Dual escort tugs are essential
The Exxon Valdez oil spill fouled 1,300 miles of Alaska’s coastline, killed thousands of seabirds and marine mammals, closed fisheries — some of which have still not reopened — and inflicted social and economic devastation upon people of communities throughout Prince William Sound and adjoining waters. Many of the spill’s effects linger 21 years later
What would you trade for salmon?
Scotland, England, Norway, Japan, Quebec, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Maine, New York, Massachusetts, California, Oregon, Washington … all used to have wild salmon runs. Those runs have all died out. Overfishing is often blamed, but the single largest factor in losing salmon runs has been ruining the stream and lake habitat in which they need to grow. This has been due to other resource use. Logging brought erosion, hydroelectric dams blocked fish passage, farming siphoned water for irrigation and mining polluted watersheds.
‘I am a pedestrian’
The attitude that was expressed in a letter printed in the paper on Aug. 24 demonstrates a lack of knowledge about roadway privileges, a point of view which appears to be widely shared. Happily, it is not usually accompanied by such a vindictive mean-streak.
HEA draft rate plan chosen
The Homer Electric Association Board of Directors defined the direction it will take in redesigning our cooperative’s rate structure at the Aug. 18 ratemaking workshop. There appeared to be 20 to 25 HEA members in the Homer office and three in the Kenai office for the event. Kudos to those of you who took time to attend or who expressed your thoughts at the previous night’s HEA Board meeting.
Environment needs government attention
As an Alaskan and a fisherman, I must register my sincere displeasure at the lack of leadership of late from our two U.S. senators. Alaskans and their economy face an imminent threat from climate change and ocean acidification, yet Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich appear to prefer the easy playfield of partisan politics to the hard work of writing significant energy policy for our future.
Are we living by our own rules?
Nine years ago, when I was in the fifth grade, I woke up one weekday in September at noon, wondering why my dad hadn’t come in to wake me up in time for school. The radio station I listened to every morning, that usually played music, was full of voices talking quickly and anxiously. I laid in bed trying to wake up, not listening to their words.
When I went downstairs to find my dad, I was surprised to see him sitting less than a foot from the TV, his face partially obscured by his hands.
Who owns Homer Electric Association?
If the monthly HEA bill is in your name, you do.
Like all rural electric cooperatives, HEA is organized under the Seven Cooperative or Rochdale Principles, which means it’s owned by the members it serves. If you haven’t already done it, you should read through the seven principles. They’re posted on the HEA website at www.homerelectric.com.
Rate design: making it fair
One of the most important decisions that can be made by a cooperative is the design of the electric rates. That’s why Homer Electric Association is making every effort to get it right the first time during our current rate design review process.
Over the past couple months, HEA has been working to identify the best design option for ensuring that rates are fair and equitable for all members (residential, commercial and industrial).
A guide to hitchhiking in Homer
I am relieved the driver of the recent hitchhiker attack is OK (“Youth stabbed after giving men ride” July 21, Homer Tribune). I wondered if I would be able to pick up a thumb in need after such an experience …
I arrived in Homer on Oct. 6, 2008 with some seriously lofty goals. I didn’t have transportation, just a huge student loan payment.
Standing against hate and discrimination
I appreciate a representative of the Homer Chamber of Commerce taking the time to meet with me, as well as the response I received last week. We at Homer PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) remain very concerned about the fact that the emcee chosen by the chamber omitted the words “lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered” from the written statement prepared by our group at the July 4th parade.
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