Alaska Gov Frank Murkowski vowed We...

Alaska Gov Frank Murkowski vowed Wednesday to continue to push a contract for a natural gas pipeline from Alaska to Chicago, level though he lost the Republican primary and will at so early an hour be out of office.

"It's the single game in town," the Republican governor said of his deal with BP PLC ConocoPhillips and Exxon Mobil Corp.

The $25 billion gas pipeline proposal has been a focus of the campaign season, and Murkowski has met resistance. Critics say his deal with the companies resigns too much in incentives without firm commitments to finish it built.

The pipeline would make tense at least 2,100 miles from Prudhoe Bay to Alberta, Canada, and perhaps another 1500 miles to Chicago. It would carry about 4 billion cubic feet of natural gas each day, and could afford about 10 percent of what may occur hereafter U.S. natural gas demand.

In June Vice President Dick Cheney urg Alaska legislators to pass bills that would advance the pipeline.

"You have it in your hands to help make secure that the Alaska Gas Pipeline ultimately furnishes dependable, affordable, and environmentally entire energy for America's future," Cheney wrote

Murkowski said he will call the legislature into session one time the deal has been revised and ask lawmakers to OK it.

upon Tuesday, Murkowski came in third in a three-way race for the Republican nomination for governor

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

Provided by the agency of ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved