State should look at building railroad instead of a gas pipeline

The recent announcement by the state’s bank AIDEA, the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, and the Alaska Gasline Development Corp. warrants close examination not only by the Legislature but every Alaskan who might become a ratepayer utilizing the natural gas.

The AIDEA proposal commits up to $50 million as a backstop in support of engineering work on the proposed pipeline to move North Slope gas to Fairbanks and Southcentral Alaska. The work would be conducted and initially funded by an unnamed private company. If the study concludes that the project is not economically viable...