My Turn: Voice of the Times wants to kill all-Alaska gas line
It is detrimental to Alaska to use the Voice of the Times as the voice of Exxon, ConocoPhillips and British Petroleum, who would like nothing more than to make the all-Alaska gas line project disappear.
The common ownership of the Voice of the Times and major oil field engineering and service company VECO cannot be ignored. VECO describes itself as a multinational corporation that provides services to the energy, resource and process industries. In Alaska, the majority of that business volume results from negotiated contracts with the three major producers: Exxon, ConocoPhillips and British Petroleum.
Of meaningful concern is that the Voice of the Times may be advocating for the self-interest of its owners. A position that is perfectly legitimate in the business world, but not a valid position if the Voice of the Times purports to speak for the good of Alaskans in general.
It is arguably conceivable that the Voice of the Times is advocating for a particular political perspective; say right of center Republicans. However, most right of center Republicans understand and support the Statehood Act, which established and requires that the state own the oil and gas resource. They also support Alaska's constitution, which requires that Alaskans receive a maximum benefit from the oil and gas resource that they own.
Further, and very importantly, most Republican Alaskans understand the value of a free market economy, which requires and thrives upon competition; not a closed market, dominated by three companies who have a fiduciary responsibility to put their interests first, even if opposed to Alaskan's best interest.
We Alaskans are perfectly capable of discerning the perspective and therefore the motivation of the Voice of the Times, given full disclosure when editorializing on oil and gas issues. The disclosure should read something like this: The Voice of the Times is owned by the same person or persons who own VECO, a large service contractor whose main source of revenue is derived from negotiated contracts with British Petroleum, ConocoPhillips and Exxon. Alaskans can then reach their own conclusions as to whether or not the Voice of the Times speaks for the good of Alaskans, or for the benefit of its owner's business interests.
The same type of disclosure is currently available to the public through the Alaska Public Offices Commission regarding those who are specifically tasked with putting Alaska's interests first, those we elect to state level office: the governor and the Legislature. APOC reports indicate that by far, the single largest contributing group to gubernatorial and legislative political campaigns is that group associated with the oil industry, most prominently VECO, a reality which crosses party lines. Alaskans expect that the people they elect to represent only their best interests are doing so, an expectation rooted in the formation of government by the people, for the people, not for the people who contribute the most money to campaigns. The governor and every member of the legislature should make it very clear to the public through their words and actions that they are Alaskan Republicans or Alaskan Democrats, not big oil Democrats or big oil Republicans.
One way they can communicate this assurance to Alaskans is to insist that all business options for Alaska natural gas are fairly and publicly considered, and that a project or projects move forward in the state's best interest. This looms too large in our future to be shrouded behind unnecessary claims of confidentiality or cloaked behind closed-door political gatherings.
What is known publicly is that the all-Alaska gas pipeline is real, ready, and capable of delivering Alaska North Slope natural gas to in-state and domestic markets for the benefit of all Alaskans, with no need for years of additional analysis.
The time is now for a fair and open comparison of project benefits for Alaska if the legislature and governor are to assure Alaskans that their best interests are being well protected.
Enough posturing, it is time for Alaska's gas to go to market; or for those who would obstruct a project to pay a high price.
• Jim Whitaker is mayor of the Fairbanks North Star Borough and chairman of the Alaska Gasline Port Authority. He also served as a representative for Fairbanks in the Alaska Legislature from 1999 to 2003.