16 Nov
Happy Friday Alaska! The sun is shining here in Anchorage and now is the perfect time to take a break from the morning rush and catch up on some news making headlines across the state.
Glass Recycling is Back in Anchorage!!
Op-Ed: Susitna dam is not the best answer for energy
Healy Coal Plant restart deal draws no comments, no opposition
Proposed Mat-Su Valley coal lease (the Canyon Creek lease) might get public comment period extended
24 Aug
Happy Friday Alaska! Here are some conservation related issues making headlines across the state this week:
Usibelli, resident groups meet in federal court
Both sides weigh in on Ballot Measure 2
GVEA Eva Creek wind towers to be tested in September, with online power in October
Price of hydro up for debate- Susitna-Watana costs: AEA, ISER spar over numbers
Rep. Beth Kerttula (D-Juneau) talks about the Alaska Coastal Management Program and Ballot Measure 2
25 Jul
This summer, we are seeing history made before our eyes as wind turbines go up on Fire Island. And although Shell Arctic Oil drilling is stealing the spotlight, many other energy projects are progressing across the state.
The Fire Island Wind project is moving along as scheduled. The first turbine was erected on July 13th and the rest will be completed by August 15th. This fall, the farm should be operational, with power being purchased by Alaska’s largest power utility, Chugach Electric Association. After 10 years of talks and negotiations, the Fire Island Wind farm will soon be providing clean, renewable power to residents of Southcentral Alaska!
Meanwhile, on the North Slope, a Texas based company, Great Bear Petroleum is trying their hand at fracking– shale oil exploration. A 2012 survey suggested that the North Slope may hold 2 billion barrels of shale oil and 80 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The company’s leases are in remote, unpopulated areas and brackish water in the area could mitigate water pollution and contamination issues that have been a source of controversy in fracking operations in other parts of the country. Great Bear President told lawmakers that as many as 200 wells could be drilled per year.
Moving to interior Alaska, Alaska Energy Authority is seeking a third party to estimate costs of the Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric project. The current estimates are based on an updated version of the 1980’s project. The third party would be expected to prepare a cost estimate for the project and also identify potential cost issues that would require more research.
Finally, Cook Inlet Energy is putting finishing touches on a drilling rig and will have it operational in the next few weeks. The company is also looking at building a pipeline across the Cook Inlet that will carry 90,000 barrels per day.
Calendar:
8th Annual Alaska Renewable Energy Fair- For more information, click here.
27 Apr
Happy Friday Alaska! Spring is in full swing and the sun is shining. Hopefully you will be able to get out and enjoy nature this weekend! Here are a few articles making headlines this week across the state:
State moves toward construction of Susitna-Watana Dam
Alaska’s broken and corrupt wildlife system needs fixing- An op-ed piece on the Board of Game
Oceans polluted with much more plastic then previously thought
New research sheds light on mercury pollution
This crazy bill could eliminate Arizona’s ability to do any environmental work- I realize this isn’t Alaskan news but the bill is so crazy that I had to include the article this week
4 Apr
Spring is in the air in Alaska and with it comes the end of the 90-day legislative session. This year’s legislative session is set to adjourn on April 15th and Alaska legislators still have plenty of work to do- much of it on energy.
As we go into the final 2 weeks of session, the Senate has finally unveiled their version of oil tax plan. Introduced on Tuesday in the Senate Finance committee, this bill offers some substantial structural changes to the current ACES tax plan. The new proposal sets up different taxes for oil and gas production and attempts to encourage new production. Oil and gas company representatives will be invited to testify on the bill and the Senate hopes to push the bill over to the House as soon as possible. For more details on the Senate oil tax plan, click here.
Three bills attempting to provide relief for high energy costs in the Interior are also progressing through the Legislature. These bills would provide short term relief through home heating vouchers and would also provide credits for natural gas storage and exploration. Representative Steve Thompson and Senator Joe Thomas, both from Fairbanks, have been working to get versions of these bills passed in both the Senate and House. With less than two weeks left of the session, it is unsure whether the bills will make it through both entities in time.
At a lunch and learning session last week, legislators heard about energy efficiency from Jonathan Westeinde, founder of Windmill Development Group Ltd. While Alaska now requires that 25% of public buildings be 15% more efficient by 2020, according to Jonathan Westeinde, our goals might be too low. “Ten to 20 percent is the low hanging fruit. We should look at 40 to 50 percent” says Westeinde. Read more about his presentation by clicking here.
And finally, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) began holding scoping meetings last week on the proposed Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project. Hearings were held in the Mat-Su Valley on March 27th and 28th and were well attended. The chief concern among residents was the impact to salmon. Residents are also concerned about moose browse, caribou populations and ice conditions that will be affected by the dam. The Alaska Energy Authority estimates the project costs at $4.5 billion and hopes to start operating in 2023.
Here are some upcoming events to put on your calendar:
April 19th-20th: 4th Annual Business of Clean Energy. For more info, go to http://www.BCEAconference.com.
April 23rd: Got HVAC? Join Green Star and CEA for free information workshop about energy efficiency and your HVAC. Click here for more info.
