Representative Harry Crawford Representative Eric Croft |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE · February 6, 2006 |
Croft, Crawford bill moves out of Ways and Means Friday
JUNEAU - The Gasline Now Act passed Friday morning from the House Ways and Means Committee without objection.
The Gasline Now Act would charge a fee to producers for failing to commercialize big gas fields. The fee goes away when a pipeline is built, and a company can get a full refund of fees paid once gas starts flowing. If the leaseholder refuses to develop the gas, they can give back their leases to be re-leased to companies willing to develop Alaska's gas.
HB 223, sponsored by Reps. Eric Croft and Harry Crawford (both D-Anchorage), was circulated as a ballot petition this fall and garnered the signatures of more than 47,000 Alaskans. If the Legislature fails to pass HB 223 this session, voters may decide the question in the November election.
"I thank the House Ways and Means Committee for moving the Gasline Now Act out of committee," Croft said. "I am disappointed British Petroleum and Exxon refused to testify publicly on this important piece of legislation."
"This is one very important tool in our toolbox to move forward the most important question facing our state for the next generation," Crawford said.
HB 223 will be referred next to the House Special Committee on Oil and Gas.
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