Barrow new site for Alaska pipeline hearings

Tue Jul 1, 5:12 PM
The Associated Press

By The Associated Press

BARROW, Alaska - Legislators in Alaska are back to work to discuss TransCanada Corp.'s bid for a state license to build a multibillion dollar gas pipeline.

Half of the Legislature is in Barrow for hearings on Gov. Sarah Palin's gas pipeline proposal.

Legislators on Tuesday met in this Arctic town, about 480 kilometres away from where the proposed project would be anchored.

They chose this region because for 30 years, it has produced oil currently responsible for about 90 per cent of the state's treasury.

Legislators have until Aug. 2 to either support or reject TransCanada Corp.'s bid for a state license.

They return to Juneau for a second special session July 9 and are expected to quickly take a vote on Palin's recommendation to award TransCanada a license to proceed with a gas line project.