State lawmakers are hoping to turn Alaska's energy crisis into an opportunity to wean rural Alaska off expensive diesel fuel.
A special House Energy Committee hearing was held in Bethel on Friday that lasted four-and-a-half hours. Members also traveled to Kasigluk to see how that village is fighting back.
It's all part of an ongoing effort to develop a statewide energy plan and was the third field trip for the committee.
"We toured around the windmills with the Black Hawk helicopter," Rep. Charisse Millett, R-Anchorage and committee co-chair, said.
The windmills provide Kasigluk and Nunapitchuk -- another village nearby -- almost 30 percent of their energy.
Later in Bethel, the committee heard about the benefits of wind energy.
Robert Nick, chairman of the Nunapitchuk Tribal Council, told lawmakers he was paying $300 a month for electricity before wind. Now things are a little different.
"Only once did I go over $100," he said. "My average has been about $80 to $90 a month, so that is a success story."
Area villages have been paying more than $6 a gallon for fuel to heat homes -- homes that are poorly insulated.
"What happens if we have another year of high fuel prices like we did last year?" Rep. Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham and a committee co-chair, said. "What are your communities going to do?"
I am very gratified to see our lawmakers addressing this issue now in the summer, so that hopefully by the time winter comes we will have some programs in place to address next winter's problems in the short term and hopefully some long term solutions are also coming down the pike.
In my opinion the secret is getting these communities less reliant on fossil fuel and more directed more toward renewable energy sources. And it looks like getting around that obstructionist Governor Palin may be one of the first hurdles that they need to overcome.
But it looks like they already know that.
With costs like these, Gov. Sarah Palin was taken to task for vetoing $28 million in federal stimulus money for energy efficiency.
"Living in Alaska, I can't see how she could reject that," said Myron Naneng, president of the Association of Village Council Presidents.
Lawmakers did get requests to overturn the veto, along with many others.
Sounds like they recognize the problem and her name is Sarah Palin.
Energy is an eternal delight, and he who desires, but acts not, breeds pestilence.
ReplyDeleteWilliam Blake
I am glad our lawmakers are getting requests to overturn the veto by Palin on the stimulus.
ReplyDeleteI am afraid they will still not have the courage to do anything about it however. Just like they didn't have the courage to impeach or even just censure her when their own investigation found her guilty wrt Troopergate.
Les Gara's Huffington post article asked us to write Palin and using logic and public opinion, he stated she would ( and I am paraphrasing here) "do well to rethink her opinion."
I agree and disagree. YES, Palin would "do well" to rethink her opinion. NO, logic and public outcry are NOT going to have an effect on her!
Logic? When did logic, common sense ever work on this nut case? SHE IS A NARCISSIST AND SHE WILL DO WHAT IS EASY, BEST, WHATEVER FOR HER! That is the only "logic" she knows.
Public outcry? SHE DOESNT CARE WHAT "THE PEOPLE" WANT? She cares what SHE wants.
If there is any connection between what is going on in Palin's head and the citizens of Alaska it is her desire to get revenge on those who are rejecting her and cutting off her positive narcissistic supply. Her approval ratings are down while her disapproval is up-- and it is getting worse for her. I truly feel revenge from a rejected narcissist--whether she is consciously aware of her own actions or not--is behind a lot of her actions.
OUR LEGISLATORS-- WHO ARE TESTICLE CHALLENGED AT BEST-- ARE WHO SHOULD BE TAKING ACTION. THEY ARE WHO SHOULD HAVE TAKEN ACTION AND TRIED TO STOP HER WHILE THERE WAS ANY CHANCE THAT THEY COULD>
When they laid down "and bent over" for Palin with Troopergate they told her exactly how weak they are and she has continued---AND WILL CONTINUE---to give it to them and us while simultaneously refusing to "use any vaseline."
It is nothing but pure cowardice on the part of our legislators and they deserve what they are getting from her. Unfortunately, all Alaskans are getting hurt as well and WE DO NOT deserve this treatment.
I know bloggers have to stay polite and have good manners and not be too outspoken because you have to deal with these people in the future. You dont want to and should not "burn bridges."
I, however, am under no such constraints.
I am old and tired and pissed off.
I will slap my cards on the table, call a spade a shovel and enjoy every second of my "imploiteness.
Never respect anyone that doesn't respect you.
Our legislators don't even respect themselves.
There is a new poll about Sarah Palin on the Alaska Dispatch. Of course her followers are putting all kinds of spin on it and busy calling Obama a socialist. They are SO IGNORANT! Obama is NOT a socialist!!! And you know what, nothing is wrong with socialism! People in Scandanavia are much more happy than Americans. I bet they don't spend all their time on blogs talking about their idol and defending (lying about)her or him.
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