CB,
The natural gas produced has mainly gone to the heating and electric generation for ANC area, mat-su, kenai.
They have been adding to the delivery system, someday Spek might be able to hook up to a fnacy nat gas heater.
There has also been export of LNG to japan / asia. the contract expired, but after the tsunami they started delivering again. I seem to recall that they inked another LNG contract, but not 100% sure.
Our nat gas is high priced. For some reason we don't realize the henry hub pricing here..... the evil companies get a higher price, stupid regulators....
they also are going to start having natural gas storage in an old well down in Kenai. Pump in the gas in the summer when demand is low, so that we have it in the winter when it is in high demand. It will help to reduce the needle peak and excess demand pricing costs.
AKPP said that the system is a "sore spot". It kind of is. Because electric generation uses nat gas and so does 99% of all heating in the area, when it is very cold out, and people are using gas and electric like crazy, the system is at about 99% capacity. Demand and # of consumers has increased, and the delivery system is nearing its max output point.
It is possible that with one small problem on a very cold streak, that residents will be asked to conserve, so that demand can be met and electric can still be generated.
What would be beneficial would be a gas line from the north slope to valdez where they could export LNG...
off that spurs to Fbks, so they can stop ruining the environment with wood stoves, and having to truck LNG from Anc, or use diesel for electric gen,
and then a spur line to Anc.
If the gov't and hippies would stop obstructing gas production and exploration in cook inlet, we would have more gas...
I hate hippies...
