Legislative Democrats are continuing to make the case that Alaskans should get Cook Inlet natural gas first, before it is exported to foreign markets.

In a letter Friday to Alaska Attorney General Dan Sullivan, seven Anchorage senators and representatives asked that he intervene in a federal agency's consideration of extending a permit held by ConocoPhillips and Marathon Oil to export LNG from the companies' facility in Kenai. The companies have asked the U.S. Department of Energy to extend their permit to export Cook Inlet gas to Asia, an approval that has the backing of Alaska's congressional delegation.

Earlier this month, about a week after the delegation sent a letter to DOE supporting the permit extension, the group of Democratic lawmakers sent their own letter asking DOE to hold off on extending the export license.

On Friday, in the letter to Sullivan, the lawmakers asked that he get a binding recommitment from the companies to meet local supply needs before exporting gas. The state got that commitment in a 2008 settlement agreement and the lawmakers say they have been told the agreement may not automatically apply to the 2011-2013 extension requested by ConocoPhillips and Marathon.

The group again cites Enstar Natural Gas Co. estimates that put the utility about a billion cubic feet of gas short of being able to supply gas customers in 2011 and 2012.

The letter, signed by Sens. Bill Wielechowski, Bettye Davis and Hollis French, a candidate for governor, along with Reps. Pete Petersen, Berta Gardner, Les Gara and Chris Tuck, makes it clear that they support the LNG facility and recognize its importance to the state. But they are worried the companies won't step up to meet natural gas demand in-state unless ordered to do so by continuing the agreement.

Comments on the export license extension -- and any intervention by the state -- are due Aug. 2.

Contact Patti Epler at patti(at)alaskadispatch.com.