25 Jan
By Kate McKeown
Last week, long awaited energy reports were released, updates were given on the progress of the Susitna-Watana hydroelectric dam project, energy events were scheduled or took place, and on top of it all it was the start of the 2012 Legislative Session!
Two Alaska energy reports were released recently, both of which deserve a read-through. The first, titled Recommendations for Alaska Energy Efficiency and Conservation Public Education and Outreach, was prepared for the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) by Information Insights, Milepost Consulting and additional project advisors. The report provides research-based recommendations for the creating of an education and outreach plan to promote successful energy efficiency and conservation behavior in both urban and rural areas in Alaska. Recommendations include; localizing the message, framing the message and providing a clear direct energy measure.
The second was the Southeast Integrated Resource Plan (SEIRP) Technical Draft Report prepared for AEA by Black & Veatch and HDR Alaska. The SEIRP is a directional plan that identifies the types of resources, including alternative resources that should be developed in the future in the Southeast Alaska region. The report addresses demand-side management/energy efficiency and emerging technologies, such as tidal. AEA will be accepting comments on the draft until March 19,2012.
Turning from reading to listening, did you catch the story on the Susitna-Watana dam on Alaska Public Radio? As we 
know the project is moving at full speed ahead with AEA in the driver’s seat. However, there have been a few road blocks. A number of Alaska Native village corporations in the Cook Inlet area have land holdings near the dam site, and have recently shared their concerns with the public that they believe AEA is not addressing their land claims as they continue to push forward in project development. To find out more, listen to this five minute clip.
Lastly, make sure to have your calendar at hand, there were a number of energy events that happened this week and there will be more to come in the following weeks. Last Thursday, the Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory discussed the one key barrier in developing renewable energy in Alaska – the fact that resources are located far away from population centers and transportation corridors. The event was held at the Blue Loon in Fairbanks for the ACEP Community Energy Lecture series. If you missed the discussion, don’t worry it should be posted here shortly.
If you’re interested in the Susitna-Watana Project, make sure to swing by the Terrestrial Resource Study Planning Meeting at the project office in downtown Anchorage. This meeting follows two full day meetings covering issues from the PAD Document to project specifics, such as Aquatic and Water Resources. For more information, check out the project website.
Don’t put your calendar away just yet; make sure to note the Alaska Forum on the Environment, it takes place from February 6-10, 2012. The Forum will include numerous sessions on renewable energy, including the economics of energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives for rural Alaska. For a detailed schedule, click here.
11 Jan
By Kate McKeown
The start of the New Year brought numerous headlines on wind, avalanches, record snowfall and intense fuel deliveries through sea ice. Luckily, a few clean energy tidbits were found amongst the blizzard of stories.
The 2012 legislative session is quickly approaching. Legislators are preparing for the January 17th start date in Juneau and have already prefilled nearly 30 bills. Bills range from a texting-while-driving ban to naming certain bridges. The one bill that clean energy advocates should take note of is House Bill 250 (HB250), sponsored by Rep. Bill Thomas (R-Hanies). The bill aims to renew the Renewable Energy Grant Fund (REGF), which is expected to sunset in 2013. The REGF was established in 2008 and has provided funds for more than 200 renewable energy projects throughout Alaska. The bill intends to appropriate $50 million each year to the program for the next ten years. Make sure to track this bill throughout the session!
In other news, the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) has officially filed the Preliminary Application Document (PAD) with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for 
the Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project. Sara fisher-Goad, executive director of AEA, stated “the PAD starts the clock on a series of milestones and required deadlines.” One of those deadlines will be the submittal of the license application, now expected to be completed by mid-September 2015. This will put the dam construction and startup in late 2023. The facility would produce an average of 250 MW during the winter months. Meanwhile, opposition to the dam is mounting. Becky Long, with the Coalition of Susitna Dam Alternatives, states that the project’s potentially devastating effect on Su Valley’s world-class salmon runs and moose populations don’t justify the anticipated power production.
Lastly, the New Year brought new standards for incandescent light bulbs. The year 2012 will start a multi-year phase out of inefficient incandescent light bulbs. The program is designed to improve American energy independence and boost product efficiency. The new light-bulb standards come from the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, passed during the Presidency of George W. Bush. The first to go will be the traditional 100-watt incandescent light bulb, followed by the 75 watt and the 60 watt in 2013 and 2014, respectively.
2 Nov
By Kate McKeown
Monday was the last day of Energy Awareness Month. I hope that all of you switched your light bulbs, got an energy audit and weatherized your home in time for all of this snow we’re seeing in Anchorage! Say goodbye to the dry pavement and say hello to winter wonderland. Besides finishing up Energy Awareness Month, last week included energy news about home energy efficiency and the proposed Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Dam.
As the last week of Energy Awareness Month came to a close, the Alaska Craftsman Home Program (ACHP) authored a great compass piece in the Anchorage Daily News about the benefits of a home energy audit. Robin Ward, Program Director with ACHP, explained that getting a home energy audit will not only reduce utility bills, but will improve the durability and comfort in the home.
