Energy agency looking at fuel factors in the Interior
Published Tuesday, April 29, 2008
The Alaska Energy Authority is taking proactive measures to find just how the high cost of energy is affecting the Interior.
The AEA, under the direction of Executive Director Steve Haagenson, is gathering information from 25 different communities on the types of energy being used, how much is being used, what the costs are for production and delivery.
The Fairbanks Town Hall meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at the Carlson Center.
As prices continue to skyrocket, Haagenson said he is all about solutions and is ready for action.
The AEA’s 19-page plan outlining the necessary steps explains the need for the state to find energy in forms that can be used with the existing infrastructure while operating under a low-profit business model.
“We are going to restore Alaska’s self-sufficiency,” Haagenson stated in a press release earlier this month.
According to the Alaska Energy Plan proposed by Haagenson, the entire project is expected to be implemented by December.
The plan proposes to deploy energy sources that are long term stable priced and sustainable by developing relationships with the state, private and public entities.
Haagenson and his crew are also concerned with the environment. At the meeting, residents will be given time to tell the Alaska Energy Authority which resources they prefer not to develop as well.
The AEA wants to hear from all sides; from the governors office to elders in local communities.
Locals are encouraged to bring their concerns and questions to the Carlson Center in the Arthur Buswell Pioneer Room on Wednesday from 4-8 p.m.
Community Discussion
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Sarah Palin appointed Steve Haagenson to the AEA to get the job done. He knows the energy business inside and out, and with the Governors support he has the ability to make things happen. The AEA has the ability to lead Alaska into a sustainable and economical energy future. I'm sure that Fairbanksans will turn out to this meeting tomorrow to voice our concerns and share our ideas. As heating oil tops $4 a gallon this is really our only chance to break away from the 'business as usual' mentality that the legislative majority has perpetuated in dealing with our skyrocketing energy costs.
Let's see... in what Bush co. spends in three weeks in Iraq- that would be enough funding to build an All Alaska gasline.
That Alaska is sitting on billions of dollars worth of gas and oil and Alaskans are paying the highest prices in the USA to provide heat and electricity for their homes demonstrates just how corrupt and incompetent many of our elected officials are.
Alternative energy is great for the long term solutions, but before one drop of Alaska's Natural Gas goes across the Canadian border or loaded on a LNG tanker for export...Alaska's Energy needs "SHALL" be met at affordable rates for ALL ALASKANS.
Unfortunately Steve has already proven that he is not willing to take on the refinery ... that fact and GVEA’s uncontrolled spending are the root cause of today’s situation. I generally agree with Fairbanks gas but not on this. I also hope I am wrong.
GVEA has been in all types of satellite businesses, has two of everything and multi million dollar battery backups ... lol. Now look at the cost of our electrical power today. It is close to $0.25/Kwh which is insane. GVEA even did away with the paybacks to members which I have been one for 35 years.
Fuel in Fairbanks should be in the $2.50/gallon price today. We’ve not had a decent governor for quite some time. Hopefully this one is sincere and will show some leadership. We are actually paying MORE for gas/diesel/heating oil than people on the East coast who even have very high state taxes added plus about 8,000 miles of transportation and another 1500 miles of bulk distribution costs.
I hope Steve can assist but I suspect it is just more smoke.
Get your head out 5050.....Why should the feds build an all Alaska Gas Line?? You Bush haters......
As all informed intellectuals know, the price of Fuel is not based on "Locally privileged entitlement", but what the commodity market, "Futures, and hedge funds" do "in New York" on a daily basis, and supply and demand. Then throw a little desperate need in there and you have a volatile mix.
We are stuck in the middle of it. We have a much harsher and longer climate than almost all other regions.
The state gov. has gotten the message of outrage from the people and is trying to calm the crisis by holding evaluation meetings. Great, their involved.
Short term fixes should involve the cheaper local fuels, Coal and wood. Most can afford to cheaply re-enter this alternative fuel.
The future deals we make should create our privileged entitlement at much lower costs. Maybe we should use some of this leverage to create new entitlements for the products in use.
You may have to give up a little on more royalties, "who only the state seems to be receiving". But did your dividend pay your whole fuel bill this year? Just a thought.
I believe that another reason our fuel prices are skyrocketing is the fact that American Corporations have been allowed through so-called Free Trade Agreements for years to outsource good paying american manufacturing jobs overseas raising the standard of living in those countries. This is having a huge impact as millions and millions more people in the world are driving cars, air conditioning their huts,etc. More demand equalls higher prices. This is at a time when their standard of living is rising while our is falling fast. This is all about the one world order that the bankers of the world are intent on having. I lived in Fairbanks for 23 years and now reside in Oregon. The city that I live in recently decided to install a new hydro-electric generator at a plant that had been offline for about 20 years. With the rising cost of energy it now was cost effective to get the plant up and running again. This was great news, but then the story went on to say that the city was unable to buy the new generator here in the U.S.A. because we do not manufacture them here anymore. And guess where they had to go to purchase it......Yep you guessed it CHINA!
It is good to hear that the state of Alaska might finally look at methods to becoming energy independent. Now if they would only recede from the U.S. and become independent from our corrupt government that feels like it is their job to look after the people of the whole world, I would move back in a heartbeat. Remember Joe Vogler? He might not have been far off with his ideas......
Do you realize that the people living in Puerto Rico pay an average of $1.74 per gallon for gas. Puerto Rico is a territory not a state and they pay half of what we pay.........
Just food for thought Alaska.
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