Video Clips

Quoted moments from Alaska public meetings, hearings, and press conferences.

Clips from Alaska Senate Finance CommitteeClear

Suzanne LaFrance

“The Anchorage Community Development Authority, ACDA, commissioned a report from economist Jonathan King who analyzed the fiscal impacts on the municipality. The analysis shows that providing services to workers and to their families will cost more than locally generated revenues can support.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 10, 2026 9:00am · Jun 10, 2026

1:12

Grier Hopkins

“the— anywhere between the $180 million that was estimated 12 years ago and the $245 million that was put into the fiscal note instead of finance would be unaffordable for the community here.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 10, 2026 9:00am · Jun 10, 2026

1:24

Grier Hopkins

“That language is currently in Senate Bill 2001 and has been agreed to between the Fairbanks North Star Borough and Glenfarm, the developer. We worked closely with them to come up with language that would not prohibit the project from moving forward, not create roadblocks, but at the same time be able to ensure that a spur line was going to get built.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 10, 2026 9:00am · Jun 10, 2026

1:10

Grier Hopkins

“About 12 years ago, when the current route was selected, uh, the KPC and permitted, it was routed about 30 miles outside of, uh, what we'll call our city gate, our interior gas utility infrastructure. So we don't have any access to one molecule of gas off of this mainline without that spur line. And with only approximately 3,500 ratepayers to pay for that gas and to monetize, to pay the tariff for that spur line, it is essential that we would be seeing that a postage stamp rate across the whole gas line itself to pay for access for everybody along the rail belt who would be be able to get access to that natural gas.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 10, 2026 9:00am · Jun 10, 2026

0:58

Grier Hopkins

“We're currently paying between $24 and $26 per MCF here in Fairbanks, which comes out to mid-$3.50 or so equivalent for diesel, if I remember correctly, for our BTU basis.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 10, 2026 9:00am · Jun 10, 2026

0:43

Grier Hopkins

“The biggest impact we would see in terms of road usage would be our emergency medical services, our EMS services along the road. And that is something that we hear provide locally through our 5 fire service area contractors. We have a tax mill rate that covers almost the majority, almost the complete area of our Fairbanks North Star Borough plus the city of Fairbanks for those EMS services. And that's going to cover accidents along the highways and along the roads that is bound to happen when you're adding upwards of 1,000 trucks.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 10, 2026 9:00am · Jun 10, 2026

1:00

Speaker C

“We support the Fairbanks spur line for many of the reasons the mayor mentioned, the primary one being this would That spur line would provide our utility, Golden Valley Electric Association, better access to gas to offset their diesel— what is likely their highest cost of power, which would be their diesel generation. So we strongly support this, the Fairbanks spur line.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 10, 2026 9:00am · Jun 10, 2026

1:15

Edna DeVries

“The Borough Assembly has adopted a resolution that supports a volume tax, protects education funding— that's very important to us— by exempting the increased property values from new project infrastructure, ensures effective municipalities receive the associated tax revenue”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 10, 2026 9:00am · Jun 10, 2026

0:33

Suzanne LaFrance

“That's why we support the approach in this bill to provide a community impact fund as well as ADT revenue sharing on a per capita basis. Impact funds would help us prepare for increased service and housing demand. Revenue sharing would close the gap between our local tax revenues and the delivery of services.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 10, 2026 9:00am · Jun 10, 2026

0:30

Julie Vogler

“Without having that contract in front of us, we do not know what's going to be proposed, what will be presented, how they will satisfy the requirements of 4205.141. So those are unknowns to us at this time.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance, 6/9/26, 1:30pm · Jun 9, 2026

0:33

Steve DeVries

“its certificated service area is only allowed to charge rates for services it provides in its certificated service area. If it wanted to expand its service area to include Fairbanks, it would need to apply for a new certificate in order to do so. Whether rates charged for a Fairbanks service area would be the same as those charged for Anchorage or current service area would have to be decided in a particular docket to see whether or not there was a justifiable reason for doing so.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance, 6/9/26, 1:30pm · Jun 9, 2026

0:49

Steve DeVries

“the first step would be for FERC to decline or express or to demonstrate that it no longer is exerting exclusive jurisdiction over the pipe. If that was the case, then we would see the situation come before us, the regulatory commission, as to whether or not the state would— state meaning the regulatory commission— would have jurisdiction to regulate that, the pipeline under those circumstances.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance, 6/9/26, 1:30pm · Jun 9, 2026

0:40

Steve DeVries

“There's a big difference in how the Commission reviews costs to consumers from gas supply contracts and how the commission reviews all other costs. And the reason for that is because there's a specific provision in Title 42, and that statute is on slide 7, which specifically and narrowly constrains our review authority.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance, 6/9/26, 1:30pm · Jun 9, 2026

0:35

John Espindola

“We understand the two phases of the project are still under the purview of FERC jurisdiction, as we have not seen a different determination of jurisdiction in the FERC docket. Under its 2020 decision, jurisdiction lies entirely with FERC for both in-state and export as it relates to the AK LNG project.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance, 6/9/26, 1:30pm · Jun 9, 2026

0:32

Steve DeVries

“Right now, the plate that we have before us is that FERC has asserted exclusive jurisdiction. Until that changes, FERC and federal jurisdiction preempt state law and would preempt the regulatory commission from taking any action.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance, 6/9/26, 1:30pm · Jun 9, 2026

0:23

John Espindola

“As of right now, we're not involved in any aspect of the project, so specifically speaking to the regulatory commission, we would have no nexus with what happens at this point regarding permitting.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance, 6/9/26, 1:30pm · Jun 9, 2026

