Results: Calendar of Events
June 10, 2010
By Pat Forgey at the Juneau Empire: Gov. Sean Parnell’s cuts to renewable energy projects, including some important to Southeast, are receiving criticism – and many questions. The cuts came while other energy projects aimed at oil and gas development received funding. Parnell slashed in half the $50 million renewable energy grant fund approved by the Legislature, and also cut by half appropriations made for individual hydroelectric projects in Sitka and Ketchikan.
“It seems like there were a lot of energy projects that were vetoed, and I’m not sure why he did that,” said Rep. Kyle Johansen, R-Ketchikan and House Majority Leader.
Ketchikan had requested $16.7 million for its Whitman Lake Hydroelectric Project, but Parnell surprised local leaders by slashing that to $1 million. Johansen said he was surprised by the cut, because he’d talked about the project with Parnell, and heard no objections to it. Parnell’s Office of Management and Budget said the project could be funded in future years. Read more
June 10, 2010
By Marietta Cauchi of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES: Private equity firms are preparing for a surge of investment in renewable energy, with on-shore wind farms the number-one target, according to research released Friday. More than three-quarters of private equity executives polled at a recent conference by KPMG said they planned to invest in renewable energy of some sort within the next year, with on-shore wind being the most popular technology, followed by off-shore wind and energy from waste. Renewable energy projects and assets promise huge returns because of the long- term predictable cash flow guaranteed by an increasing focus by governments worldwide on the sector, making business easier for renewable energy facilities. Read more
June 8, 2010
From the Associated Press: The governors of 10 East Coast states have joined federal authorities to form a consortium that will promote the development of offshore wind energy. U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Tuesday the establishment of the Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy Consortium will promote safe and environmentally responsible development, enhance the nation’s energy security, and create jobs. Salazar says a regional renewable energy office has been set up to coordinate and expedite the development of wind, solar and other renewable energy resources off the Atlantic coast. Salazar in April authorized the nation’s first offshore wind farm off Cape Cod. The states are Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina.
June 7, 2010
From Christine Kim at KTUU-TV: Sen. Lisa Murkowski was one of two U.S. senators who spoke about energy challenges facing Alaska and the nation in Anchorage Saturday morning. Her speech was part of the closing ceremony for the three-day National Women’s Leadership Summit. Dozens of women attended Murkowski’s speech at the Anchorage Downtown Marriott, and several had a chance to ask questions on issues that are on the minds of many across the nation. The summit focused on energy, the environment, education and the economy. Renewable energy was an overriding topic.
“It’s going to be the topic not just for one year as health care was, but it’s going to be the topic for the next few years,” said Dr. Laura Badeaux with the Louisiana Center for Women and Government, which organized the summit.
Murkowski emphasized Alaska’s wind and geothermal potential, and its benefits for the future to combat the high energy costs that are hitting rural Alaska. She says there needs to be a way to address both short-term and long-term concerns, and it’s urgent to alleviate reliance on diesel fuel. Read more
June 7, 2010
From Steve Quinn at the Alaska Journal of Commerce: The coastal waters have fed and supported this fishing community of 8,000 residents for decades. And now city leaders are looking to the lakes for help. Sitka is pursuing a hydro electric power generation expansion that won’t come cheap: about $100 million. But a successful expansion of Blue Lake’s generation means keeping energy costs down, even below the state’s average of 14.3 cents a kilowatt hour. It could mean the difference when courting new businesses and would enhance chances to expand it’s base industry of commercial fishing. It also would mean the need for less diesel fuel, a commodity that comes with a price subject to potentially volatile markets. Read more
June 4, 2010
Congratulations to Kodiak Electric Association. The community’s three 1.5-megawatt each wind turbines installed last year on Pillar Mountain are featured in the June edition of the Alaska Airlines magazine (p.30) and are part of a 4.5-minute segment on the Discovery Channel’s Shades of Green show. In the video, Kodiak Electric CEO Darron Scott talks about how the turbines have cut the utility’s diesel fuel use in half and stabilized energy prices, making Kodiak a more attractive place for businesses like fish processors. Because the town no longer uses as much diesel, it is far more insulated against price spikes in diesel fuel costs. Using the wind and an existing hydropower plant, the town is now nearly 90% renewable powered, Scott said. Since July 2009, the turbines have saved the town from having to burn more over 800,000 gallons of diesel, a savings of more than $1.6 million at a cost of $2 a gallon. The total cost of the turbines including installation was $21.4 million, making the estimated payback on the project less than 11 years. To see the latest updates on the turbines, click here
The project also earlier this year earned Kodiak Electric the title of “2009 Wind Cooperative of the Year” from the U.S. Department of Energy and National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
Note: REAP’s Business of Clean Energy in Alaska conference (June 17-18 at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage) will feature a presentation about the Kodiak wind turbines by Ron Acarregui, Vice Chairman of Kodiak Electric Association.
June 3, 2010
From Ted Land at KTUU: ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Gov. Sean Parnell signed a pair of bills into law Wednesday that might allow companies to break ground on large-scale renewable energy projects in Alaska this summer. One bill strips away some of the regulation for renewable projects that sell their power to regulated utility companies. The second bill reduces the royalty rate for geothermal leases on state land, making it more affordable for companies like Nevada-based Ormat Technologies, which is looking to develop part of Mount Spurr. Fire Island, just offshore from Kincaid Park, is the site of a much talked-about wind turbine project. Native corporation CIRI says the project could someday power 18,000 Anchorage homes. The timeline for the Fire Island project is now more solid, because of the bills. Read more
Ormat’s Geothermal Exploration in Alaska Spurred by Legislature
June 1, 2010
From the Associated Press: President Barack Obama said Wednesday that the “heartbreaking” oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico underscores the urgent need for alternative fuel sources to feed the United States’ energy needs. Speaking at a northern California company that manufactures solar panels, Obama said that moving to an energy strategy more dependent on renewable sources of fuel would create jobs and secure America’s economic future. The president has long said renewable sources of energy, such as wind and solar, will play a vital role in the nation’s future. But he has also moved to expand offshore drilling, recognizing that the U.S. dependence on oil will continue for many years, and the political reality that more drilling could help him win Republican support for a broad-ranging energy bill. Read more
June 17, 2010 to June 18, 2010
The 2010 conference will pick up where the 2009 conference left off, offering a more Alaska-centric focus on business and policy development of Energy Efficiency (EE) and Renewable Energy (RE) within the state. Attendees will also gain insight into the experiences of governments and businesses from around the country, as they relate to Alaska’s unique potential.
Based on participant feedback, the 2010 conference will feature a redesigned format that will allow for excellent opportunities to engage with presenters, network with participants, and collectively implement an energy independent future for the state.
