PHOENIX - Alaska Gov. Bill Walker has announced two new appointments to the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation's board of directors, which oversees efforts to build a natural gas pipeline the governor says is critical to Alaska's financial future.
Luke Hopkins, a former mayor of Fairbanks, and Department of Transportation and Public Facilities commissioner Marc Luiken will both join the seven-member board, Walker announced last week. The board includes five public members and two commissioners. Earlier this month, the state passed legislation appropriating almost $70 million to acquire land for the pipeline project, known as Alaska LNG.
"I am pleased to welcome Luke Hopkins to the AGDC Board of Directors," Walker said in a statement.
"As the mayor of the Fairbanks Borough, Luke was instrumental in creating a new municipal gas utility for the Borough, and directing major funds to develop lower cost natural gas supply for Fairbanks residents," the governor said.
"As the state transitions to play a larger role in the Alaska LNG project, it is absolutely critical that we have strong leadership in place to guide our endeavors," the governor continued. "I also plan to work on direct communication between the governor's office and the legislature, and I will continue to look for opportunities to include them in discussions about the project," Walker said. "I look forward to working with the AGDC Board and the legislature in the coming months and years as we work to bring Alaska's natural gas to the world market."
