I also want to thank Gov. Sarah Palin for her issuance of Administrative Order No. 242 supporting the continued development of the Port Authority's all-Alaska LNG project. Here are some of the most compelling reasons why this project will continue to move forward.

1. Known gas supply. It begins at the North Slope, where currently 8.4 billion cubic feet of gas is re-injected into the field each day. There is sufficient gas for this project today without additional exploration and development.

2. Known route. The route is parallel to the existing Trans-Alaska Pipeline System from the North Slope to Valdez. This route has already received three federal environmental impact studies - two by TAPS owners, one by the Yukon Pacific Corp.

3. No limit on volume. Since the Port Authority project is within AGIA, it is not limited by volume restriction as are projects outside AGIA that can not transport more than 500 million cubic feet of gas per day.

4. Pipeline company in place. Since the Port Authority project is within AGIA, TransCanada Alaska has committed to hold an open season for customers to Valdez, independent of a Canadian line, targeted for July 2010. TransCanada is already working on the cost estimates for the pipeline to Valdez.

5. Cheaper gas to Alaskans. With the world markets' interest in LNG from Alaska, there will be a larger volume in the pipe, and therefore, pipeline transportations costs to Alaska's consumers would be cheaper.

6. Spur line to Southcentral. Through the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority's work on a spur line from Glennallen to the Southcentral gas grid in Palmer, gas from this project would be able to flow to the Mat-Su Valley, Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula through the existing gas grid.

7. Revenues to Alaska's treasury. With the high volume of gas, it is projected to bring hundreds of million of dollars each year into the state coffers through royalties, severance and corporate income taxes resulting from this project to help offset the declining revenues from the annual reduced flow of oil through TAPS.

8. Market participation. The Port Authority is working on the project in conjunction with two industry giants, Mitsubishi Corp. and Sempra LNG, indicating market interest in LNG from Alaska.

9. Project control and benefits remain in Alaska. Alaska would have complete control over all aspects of this project. Alaskans would benefit from lower energy prices and the long-term post-construction and value added jobs for generations to come.

10. Statewide support. In a February 2008 poll, 68 percent of those polled favored the gas line project from the North Slope to Valdez.

11. Market optionality. Over the last several years, significant developments of shale gas in both Canada and the Lower 48 has many energy consultants now referring to the Lower 48 as being "awash in natural gas." Some estimates have North America shale gas in 1,000 trillion to 3,000 trillion cubic feet range. In fact some companies are now turning their LNG receiving terminals into LNG export terminals, citing the surplus gas from shale gas development in the Lower 48 as the reason.

Bert Cottle is the chairman of the Alaska Gasline Port Authority.