Alaska is pursuing federal funding and partnering with a private firm to jumpstart a long-simmering pipeline project to export North Slope natural gas.

Tim Fitzpatrick, spokesman for the state-owned Alaska Gasline Development Corp. (AGDC), told NGI that Alaska aims to begin the first phase of the state’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) pipeline and export plant by partnering with an as-yet unnamed private firm and by applying for federal pandemic stimulus and infrastructure funds.

AGDC may also seek defense funding because a large military installation in the state would be able to switch from coal to natural gas if the project is completed, Fitzpatrick said. AGDC anticipates that federal funds would cover approximately 75% of costs of the first phase, he said, with the private...