You can fool a good portion of the people a good portion of the time.
Simply by repeating a lie over and over again, and having the media simply look the other way and not ask the correct questions, a lie can fester into a perceived truth. Such is the myth of the Alaskan natural gas pipeline that Vice Presidential candidate and newly annointed "wack job," Sarah Palin, perpetuates during the closing days of the presidential campaign. And of course, poor John McCain bought it hook, line, and sinker.
You can fool a good portion of the people a good portion of the time.
Simply by repeating a lie over and over again, and having the media simply look the other way and not ask the correct questions, a lie can fester into a perceived truth. Such is the myth of the Alaskan natural gas pipeline that Vice Presidential candidate and newly annointed "wack job," Sarah Palin, perpetuates during the closing days of the presidential campaign. And of course, poor John McCain bought it hook, line, and sinker.
Here are the simple facts, much of which is excerpted directly from the web site of TransCanada Corporation.
On August 1, 2008, TransCanada Corporation (TSX, NYSE: TRP) (TransCanada) received the support of the Alaska Legislature to award it a license for the Alaska Pipeline Project under the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act (AGIA).
"The Legislature’s decision represents a significant milestone in advancing this major natural gas pipeline project to connect stranded U.S. natural gas reserves to Alaskan and Lower 48 consumers. We are pleased to receive this vote of confidence from the representatives of the people of Alaska," stated Hal Kvisle, TransCanada’s president and chief executive officer. "This ratification of our license under AGIA will facilitate TransCanada’s continuing commercial negotiations with potential shippers, improving the likelihood of a successful open season and the construction of a natural gas delivery system from Prudhoe Bay to Lower 48 markets."
TransCanada will now move forward with project development, which will include engineering, environmental reviews, aboriginal relations and commercial work to conclude an initial binding open season by July 2010. During this period, TransCanada will continue its efforts to align with potential shippers. If sufficient firm contracts are secured in the open season, TransCanada would begin construction after regulatory approvals are received. TransCanada is targeting to have the pipeline in service by September 2018.
TransCanada applied under AGIA to build a 4.5 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d), 48-inch diameter natural gas pipeline running approximately 1,715 miles (2,760 km) from a new natural gas treatment plant at Prudhoe Bay on Alaska’s North Slope to Alberta. Integration of the pipeline with TransCanada’s Alberta System will provide access to diverse, Lower 48 markets across the U.S. The application includes provision for expansions up to 5.9 bcf/d through the addition of compressor stations in Alaska and Canada.
With more than 50 years’ experience, TransCanada is a leader in the responsible development and reliable operation of North American energy infrastructure including natural gas pipelines, power generation, gas storage facilities, and projects related to oil pipelines and LNG facilities. TransCanada’s network of wholly owned pipelines extends more than 59,000 kilometres (36,500 miles), tapping into virtually all major gas supply basins in North America.
OKAYYYY THEN. WINK WINK
Here's the plain English:
The pipeline project is still in the earliest planning stages. In fact, you could say that it isn't even in the "planning stage." Rather, it is in the CONCEPTION STAGE. Largely where it has been for years and years. The only thing that has changed since Palin became governor is that TransCanada now has the rights to "think" about building a pipeline. NO CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT. NO CONSTRUCTION HAS BEGUN. NO HARD DEADLINE OR TARGET FOR GAS DELIVERY. NADDA. ZILCH. TransCanada is performing some engineering and environmental work. But that's about it.
During 2007 and 2008 to date, TransCanada has issued ONE PRESS RELEASE regarding the Alaska Pipeline Project. That was on August 1, 2008.
Here's a problem with the proposed pipeline. The United States has an abundance of natural gas. It has really only ever been an issue of price when it has come to building pipelines, either in Alaska or the continental U.S. But in recent weeks, as the price of crude oil has collapsed, prices have fallen so far that major natural gas producers and explorers have been scrambling for cash and selling properties.
Shipping of yet more natural gas from Alaska to the rest of us would more than likely keep pressure on natural gas prices. This is usually a huge disincentive for to produce more, let alone invest $40 billion in a new pipeline project.
Fact is anyway, more than thirty percent of crude oil is used for transportation fuels. Natural gas accounts for a drop in the bucket. Republicans have done virtually nothing to encourage the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel despite the fact that the technology has existed for years, with millions of natural gas-fueled automobiles tooling around Europe. Sure, you see the occasional fleet of natural gas powered municipal buses and other fleets around the U.S. But nothing is really being done to facilitate the availability of natural gas as a transportation fuel, let alone providing incentives.
So just what would we do with more natural gas? The biggest key to slashing our dependence on oil imports is the conversion of our automotive fleet to "something else." Natural gas, electricity, wind power, Flinstones' foot power, whatever.
THE SARAH PALIN / JOHN MCCAIN $40 BILLION Alaska Pipeline Project IS JUST A SIMPLE LIE.
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