Sen. Murkowski expects first major ANWR floor fight in March

www.petroleumnewsalaska.com Steve Sutherlin, PNA associate editor

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said if a provision to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas exploration is added to a budget reconciliation bill as expected, the “first major floor fight” on the issue might take place as early as the end of March.

Murkowski said in remarks to Commonwealth North Feb. 19 that she expects a huge battle in the Senate in the next six months over ANWR and a proposed North Slope natural gas pipeline, but there are reasons for optimism on both.

“It’s cold back east, and there’s lots of snow back east,” she said.

The economy is being hurt by high energy prices, and by concerns about stability of supplies, she said, adding that consumers are spending $100 million more per day for energy than one year ago.

Murkowski said reliance on supplies from political hot spots such as Venezuela and Iraq are winning converts to the cause of domestic production.

“Do you think these are islands of political stability?” she said. “I think not.

“If there was ever a time for a rational energy policy, it’s now.”

Murkowski said she recently had a face-to-face conversation with President Bush about ANWR, and he assured her the administration is committed to do whatever it takes to get the refuge opened this year.

Just say no to “either/or” The North Slope gas pipeline issue will likely be addressed in an energy bill this summer, Murkowski said. Her Democratic colleagues tend to favor the idea of a gas line, while opposing ANWR drilling. Republicans from gas producing states generally support ANWR drilling, but are concerned about the effect on prices if price supports are used to encourage the building of the gas line.

Murkowski said she is standing firm against the idea that Alaska should be happy to get a gas line instead of ANWR drilling, or vice versa, because the nation needs the energy from both.

“Demand is going to outstrip supply,” she said. “Alaska gas has got to be there.”

Another misconception Murkowski said she is encountering is the idea that renewable energy sources and alternative energy sources can take the place of ANWR or the North Slope gas line.

“It’s not an either/or debate, we have to have an interim, a bridge,” she said.