Spring Break
Obama pledges to discuss Alaska's proposed gas pipeline with Canadian leaders
Erika Bolstad, McClatchy Newspapers
Issue date: 2/12/09 Section: News
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama on Wednesday called Alaska's proposed natural gas pipeline "promising" as a national energy resource, and pledged to discuss it with Canadian leaders during his Feb. 19 trip to Ottawa.
"It's a project of great potential and something I'm very interested in," Obama said Wednesday during an interview in the White House with the Anchorage Daily News and 15 other regional newspapers.
"As I mentioned during the campaign, I actually think that for us to move forward on the natural gas pipeline as part of a comprehensive energy strategy _ that includes both more production as well as greater efficiency _ makes a lot of sense," Obama said. "As it happens, Prime Minister Harper, as well as President Calderon of Mexico, have a great interest in energy. Obviously, Canada is one of the biggest energy players in the world. They share an interest not only the production side, of the economic benefits, but I think they're also interested in a broader conversation about efficiency and how it relates to issues like climate change."
Gov. Sarah Palin wrote to Obama last week asking him to discuss the pipeline with Prime Minister Stephen Harper when he visits Canada next week during first foreign trip as president.
Alaskans have "appreciated your strong support for the construction of such a pipeline," Palin wrote, adding that the pipeline should be "a significant component of North American energy policy in the years to come." Palin was unaware Wednesday that her letter had been read, saying she had sent it only "just the other day."
The pipeline entered the national consciousness this fall, when as a vice presidential candidate, Palin touted her work at pushing the project through the Alaska Legislature. The pipeline, a dream of Alaska governors since the 1970s, has an estimated price tag of at least $30 billion.
The project had broad support from former President George W. Bush, who signed off on creating a federal pipeline coordinator and in 2004 agreed to loan guarantees and federal tax credits for the project. In 2007, then-Vice President Dick Cheney urged the Alaska Legislature to act on a gas line proposal.
"It's a project of great potential and something I'm very interested in," Obama said Wednesday during an interview in the White House with the Anchorage Daily News and 15 other regional newspapers.
"As I mentioned during the campaign, I actually think that for us to move forward on the natural gas pipeline as part of a comprehensive energy strategy _ that includes both more production as well as greater efficiency _ makes a lot of sense," Obama said. "As it happens, Prime Minister Harper, as well as President Calderon of Mexico, have a great interest in energy. Obviously, Canada is one of the biggest energy players in the world. They share an interest not only the production side, of the economic benefits, but I think they're also interested in a broader conversation about efficiency and how it relates to issues like climate change."
Gov. Sarah Palin wrote to Obama last week asking him to discuss the pipeline with Prime Minister Stephen Harper when he visits Canada next week during first foreign trip as president.
Alaskans have "appreciated your strong support for the construction of such a pipeline," Palin wrote, adding that the pipeline should be "a significant component of North American energy policy in the years to come." Palin was unaware Wednesday that her letter had been read, saying she had sent it only "just the other day."
The pipeline entered the national consciousness this fall, when as a vice presidential candidate, Palin touted her work at pushing the project through the Alaska Legislature. The pipeline, a dream of Alaska governors since the 1970s, has an estimated price tag of at least $30 billion.
The project had broad support from former President George W. Bush, who signed off on creating a federal pipeline coordinator and in 2004 agreed to loan guarantees and federal tax credits for the project. In 2007, then-Vice President Dick Cheney urged the Alaska Legislature to act on a gas line proposal.
Be the first to comment on this story