In addition to these benefits, wouldn’t it be great if your home energy improvements would increase the resale value of your home? Currently when one applies for a mortgage to buy a house, the lender is not required to ask about monthly energy costs; therefore, it’s a rarity when lenders decide to factor in home efficiency. Fortunately, a new bipartisan effort in Washington D.C. could change that old way of thinking and place energy costs into the mortgage equation. The Sensible Accounting Value Energy (SAVE) Act would require the mortgage players to consider energy costs in every loan they insure, guarantee or buy. Studies claim that this legislation could create an estimated 83,000 jobs in the construction, renovation and manufacturing industries in just a few years. Keep your eyes and ears open for the progression of the SAVE legislation- it could help us all reduce our home energy consumption.
Speaking of saving energy, the test results are in! The Energy Watch was conducted two weeks ago and last week the test data was gathered and presented. The test results were a little lower than previous years, reducing the energy load by only 1-2 percent. A telephonic poll was conducted to gather information on participation in the test areas. The poll found that only 24 percent of respondents participated in the test, out of the 47 percent that were aware of it. Through the polling, it was also found that 60 percent of respondents were aware of a possible natural gas delivery problem. The participating utilities were Homer Electric Association, Enstar, Chugach Electric Association, Municipal Light and Power, and Matanuska Electric Association.
Shifting from saving energy to generating energy, this week the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) filed a Preliminary Permit Application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project. The formal application that will detail anticipated issues, impacts and a specific licensing process will be submitted by the end of 2011. AEA held two meetings last week that discussed initial issues and potential studies to be conducted for 2012. To read the preliminary issues, broken into five topic areas, click here. To review the potential information gathering activities for 2012, click here. The Alliance will continue to keep you updated on this project as it moves forward.
21 Oct
Happy Friday Alaska! We hope you have a safe and happy weekend and for your reading pleasure, here are some conservation related articles that are making headlines across the state.
Fairbanks hearing on ANWR draws a big crowd
Alaska Energy Authority hires hydroelectric dam project leader
Usibelli withdraws air quality permit application again for Wishbone Hill site
Great op-ed piece on the Pebble Mine and genetically engineered salmon
7 Sep
By Kate McKeown
As I sifted through the energy news this week, one common theme rose to the top – energy education. Industry professionals, Alaskan residents and state and federal policy makers all played the part of ‘students’ this week by taking notes on various energy topics which will guide them toward a better energy future for Alaska.
The first class was in Girdwood. On Monday and Tuesday, nearly 200 people gathered at the Alyeska Resort for the National Hydropower Association’s Alaska Regional Meeting. The two-day meeting focused on funding mechanisms, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) process and old and new hydropower development in Alaska. Governor Parnell, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich, and Alaska State Senator Lesil McGuire all addressed the record breaking crowd. The take home message delivered by these speakers was that Alaska has an overwhelming amount of untapped hydropower. And of course, one can’t go to a hydro meeting in Alaska without hearing about – the Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project. The project was touched on, but not nearly in as much detail as you would have heard from attending Wednesday’s class.
Wednesday’s class was held in Anchorage and was dedicated to the Susitna-Watana project overview and FERC Licensing Process. Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) announced
they had chosen to pursue the Integrated Licensing Process (ILP) and FERC presented the difference between the ILP and the other two processes (Alternative Licensing Process and the Traditional Licensing Process). AEA stated that the ILP provides a structured timeline which they believe is beneficial for the project. However, other governmental agencies didn’t agree that the ILP, as presented by FERC, was the best option for the project. Representatives from the National Marine Fisheries Service and Alaska Department of Fish and Game both shared their concerns that the strict timeline with the ILP would be hard to accommodate, given their limited time, budget and human resources.
This ‘classroom’ discussion was very similar to one that was held in Talkeetna earlier in the week, but included a larger number of FERC representatives. Over 50 residents participated in the Talkeetna meeting to discuss the future of the Susitna-Watana Dam. AEA and FERC officials were in town to do a site visit at the proposed dam site. The timing of the site visit was viewed as uncharacteristic because most project site visits come after the applicant (in this case-AEA) files the Pre-Application Document (PAD) with FERC. AEA plans on submitting the PAD in late November. Another common thread, besides the structure, between this meeting and the one held on Wednesday was that government agency representatives debated the licensing process with the FERC officials- “they claimed that the timelines were too strict and called the process inadequate.”
Let’s shift to studying abroad- because let’s face it- it’s just more fun. Nearly a dozen lucky Alaska lawmakers flew to Norway for the week to look at how that country is developing their renewable and fossil fuel resources. Fairbanks Senator Joe Thomas says that the Norway trip should provide some new insight on Alaska’s taxes and overall is a worthwhile trip. It is important to note that although Norway has a lot in common with Alaska, there are places where they differ. According to the notes distributed by Institute of the North, the non-profit who organized the trip, Norwegians typically read three newspapers a day, all seven of their political parties would be considered left/progressive in the United States, and all residents have access to free education, healthcare, and retirement.
Until next time- class dismissed.
