responsibility for developing an Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) project on the State’s behalf. The legislation also directs the Corporation to assist the Department of Revenue and the Department of Natural Resources in maximizing the value of the state’s gas. The Corporation received a $69.8 million appropriation to fund the state’s initial equity participation in the Alaska LNG project.

Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) is an independent, public corporation of the state of Alaska. AGDC’s roots date back to 2009, when declining Cook Inlet gas supplies raised the possibility of local energy brown outs and higher energy costs. In 2010, the Alaska Legislature passed House Bill 369, creating AGDC.

Board

AGDC is governed by a seven-member board of directors — five public members and two principal department heads of the State of Alaska. Board members are appointed by the governor and subject to confirmation by the legislature. Public members serve staggered five-year terms. Individuals are selected for their experience in disciplines critical to the corporation’s success including finance, pipeline construction and operations, gas marketing, labor and workforce development, and large project construction management.

Milestones include

• May 2013 – House Bill 4 established AGDC as an independent, public corporation of the State of Alaska. AGDC is structured within the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development for administrative purposes but continues to have a legal existence separate and distinct from the State of Alaska.
• April 2014 – Senate Bill 138 expanded AGDC’s mission and authority to include developing an Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) project on the State’s behalf. This legislation also directed AGDC to assist the Department of Revenue and the Department of Natural Resources in maximizing the value of the state’s gas.
• April 17, 2017 – AGDC filed an application, pursuant to Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act, for the proposed Alaska LNG Project.
  May 1, 2017 – FERC issues the Notice of Application for the Project.
• June 28, 2019 – FERC issues the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Alaska LNG Project.
• March 6, 2020 – FERC published the final Environmental Impact Statement for the Alaska LNG Project.

AGDC’s role is to facilitate the development of infrastructure necessary to move the gas into local and international markets in order to maximize the benefit of Alaska’s vast North Slope natural gas.