[thackney]

Yes, that is the pipeline that Conoco agreed to

And it is NOT the Valdez route. The first line of the article I linked you to reads:

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The state has agreed to base fiscal terms of a contract with one of the three oil companies involved in months-long negotiations to build a multibillion dollar, 2,100-mile natural gas pipeline from the North Slope, into Canada and connecting with markets in the Midwest.

[Eva]

I don't have time to argue or figure this out, but here is a paragraph from the WSJ, and this is what I know to be going on.

BP and Exxon Mobil argue a pipeline through Canada to the Midwest would increase the value of the gas by delivering to gas-hungry markets (as if California is not)They say that the alternative shorter route to Valdez-which allows for a spur to send gas through Canada-would generate less revenue and expose the $20 billion project to greater risk. BP and Exxon also expect to have a bigger financial stake in the longer pipeline than the one favored by Alaska gasline authority (and Conoco).