By SUZANNE DOWNING
March 15, 2026 – A political fault line is opening in Juneau over the future of the Alaska LNG project, with Sen. Cathy Giessel increasingly having become the face of the resistance to the massive natural gas development.
Giessel, an Anchorage Republican who chairs the Senate Resources Committee, has taken a skeptical stance from the start toward the project’s private developer, Glenfarne Group, arguing that a gasline build will bring prostitutes to the state, and now arguing that lawmakers lack the information necessary to support legislation tied to the project.
“To quote a famous movie, ‘we have a failure to communicate here,’” Giessel said during Wednesday’s press conference.
The dispute centers on access to proprietary information about the project’s finances, structure, and agreements.
Giessel says lawmakers are being asked to pass legislation described as “essential” to moving the project forward, yet they have not been given key details, particularly proprietary financial information that she feels entitled to, in order to evaluate the proposal.
She lacks understanding the underlying economics, Giessel has said, saying the Legislature must be able to verify that the project ultimately benefits Alaskans.
The Alaska LNG project has been pursued for more than a decade as a way to commercialize North Slope natural gas. The proposal would build an approximately 800-mile pipeline from the North Slope to Southcentral Alaska and a liquefaction terminal in Nikiski, where the gas would be exported to Asian markets.
The project was originally initiated by the state-owned Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, went socialist under Gov. Bill Walker, who awarded it to the Chinese, but has since shifted toward private-sector leadership under the Dunleavy Administration, with Glenfarne now holding a controlling interest.
Giessel says the Legislature needs detailed financial data and other proprietary project information to exercise proper oversight, especially after the state has already invested more than $1 billion in planning and development over the years.
Glenfarne has pushed back, saying the specific information Giessel is requesting is commercially sensitive. Publicly disclosing detailed financial or contractual data could harm negotiations with investors, lenders, and international buyers.
Developers say confidentiality is standard practice for projects of this scale and that releasing the information could undermine the project’s competitiveness.
The dispute intensified after Giessel introduced Senate Bill 275. The bill would significantly expand legislative oversight of the project and the activities of the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation. It would also limit the use of confidentiality agreements, require legislative approval for certain transactions, and impose new tax provisions and surcharges tied to natural gas pipeline and LNG activities.
The nuts fall from the crazy tree, as Sen. Giessel tries to kill Alaska’s gasline
Her bill may send the wrong signal to investors and could stall or even kill the project and injects political uncertainty into negotiations at a time when Alaska is trying to convince international partners that the project is viable. It gives more oversight of the project to an unstable Legislature that changes every two years.
Massive mid-session bill would reshape Alaska LNG oversight, add new taxes and legislative powers
15 thoughts on “Giessel cements her role as face of resistance to Alaska LNG project”
the nineteen sixties Alaska had different community leaders who couldn’t wait to build the oil pipeline out of Prudoe Bay to Valdez. She and the Corrupt Bastards Club they know themselves, they know bullies can’t stand a chance up against leaders who know how to lead. Just as the first pipeline. The second pipeline will bring new leaders into the state upsetting the small and insecure group of leaders running the state.
There is nothing but political uncertainty for any private project in Alaska that the politicians get involved with.
This isn’t hard tho. Have the senate resources committee members sign NDAs, just like the rest of us (potential major offtakers) had to sign to get information. Glenfarne does have commercially sensitive information that is proprietary and they need to protect. This is just doing business. I can’t count the number of NDAs I’ve signed over the years.
Having said that, if there’s a chance this is a real project, we need people to seriously look at it – but skeptically.
AFAIK, glenfarne is looking for tax certainty but not looking for money from the state – so other than having to commit to not screwing them o we after they’ve made billions in investments (ala Sarah and ACES), the state has the easiest job ever.
The offtakers are the ones signing contracts and having to do real due diligence….
“Giessel, an Anchorage (putative) Republican who chairs the Senate Resources Committee, has taken a skeptical stance from the start toward the project’s private developer, Glenfarne Group, arguing that a gasline build will bring prostitutes to the state”
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“WILL bring”? Already has! With Sourpuss Giessel being the first one.
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One has to wonder who has bought her off, and how much she has been paid, in order to oppose the natural gas line project. She would be better named “Wiessel” than “Giessel”.
Hmmm(!!!) … the devious and crazy Karen “Lawn Gnomb” strikes again!
Giessel is from the government, and she is here to help.
Right!
Rest in peace, Alaska gas.
Still holding out for a win on the gas line. There’s got to be a way for us to win this!!
The face of an old witch!
It might bring prostitutes to AK. Is she for real? Is she afraid that her husband might get involved with one? Looking at that ugly mug of hers – I don’t think anyone could blame him.
Whether this project is viable or not should not come down to ignorant lawmakers and their quest to exercise control. Lawmakers should be working for the interests of Alaska and Alaskans, shutting down a project like this if it is viable is demonstrably not in the interests of Alaska or Alaskans.
This is just political blackmail to get money. The obstructionist (people that would lose money) are just mad that they can’t stop it because they are going to put the LNG right next to the existing pipeline that is already permitted – no permits needed. Corrupt corrupt corrupt.
Senator Giessel is “rent seeking” on behalf of herself and the labor unions that elected her. The goal is to extort concessions of many kinds from the pipeline people before that Legislative cabal lets the project go forward. One way to look at it is like the Mafia in various eastern cities, who require payments to criminals before businesses can operate. Playing this role for Ms. Giessel is probably very stressful as she must deliver benefits for her masters without crossing lines that might trigger a Federal organized crime investigation. Have a nice day, Senator. But be careful.
Once again folks, Giessel, Murkowski, Wilson. How many times have we seen the action-words mismatch in politics? Follow the money, big money behind campaigns. Dig down a bit and you’ll see who’ll be re-paid…..
If people only knew how heartless and maniacal mom really is. Not a friendly or sincere bone in her body. My aunts all moved away from Alaska. I went to Canada. The woman is a force of evil.
From the stories that abound about her, ask anyone in the legislature and I suspect they will confirm your contention.
If it’s good for Alaska Giessel will oppose it.