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Alaska governor tours Shell oil rig docked in Seattle, meets with Inslee

Published  May 27, 2015 4:31pm PDT
Associated Press



SEATTLE (AP) — Alaska Gov. Bill Walker toured a massive oil drill rig parked on Seattle's waterfront Wednesday before meeting with Gov. Jay Inslee to tell him that Washington's position on future Arctic drilling will hurt his state's economy.

Walker says he was impressed by crew members and the safety features aboard the 400-foot-long Polar Pioneer, which Royal Dutch Shell plans to use this summer to explore for oil in the Arctic Ocean off Alaska.

The rig docked in Seattle about two weeks ago despite protests by activists in kayaks and opposition from the city of Seattle.

Walker says Shell's project will mean jobs for Alaska and will stimulate development in his state.

Walker later met privately with Inslee in Auburn.

Inslee is a Democrat, while Walker is an independent.