June 30, 2011
by Chris Eshleman for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, June 29, 2011 FAIRBANKS — Gov. Sean Parnell signed an annual statewide budget Wednesday that, despite some vetoes, promises millions to help Fairbanks with a nagging air pollution problem and boost renewable energy production. Parnell cut or reduced proposed spending for a handful of projects, including $6 million to [...] Read More
June 30, 2011
by Robert Woolsey for KCAW SITKA, ALASKA (2011-06-29) Considering the recent past, when the previous administration vetoed almost all of Sitka’s capital projects, the community this year will benefit from significant capital spending. Most notably, $28-million dollars budgeted for the Blue Lake Hydro expansion survived. Other projects in the capital list for Sitka that survived the veto [...] Read More
June 28, 2011
by Jeff Richardson for Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, June 28, 2011 FAIRBANKS — After years of study, debate and anticipation, Golden Valley Electric Association is officially in the wind power business. The GVEA board voted unanimously Monday to approve the $90 million Eva Creek project, a 24.6 megawatt turbine farm planned near Healy. With an planned launch date [...] Read More
June 27, 2011
Editorial by by Paul Reichardt for The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, June 26, 2011 A major news topic in Fairbanks in the past year or so has been the cost and availability of energy. Virtually all of us know someone who has either left or threatens to leave the community because of increased energy costs. Those of us [...] Read More
June 27, 2011
by Patti Epler for Alaska Dispatch, June 24, 2011 Southcentral utilities are working on a plan to begin importing liquefied natural gas by 2014, a measure they have now determined is necessary and a “high priority.” In a presentation this week to the Regulatory Commission of Alaska, members of the Long Term Gas Supply Work Group said [...] Read More
June 24, 2011
by Mark Del Franco on Thursday, 23 June 2011, for North American Windpower Former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter used his time in office to build a new energy economy centered around public/private partnerships, research and development (R&D) initiatives, and economic development. Now out of office, he is spreading the message of how states can replicate what Colorado [...] Read More
June 22, 2011
Alternative energy, natural resources offer options By Julie Stricker for Alaska Business Monthly (June 2011) The 2010 Census showed a troubling trend for rural Alaska: While the state’s urban areas and rural hub communities grew, that growth came in part from the state’s smaller, more remote areas. The population of the Yukon-Koyukuk region alone fell almost 15 [...] Read More
June 22, 2011
By Heidi Bohi for Alaska Business Monthly (June 2011) You know you’re from Fairbanks if you’ve driven own the road and seen a sign that says “Mushers Crossing.” You know you’re from Fairbanks if the 365-mile trip to Anchorage is a weekend trip. You know you’re from Fairbanks if 68 percent of your energy budget goes to heat [...] Read More
June 22, 2011
From RenewableEnergyWorld.com: When Google throws its considerable influence into a new arena, people tend to notice. When that influence comes with $280 million, well, people may start to act. That’s what the iconic Internet giant hopes is the result of its new partnership with SolarCity. Google has now entered [...] Read More
June 22, 2011
By Jennifer Gibbins of the Cordova Times: Departing from the Cordova harbor via charter vessel, approximately 100 guests headed out to the Cordova Humpback Creek hydro facility for a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony on June 11, the culmination of a five-year, $21 million rebuild effort. The project was necessary following two floods [...] Read More
