across Alaska, through the Yukon and British Columbia into Alberta. It also consisted of a gas treatment plant on North Slope. The project was estimated to cost US$35 billion. Route Possible routes include the Alaska route, or southern route, a pipeline along the Alaska Highway. A shorter alternative route, which was considered in the 1970s, links Prudhoe Bay natural gas through Mackenzie River Valley. The pipeline will be built only if Canadian authorities can strike a deal with First Nations whose lands are in the pipeline route, who are accusing Palin and other pipeline proponents of treating them with disrespect by not consulting with them. Politics Opposition to the Alaska natural gas pipeline route mandate and price supports came from both the Bush administration and the Canadian government. In a letter to the Sen. Domenici, Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham wrote, "[The administration] believes market forces should select the route of the pipeline." He continued, "The administration strongly opposes the price-floor tax credit provision in the Senate energy bill and any similar provisions." Abraham suggested several non-price support tax provisions that could subsidize the construction of the pipeline. Former Canadian Ambassador to the United States Michael Kergin wrote that Canada is of the opinion that the Alaskan pipeline should be built without subsidies and without the route being determined by legislation. The late Governor Wally Hickel advocated an "All-Alaskan" route which would go from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez and would bring gas to Fairbanks and Anchorage. He opposed the award of the route to TransCanada which would not result in gas service for Alaska's population centers. In June 2009 Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was interviewed on The Today Show by Matt Lauer. She expressed her support for the pipeline, which was ostensibly the purpose of her appearance on the program. See also Natural gas in Alaska Office of the Federal Coordinator, Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects Trans-Alaska Pipeline System References External links State of Alaska - AGIA website BP's and ConocoPhillips' project website TransCanada Pipelines' project website Office of the Federal Coordinator, Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects Alaska Gasline Port Authority website Northern Engineering Beez Hazen lead engineer on Chilled Pipe Test Site project Natural gas pipelines in Canada Natural gas pipelines in the United States BP buildings and structures ConocoPhillips Proposed pipelines in Canada Canada–United States relations Proposed pipelines in the United States Energy in Alaska Energy infrastructure in