Alaska House readies for gas pipeline vote

But Denali's 12-page plan is routinely criticized as sorely lacking details compared to TransCanada's itemized offering found in three-ring binders the size of two New York City phone directories stacked on top of each other.

Still, TransCanada has its share of critics.

Some lawmakers prefer an in-state pipeline to address the state's soaring energy costs that put Alaska's energy crisis ahead of the nation. They say they can't wait until 2018 for gas to be available to in-state users.

Others question TransCanada's ability to strike a deal with producers BP, ConocoPhillips and Exxon Mobil to ship gas long term. These are called firm transportation commitments and they underpin financing a multibillion dollar pipeline. Without it, there is no pipeline.

Whatever the outcome, the vote will stand as memorable, said House Rules Chairman John Coghill, a 10-year lawmaker whose father, Jack, was one of the state's constitutional framers.

"It's probably one of the more historic votes," he said. "It is historic in that Alaska is linking together with a pipeline company to try to move gas to market."