Two state legislators, though, suggest he quit under pressure from a state agency they say doesn't support the proposal to ship North Slope gas to Railbelt markets.
Noah wrote an e-mail to Parnell Chief of Staff Mike Nizich on Wednesday afternoon, saying he was resigning. "It has been an interesting experience working on this project, however the family farming and food processing business we own in Oregon has grown and I just do not have time for both efforts," said the e-mail released by the governor's office.
Parnell said Noah would stay until a replacement is named. Noah did not respond to phone messages or an e-mail seeking comment.
Parnell issued a statement saying he "remains committed to pursuing an in-state gas line" and will fill the job as soon as possible. His statement came after Rep. Jay Ramras, who had spoken to Noah about the resignation, sent a letter suggesting Noah was pushed out by a state Department of Natural Resources he said doesn't support the project.
The Fairbanks Republican wrote in his letter to legislators that state officials are "potentially compromising the future of our state with their bullying tactics and zealous behavior." Ramras asked for committee hearings to be held.
The proposed in-state pipeline from the North Slope down the Parks Highway to the Point Mackenzie area would cost an estimated $3.9 billion. It's been championed by Ramras and other legislators who say the Railbelt needs energy and can't wait for the potential gas pipeline to the Lower 48. The Legislature approved $7 million this spring for Noah's effort to advance the project, although it's not clear who would pay to actually make such a pipeline a reality.
The Department of Natural Resources is focused on the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act effort to pursue the bigger pipeline to the Lower 48, and legislators have suggested it does not want the in-state proposal to distract from those efforts.
Anchorage Republican Rep. Mike Hawker said he agrees with Ramras, who is running for lieutenant governor, that Noah resigned under duress from officials in the natural resources department. Tom Irwin, commissioner of the department, and a key figure in Parnell's effort to secure the pipeline to the Lower 48, did not respond to requests for comment.
Hawker cited a Daily News editorial published earlier this month, in which resources officials were quoted in what Hawker called "discrediting" comments about an in-state pipeline. Hawker called it a knife in the back, saying it goes against Parnell's stated policy.
"It seems to me that the Department of Natural Resources is now telling the governor what to do and the governor is not telling the Department of Natural Resources what the policy is," Hawker said.
Noah was appointed by then-Gov. Sarah Palin. Parnell said he would support the effort when he took over after Palin's July resignation. Parnell spokeswoman Sharon Leighow on Wednesday cited an August memo Parnell sent resources commissioner Irwin and others describing Noah's duties and instructing agencies to work together.
Parnell said in the memo that he wanted an evaluation of a pipeline from the North Slope to Southcentral, as well other potential ways to ship natural gas within the state.
Find Sean Cockerham online at adn.com/contact/scockerham or call him at 257-4344.
Important warning about e-mails purporting to be from the adn.com staff.