March 10, 2010
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
How can Alaskans lower their electric bill and create jobs? Renewable Energy Alaska Project hosts a FREE forum March 10 on a new report released by the Alaska Conservation Alliance that shows how businesses and residents in the Railbelt – the state’s most populated region – can cut electricity use by 50% by 2025. Cutting our energy use saves money and reduces the need to build expensive new power production facilities. The report, entitled “Railbelt Electricity Efficiency Landscape”, offers a roadmap to producing the energy savings and details a host of innovative real-life examples from using smart meters to show people how much power they are using to funding energy-efficient improvements through property taxes which allows people to do upgrades without having to worry about losing out on the benefits if they have to sell.
Come hear more about this important report and how you can help at REAP’s Forum, 6-8 p.m., March 10 at the Anchorage museum auditorium. Elizabeth Outten of the Alaska Conservation Alliance will be our presenter. For more information, call 929.7770 or email s.nowers@realaska.org
Read the full REEL report here
Read a summary of the REEL report here
Anchorage Museum
625 C Street
Anchorage, AK 99501
March 2, 2010
From the U.S. Department of Energy: WASHINGTON, D.C. – At the inaugural ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit today, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced $100 million in Recovery Act funding will be made available to accelerate innovation in green technology, increase America’s competitiveness and create new jobs. Today’s announcement comes as some of the nation’s top energy leaders and members of the scientific research community have gathered to ensure U.S. leadership in clean energy technologies.
“This is about unleashing the American innovation machine to solve the energy and climate challenge, while creating new jobs, new industries and new exports for America’s workers,” said Secretary Chu. Read more
March 1, 2010
Pillar Mountain Wind Farm Fast Facts •Total kWhs Generated: 7,393,728•Gallons of Diesel Saved: 520,685•(Data as of Feburary 28, 2010)
Congratulations to Kodiak Electric for being named the 2009 Wind Cooperative of the Year by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Kodiak Electric is the second cooperative in Alaska to receive the award. The Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, which operates in 53 villages in Interior and Western Alaska, was honored as Wind Cooperative of the Year in 2007.
Kodiak was chosen for the award in recognition of its Pillar Mountain project in which they installed three turbines on Pillar Mountain last summer. Each turbine is capable of producing 1.5 megawatts, which makes them the most powerful in the state. So far, the turbines have kept the cooperative from having to burn more than 520,000 gallons of diesel fuel, which at $2 a gallon add up to more than a $1 million in savings. (See the latest stats here) At times, the utility is 100% renewably powered using wind and power produced by its hydro facility. The total cost of the Pillar Mountain project was about $21.4 million, with $4 million of that cost paid for with a grant from Alaska’s Renewable Energy Grant Fund.
In a statement about the award, the DOE praised Kodiak’s Pillar Mountain project for paving “the way for large wind turbine manufacturers to do business in Alaska while gathering experience on integrating megawatt-sized wind energy systems into other isolated grid systems throughout the state.”
Kodiak Electric Association CEO Darron Scott told REAP that community support was a key factor for the project. “Kodiak was so supportive of the project,” he said. “This award really goes to three groups, the Community of Kodiak for their support, KEA Board of Directors for their vision and KEA’s employees and our contractors for their excellent work in making it happen.”
Before installing the turbines, the utility relied on a mix of about 80 percent hydropower and 20 percent diesel fuel. By adding wind power, the utility has insulated itself against price spikes in diesel fuel costs and helped businesses by stabilizing the cost of power. Kodiak Electric serves just about 4,000 commercial and residential customers on Kodiak Island.
A panel of wind industry, government, national laboratory, and electric cooperative experts selected Kodiak Electric Association for the award over eight other nominated electric cooperatives from across the United States.
Pillar Mountain Media Coverage
Kodiak Daily Mirror:
March 8, 2010
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
**March 8
WASILLA – FRESH, THE MOVIE will be shown will be shown at The Alaska Club from 7 to 9pm.. FRESH will challenge your thinking about what you are eating and empower you to take back the your well-being that is being stolen from you and your family through industrialized agriculture. Fresh celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. The movie runs 72 minutes with Q & A time following the movie. For more information call 907-745-5725. A suggested donation of $2.00 per person or $5.00 per family is encouraged to help pay the viewing license fee.
