Suggested reading on proposed bills
Among the bills introduced in the Alaska Legislature this session, there seems to be a variety of matters, unlike some years when the chances of politics being a spectator sport aren’t so good. Of the 120 plus bill list introduced so far, citizens can, and should, spend a bit of their couch time browsing the [...]
What is DNR’s mission?
When the Department of Natural Resources announced its new mission statement, I first raised the issue in the Resources Committee. I questioned the unilateral replacement by the executive branch of the mission of the Department of Natural Resources. This has percolated and is becoming contentious. The mission statement for DNR as adopted by the Legislature reads: “The mission of the Department of Natural Resources is to develop, conserve, and enhance natural resources for present and future Alaskans.”
The executive branch ‘new’ mission is set as “To responsibly develop Alaska’s resources by making them available for maximum use and benefit consistent with the public interest.”
Before you send letters for gas line
I have been watching this big push for the gas line to Homer with interest and concern. First, let me say I understand the desire to cut costs and the pressures to make a profit as a business. I have been a small business owner and an executive in larger businesses and, as most of you, I am a consumer paying high rates for personal use. From my experiences I have seen the desire for a return on investment drive some very bad decisions. Based upon the facts and history of the energy industry, I have some very big reservations. I hope I am wrong. So, I will present these thoughts and facts so that you have at least one alternative to the current hype.
Letters – Feb. 1
Nominate a volunteer for award Alaska is fortunate to have one of the highest rates of volunteerism in the nation. In fact, 34 percent of our residents volunteer a total of 28 million hours annually. That’s more than 55 volunteer hours per Alaskan every year. Wherever I travel in Alaska, I meet volunteers with big [...]
Ask for gas line’s full-funding
Extending the gas line from Anchor Point to Homer is projected to cost $10.8 million. The savings for heating costs of government buildings alone is projected at $1 million per year. It is hard to project the savings for the 7,000 area residents and private businesses. This depends on how many actually hook up and when, but it should exceed the $1 million a year savings for government entities by far. This is a shovel-ready project that truly uses Alaska’s natural resource to benefit Alaskans. It has one of the best returns on investment of any project in the state. The last two years, funding for this project was passed by the House and the Senate. It was vetoed by Gov. Parnell.
Don’t misjudge your pain
By Jan O’Meara This is a letter to all those folks out there – men and women – who tend to be stoic about their aches and pains. My message to them is simple: Don’t underestimate your pain. Many of us live with some pain every day, day in and day out, and we tend [...]
Letters – Jan. 25
The discouraging price of fuel oil I have been planing to move my business to Homer for the last three years. I still want to do that, but the price of using diesel fuel or propane for shop heat, and cleaning parts, has always been discouraging. If Homer would get natural gas to the residents, [...]
Parnell lays out path to gas line
In his state of the State address last week, Gov. Parnell set out a path for reaching Alaska’s hoped for natural gas development. Its two pronged approach looks at getting Alaska gas for Alaskans, and as an ambitious new economic project to serve for years to come. Let’s hope this new momentum holds so that [...]
Letters – Jan. 18
Three strikes and we’re out It’s now or never. A group of concerned citizens and business leaders have formed a task force to once again try and demonstrate to our Governor the importance of the Natural Gas Line to Homer. An average of at least 38 percent savings in our energy costs would be realized [...]
If not Grant Lake — then what?
Homer Electric Association members like renewable energy. That’s one reason they raised a ruckus over the Healy coal plant deal in 2009. They wanted clean energy from renewable technology instead. Most folks I hear from still do. The Grant Lake/Grant Creek small hydro project is HEA’s first serious effort to provide it.
So why do some HEA members think that’s a terrible idea?
