Kenneth P. Teune, Ketchikan

As the oil in the Alaska Pipeline dwindles (and state revenues with it), Alaskans must scramble to find revenue sources to keep our state operating.

The Permanent Fund is not yet large enough to do this and taxation is limited by our population, so the best source is in our natural gas reserves. We need to build a pipeline to get this resource to market now. We also need to bring it to the most profitable markets. In order to accomplish this, we must build a pipeline in-state to the port of Valdez.

Shale gas discoveries in the Lower 48 have driven natural gas prices into the cellar. If we build a TransCanada pipeline, it will be the biggest boondoggle and waste of money in the history of this state. The TransCanada option gives us no other markets other than domestic and Canadian ones, neither of which need our gas. Natural gas prices in the Pacific Rim countries have been upwards of 40 percent higher than in the United States. Don’t we want the best price for our resources?

Shipping gas to Valdez and compressing or liquefying it will provide energy not only to the people of our state, but to the Lower 48 and anywhere in the world. That’s why countries in the Middle East use LNG tankers for transporting their resources. Even states in the Gulf of Mexico ship natural gas that way.

One gubernatorial candidate is in favor of an all-Alaska gas pipeline. His name is Bill Walker. Cast your vote for common sense. Vote for Bill Walker for governor.

Kenneth P. Teune, Ketchikan