Associated Press

JUNEAU — The Alaska Senate has passed legislation that would authorize financing for a gas project to serve Interior Alaska.

The bill, which Gov. Bill Walker has called a must-have, passed unanimously on Sunday. The House would have to decide whether to agree to the Senate’s version.

The Senate version did not include additional financing authority for other energy projects, as the House version had.

The bill would allow the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority to provide up to $275 million in financing for a gas project serving the Interior if the authority approves a project plan. The plan would have to include the source of gas and the estimated cost of the project and the gas supplied to utilities. Regular reports on the project would be required.