By SUZANNE DOWNING
The US Department of Energy is expected to announce $150 million for new electrical transmission lines in Alaska on Monday, coinciding with Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Fairbanks.
Reuters reports that the federal funding would help build a 223-mile transmission connection between the Beluga power station in Southcentral Alaska and Healy in the Interior. An administration official told the news agency the full project is estimated to cost $400 million.
The corridor includes major ports and encompasses nearly three-quarters of Alaska’s 735,000 residents, according to the official. The planned federal contribution would cover 37.5% of the estimated project cost.
The announcement would place electrical infrastructure alongside energy development as a focus of the administration’s Alaska visit.
Vance is scheduled to appear in Fairbanks Monday evening for a midterm rally supporting Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, who faces Democrat Mary Peltola in the Nov. 3 election.
The transmission funding is separate from the proposed Alaska LNG project and last week’s announcement about potential South Korean investment.
Before departing Washington, Vance told reporters Monday that he expects the long-planned natural gas pipeline to move forward, while acknowledging that details with South Korea are still being worked out.
“I think it’s something that’s going to happen,” Vance said.
He pointed to demand for American natural gas as a reason for his confidence that the project can be completed.
The planned DOE funding would support electrical transmission between Southcentral and Interior Alaska, while Alaska LNG would transport North Slope natural gas for domestic use and overseas sales.
