Citing a supply shortage, a group of Alaska senators and representatives is urging the U.S. Department of Energy not to sign off on a natural gas export license for ConocoPhillips -- at least not yet. Alaskans must come first before the state's gas is shipped off to foreign markets, argued Sens. Bill Wielechowski, Bettye Davis and Hollis French along with Reps. Pete Petersen, Berta Gardner, Les Gara and Chris Tuck in letters sent to the DOE (.docx) and ConocoPhillips (.docx) Thursday.

The lawmakers, all Democrats from Anchorage, are worried there won't be enough gas to heat homes, schools, hospitals and other public facilities in the years to come. The group says for 2011 and 2012, Enstar Natural Gas Company remains about 1 billion cubic feet of gas short of its supply needs. (Note: an earlier version of this story inaccurately listed barrels as the unit of measurement for the estimated supply shortage.) While another gas exporter -- Marathon Oil Company -- has agreed to sell locally to help close the gap, ConocoPhillips hasn't stepped up to the plate, the group wrote.

By 2013, "more than one-third of the region's need is unmet, leaving Southcentral families and businesses in a perilous position," according to the lawmakers. "Local needs for gas must be fully met through approved contracts before our limited has supplies are exported overseas."

The state lawmakers' letter comes a week after Alaska's congressional delegation sent a letter to Secretary of Energy Steven Chu (PDF) asking the DOE to approve the export license.

Contact Jill Burke at jill(at)alaskadispatch.com.