0:52

Steve DeVries

“we would look at prudence if the issue is raised. Utility practices are presumed prudent unless they are challenged when a cost is being reviewed by us in a docket. It is when they are challenged and a record is to be developed that shows that it is likely or that serious questions have been raised as to the prudent practices or prudent utility practice of a utility in question that calls the prudence of that decision into question, then we would— then it would be before us to adjudicate.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance, 6/9/26, 1:30pm · Jun 9, 2026

0:18

John Espindola

“Yes, we would, and that would be determined in an adjudicatory proceeding based on a full record.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance, 6/9/26, 1:30pm · Jun 9, 2026

0:39

Bert Stedman

“That's $110 million, adding $2.5 billion to the cost, $2.5 billion. So these are not small, inconsequential decisions.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 9, 2026 9:00am · Jun 9, 2026

0:34

Bert Stedman

“So just say it is 1%. That is an extremely costly financial maneuver to whoever in the state has to pay for it. And the majority of it, if we're stuck with the in-state gas line, we don't get to Phase 2. Is gonna be the people in the corridor of the rail belt. And you're looking at significant amount of funds, like $110 million a year in debt service.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 9, 2026 9:00am · Jun 9, 2026

0:25

John Sims

“Every word matters in this contract. And we are seeking every opportunity, whether it's upfront or along the 30-year term, to find ways to reduce the cost of energy to our customers.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 9, 2026 9:00am · Jun 9, 2026

0:41

John Sims

“when you look at that infrastructure that's required, it's about an additional 3 to 5 MMBTU in addition to the commodity price plus the shipping price. So when you're looking at the total all-in cost for LNG imports, assuming that the JKM forecast is correct, you're looking at somewhere from $16 to $22 per MMBtu.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 9, 2026 9:00am · Jun 9, 2026

0:57

John Sims

“I balance a contract for a price per MCF with a certain inflation factor what that price looks like over a long period of time, which is 30 years, and how that compares to the other alternatives. And NSTAR has spent over $4.5 million on analysis, demand studies, worldwide RFPs to bring in the best of the best to meet our customers' needs. And this is the project that's selected— that we selected because of the potential it has to reduce the cost of energy and how it compares to the other alternatives.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 9, 2026 9:00am · Jun 9, 2026

1:09

Bert Stedman

“my understanding is Glenfarm is not going to pursue government-backed debt financing. They're going to go into the private market. And if the spread is 100 basis points or 1%, because we've been told at the federal level it's going to be federal bond rate, if it's 20 years, it's plus 3/8, 20-year bond rate, or 30-year bond rate plus 3/8.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 9, 2026 9:00am · Jun 9, 2026

0:33

John Sims

“we take those prices and we bundle them all together and file them with the commission in what we call our gas cost adjustment. So it takes all of the volumes from what you're seeing here, which is right around $8.50, the $12.30 from Fury, and then that $16 gas, average it all together, and that results in a weighted average cost of gas of about $10.80 is what our customers are paying today.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 9, 2026 9:00am · Jun 9, 2026

0:35

John Sims

“We can, we can talk a lot about increasing the price, but price is only as good as the alternative solutions that are out there. And ultimately, when we look at a long-term solution, we have to have our customers in mind.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 9, 2026 9:00am · Jun 9, 2026

0:48

John Sims

“when the pipeline is built, after a certain transition period, the AK LNG project will, will will buy the assets of the LNG import project. And why that's important is they're currently two independent projects. And if that wasn't set up that way, we would still have to pay for the LNG infrastructure even though we're not bringing in LNG import. So that's, that's the principle behind this is the AK LNG project will procure the LNG import infrastructure and assets that have already been built that will remove the cost obligation from the ratepayers.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 9, 2026 9:00am · Jun 9, 2026

0:52

James Kaufman

“there's concern if the project doesn't happen, there's concern if the project does happen that will somehow be open to cost overruns of the project and we won't be able to contain the cost to the consumer. And I know you don't necessarily have much to do with the total project cost overrun piece of it, But you're right in the middle of trying to assure that you have a reliable supply of gas delivered at the best possible cost.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 9, 2026 9:00am · Jun 9, 2026

0:50

Bert Stedman

“I'd recommend that you put put in reopeners not to pierce the ceiling of 16% plus 2%, but to pierce the floor and go down. They don't have a project without you. And I would recommend to my rail belt colleagues that they encourage you to have reopeners so if there ever is an opportunity to move the price of energy down, You can exercise that if it's every 5 years, every 10 years, or some form.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 9, 2026 9:00am · Jun 9, 2026

0:40

John Sims

“NStar is not providing any equity for either of these projects. Back in 2024, we were contemplating making an investment in the LNG import terminal. And then on the floor in 2024, HB 307 Amendment 14, with the exception of one vote, the entire House voted to prohibit LNG facilities or infrastructure being recovered by utilities and rates.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 9, 2026 9:00am · Jun 9, 2026

0:54

Bert Stedman

“So if we give them, say, $150 million in tax relief, yet they cost us another $110, we only have a margin of $40. That doesn't make good business sense to me from a consumer's perspective.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 9, 2026 9:00am · Jun 9, 2026

0:39

John Sims

“those are all fantastic points that you raise and concerns for anyone that's investing or developing the project. From my perspective, and one of the reasons why we've taken the better part of a year to negotiate this contract, my job is to ensure that my kids and my kids' kids have low cost of energy. And so when I evaluate and negotiate this contract, it doesn't matter to me what the project cost is. It only matters what the price I can receive through this contract as it relates to the alternatives for receiving natural gas in the community.”

Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 9, 2026 9:00am · Jun 9, 2026