March 11, 2010
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm
*March 11
RECYCLING INDUSTRY MEETING, formerly known as the “Quarterly Recycling Meeting” will be held from Noon to 1:30pm in the MOA, Training Room, 4700 Elmore Road. The Municipality of Anchorage Solid Waste Services is pleased to host its regular recycling industry meeting. This meeting is open to the public. There should be time for discussion, additional topics and questions at the end of the meeting. Please RSVP if possible so we can be sure to have enough space. Feel free to bring a lunch. TENTATIVE AGENDA: Recycling updates (Please RSVP if you have an update), Statewide program opportunities (SBAC, Buy Alaska), Media coverage, Options for Industry collaboration (advocacy, promotion and marketing), Measurement & Metrics, Volunteer opportunities and action items, Other topics, and Q&A. For more information contact the Municipality of Anchorage Recycling Coordinators, Donna Mears at mearsdc@muni.org or 343-6275 or Jeanne Carlson at carlsonj@muni.org or go to www.muni.org/sws.
March 10, 2010
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
*March 10
CELTIC ANCESTRAL WISDOM FOR MODERN SUSTAINABLE LIVING will be presented by NANCY LEE-EVANS from 6:30 to 8:30 at UAA University Center Room 143 (3801 Old Seward Hwy, next to Natural Pantry, free parking). Drawing on extensive research on indigenous traditions, Nancy will share the sustainable lifeways and spiritual traditions of our European ancestors. Recognizing that all life is sacred, and that good relationship is fundamental to harmony and balance, our ancestors crafted a way of life that enables them to live sustainably on their tribal lands for thousands of years. Learn about the justice of Brehon Law, the cooperative use of tribal lands and resources, subsistence farming and more in a lively evening of lecture and discussion. $5 Fee For more information contact Terri Brown 344-0935.
Anchorage Bicycle Plan Public Hearing
• 6 pm, Tuesday, March 2 •
Anchorage Assembly Chambers, Z.J. Loussac Public Library
For more information call: 891-1971 or visit: www.bicycleanchorage.org
March 4, 2010
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
*March 4
Cascadia Region Green Building Council presents ENVIRONMENTAL and CULTURAL SURVIVAL in ARCTIC COMMUNITIES – THE SUSTAINABLE NORTHERN SHELTER PROJECT with JACK HEBERT, President/CEO, Cold Climate Housing Research Center, from 7 to 9pm in Room 101, UAA, Rasmuson Hall. Northern communities face serious challenges, including climate change, accelerated resource development, and a dramatic increase in energy prices. The Sustainable Northern Shelter project links environmental and cultural sustainability as an essential aspect of the green building movement. In addition to highlighting the important cultural aspects of the design, through the use of community design charrettes, the presentation also explores technical considerations including materials and transportation, building envelope design, heating and ventilation, energy modeling and monitoring, and community workforce training. By fostering a sense of inclusiveness in the design process these projects are resulting in solutions that are healthy, affordable, sustainable, and a natural fit for the people who call them home. Cost: free for Cascadia members, University faculty/staff/students; Other $5 (advance sale online), $10 (at the door). To RSVP and get a ticket, go to http://heberttlsanchorage.eventbrite.com. For more information, contact Mark Masteller at mark@cascadiagbc.org.
How can Alaskans lower their electric bill and create jobs? Renewable Energy Alaska Project hosts a FREE forum March 10 on a new report released by the Alaska Conservation Alliance that shows how businesses and residents in the Railbelt – the state’s most populated region – can cut electricity use by 50% by 2025. Cutting our energy use saves money and reduces the need to build expensive new power production facilities. The report, entitled “Railbelt Electricity Efficiency Landscape”, offers a roadmap to producing the energy savings and details a host of innovative real-life examples from using smart meters to show people how much power they are using to funding energy-efficient improvements through property taxes which allows people to do upgrades without having to worry about losing out on the benefits if they have to sell.
