June 17, 2009
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC) and Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP) will hold a public meeting about the proposed hydrokinetic test site in the Tanana River at 7 pm in the Nenana Community Hall. Contact ORPC Alaska at (907) 276-4414 for more information.
June 10, 2009
Badly outnumbered and months behind in the debate on energy and climate change, House Republicans plan to introduce an energy bill on Wednesday as an alternative to the Democratic plan barreling toward a House vote this month.
The Republican proposal, drafted by a group led by Representative Mike Pence of Indiana, leans heavily on nuclear power, setting a goal of building 100 reactors over the next 20 years. No new nuclear plants have been ordered in the United States since 1978 because of the high cost of construction and uncertainty about regulatory approval.
The bill also provides incentives for increased oil and gas production on public and private lands and offshore. It would also authorize oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, a focus of 30 years of controversy in Congress.
June 24, 2009
5:30 pm to 8:30 pm
The Alaska Youth for Environmental Action (AYEA) Fundraiser will be held from 5:30 to 8:30pm, at the home of Deborah Williams, 1142 G Street. This year’s fundraising theme is “A Sustainable AYEA for a Sustainable Alaska.” Donations will help AYEA reach youth throughout Alaska with environmental leadership training and Green Job opportunities. This is an outdoor event, so please bring appropriate clothing. Enjoy good food and drinks, fun youth performances, and a lively auction of sustainable items. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at www.ayea.org, from AYEA staff and the Fundraising Team, or at the event.
For more information, call 339-3907.
Deadline for comments on the proposal to renew an air quality control operating permit to the Copper Valley Electric Association that supplies power and process heat to the Petro Star Valdez Refinery. The potential annual emissions of regulated air pollutants at the source will not exceed: 17 tons of Particulate Matter with a diameter of 10 microns or less, 222 tons of Nitrogen Oxides, 150 tons of Sulfur Dioxide, 14 tons of Carbon Monoxide, and 5 tons of Volatile Organic Compounds. The total emissions of regulated air pollutants are 408 tons per year.
Copies of ADEC’s draft Operating Permit and Statement of Basis are available at:
http://www.dec.state.ak.us/air/ap/docs/AQ0494TVP02dper.pdf
http://www.dec.state.ak.us/air/ap/docs/AQ0494TVP02dsob.pdf.
For more information or to submit comments, contact Ms. Debra Dalcher, Operating Permits Supervisor, at 907-269-7562 or email Debra.Dalcher@alaska.gov.
Comments are due on the proposal to reissue the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to discharge wastewater for the Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA) Healy Coal-Fired Power Plant to regulate once-through cooling water to the Nenana River.
The draft NPDES permit and fact sheet are available at:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/WATER.NSF/NPDES+Permits/DraftPermitsAK.
For more information or to submit comments, contact Cinci Godsey at (206)-553-0523, fax to (206)-553-0165 or email godsey.cindi@epa.gov.
Deadline for two (2) Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF) grants. The state, local and tribal government capacity building program will make one-time, two-year awards of up to $250,000 to state, city, county and Indian/Native American tribal governments. Governments will use these grants to strengthen nonprofit organizations and increase the nonprofits’ involvement in projects that help turn our economy around.
48 grants will be awarded. Government offices at the State, local or tribal level or their designees can apply for funding to strengthen or create offices encouraging partnerships with nonprofits. The grant
announcement can be found at:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/HHS-2009-ACF-OCS-SN-0092.html.
The Non-Profit Capacity Building Program will make one-time, two year awards of up to $1 million to experienced lead organizations to provide nonprofit organizations – or project partners – with capacity building training, technical assistance, and competitive financial assistance. A minimum of 55% of the federal funds warded must be provided to project partners through a competitive process. The announcement for the SCF Nonprofit Capacity Building grant is available:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/hhs-2009-acf-ocs-si-0091.html.
August 7, 2009
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
The House Energy Special Committee will hold hearings at 2pm in the Challenger Learning Center in Kenai on HB 218 and HB 219, the Statewide Energy Plan. The hearings will be accessible by teleconference (see details below).
HB 218 will create a Department of Energy and transfer the Alaska Energy Authority, Alaska Natural Gas Authority, and home energy and weatherization programs to the Department of Energy.
HB 218 full text.
HB 219 creates requirements for the renewable energy grant fund. HB 219 full text.
For teleconference connections: Juneau – 463-5073; Outside Juneau – (888) 295-4546.
June 17, 2009
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
The House Energy Special Committee will hold hearings at 5pm in the UAF Regents Conference Room on HB 218 and HB 219, the Statewide Energy Plan. The hearings will be accessible by teleconference (see details below).
HB 218 will create a Department of Energy and transfer the Alaska Energy Authority, Alaska Natural Gas Authority, and home energy and weatherization programs to the Department of Energy.
HB 218 full text.
HB 219 creates requirements for the renewable energy grant fund. HB 219 full text.
For teleconference connections: Juneau – 463-5073; Outside Juneau – (888) 295-4546.
June 8, 2009
The federal government is spending $5 billion in stimulus money to weatherize homes across the country. That is almost as much as it has spent on weatherization since the program was created in the 1970s to cut heating bills and conserve oil for low-income people.
An unusually large share of the money will be spent not on keeping cold air out but on keeping cold air in. Many environmentalists say cutting electricity use for cooling is just as worthwhile as reducing the use of oil or gas for heating. But there are substantial questions about whether it is the most efficient way to save energy.
June 8, 2009
The Anchorage Daily News editorial staff argues that the need and demand for a commuter rail system between Anchorage and the Mat-Su valley exists. Read more.
