What happens when the oil runs out?

[Dakster]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

Yes. Heating fuel is quite expensive, so natural gas would be of help. The only problem is that converting one's home to use natural gas would be quite expensive.

A natural gas pipeline to Fairbanks has been the talk of every politician just before the elections take place, probably for the past 30 years. But once the elections are over we don't hear about it again

You don't think the politicians are pulling a fast one and lying to you, do you?

What is the big hangup with putting natural gas in Fairbanks? Cost? Environmental? You would think people burning natural gas over wood would help the air quality.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Dakster

You don't think the politicians are pulling a fast one and lying to you, do you?

What is the big hangup with putting natural gas in Fairbanks? Cost? Environmental? You would think people burning natural gas over wood would help the air quality.

Yes, the politicians try that all the time. The only person that got something started was Palin before she left office, but a lot of the Republicans did not keep the ball rolling. Parnell did the same this time, and there are talks about building a pipeline to Fairbanks. We will have to wait and see

[starlite9]

Things go uphill or down hill quickly in Alaska, it never has been slow. It is either straight up or down on a graph, Boom or Bust if you like, but when it happens here, it's quick. Pipeline quits/shut down due to corrosion issues, it's all over but the screaming. The politicians will blow through the PFD in very quick order, place income/sales taxes back on the doles and with everyone unemployed and leaving, they will Crater the State financially overnight. Then most of the politicians that caused it all, will pack up and go back to where they came from.

Not a pretty picture, but it's what has happened all throughout Alaska's history to a lessor extent, but the Pipeline will be the final blow to the heart, it will take decades to recover.

[Dakster]

When that happens, where are you going then, starlite?

[starlite9]

Originally Posted by Dakster

When that happens, where are you going then, starlite?

Going to sit by the highway and watch the parade of cars headed to the boarder.

Not looking forward to it though. The politicians in a total panic of trying to save their careers, the ones that wasted all of Alaska's money, will try to come up with a new tax base to "Save" the State. Sales, income, property and other taxes to pay the bills. Even if everyone paid 100% of their income into the State Coffers, we still can't pay for all the Pork, and then with a mass exodus, it will be even more so!

It's not really something I'd hope for, but it's like the Titanic heading into the darkness at full Flank Speed with known Ice Bergs all around! They are/will just keep bloating the State Government until the bottom falls out when something goes wrong.

California is going broke, but they are doing so in slow motion. They have a number of income streams of money that support their bloated Government. Alaska basically has one real cash cow, which is oil. And if that can't be gotten to market, it's game over in weeks. Sure there will be folks that hang on hoping for a redo, but I really don't expect much to happen good. Even if they got a green light to replace the entire pipeline, it would take three to four years and the state can't survive without income and the massive exodus of people.

But I'd stick around even with the downside. This is home.