Praise from The Voice of the Times?

Global warming may still be in debate, but Hell has frozen over if stuff like this is being printed at The Voice of the Times:

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I’m not one of those people who think Gov. Sarah Palin walks on water, but even I must admit that she and her team have brought Alaska unimaginably close to having a gas pipeline.

If Palin and her people succeed, Alaska’s future — with jobs and business opportunities for its people, its children and its grandchilden — should be reasonably secure. This state could continue to be a great place to live and work for generations to come.

Whether the deal comes together or not, her primary strategy — the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act — has brought at least one viable player into the mix. TransCanada has long wanted to build a pipeline and submitted a formal bid that hopefully meets the requirements written by the Palin team.

TransCanada has previously stated that no third-party builder could be successful without participation by one or more of the companies holding large gas leases on the North Slope.

And most importantly, ConocoPhillips, one of the three main leaseholder companies, has offered to participate with a third-party company in building and operating the line. Conoco didn’t submit a formal response to the AGIA call, but it did send Palin a nonconforming offer indicating it’s very interested in moving ahead on the line and willing to work with another company.

TransCanada already has many of the permits needed to build the line through Canada and ConocoPhillips has access to North Slope gas. The company has gas leases of its own, an ongoing exploration program, and perhaps the ability to hammer out contracts with BP and Exxon for shipment of their gas.

A deal is in the air and seems within the governor’s grasp; negotiations could put one together. Many people believe she will be reluctant to let ConocoPhillips play such a role, but I’m not so sure. Palin is a very astute politician and victory is so close. Keep your fingers crossed.

By TOM BRENNAN

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Source: The Voice of the Times