Conservation Watch 2011 #3 'Legislators Listen and Learn'

Legislators Listen and Learn

The legislative calendar is crammed with committee hearings with the emphasis on overviews and informational presentations.  Bill hearings are still pretty rare.  That doesn’t mean things are boring.  Tempers are already rising over revisions to the Alaska Coastal Management Program and many high priced projects are being pitched to the legislature.  Voters’ staff was all over the building doing its own listening and learning, and will continue to do so as legislators begin to make critical decisions.

Susitna’s $900m Question: Earth Embankment or Concrete?

Senate Resources and House Energy both held hearings last week on the proposed Susitna project.  Alaska Energy Authority presented their Preliminary Decision Document while introducing a major wrinkle.  A new method of construction is on the table.  Previously an earth embankment dam was put forward as the most likely construction method.  Now AEA is noting that using a Roller Compacted Concrete (or RCC for short) method is also feasible.  

The bottom line difference is that an earth embankment dam would cost $4.5m while a RCC dam is estimated to cost $3.6m or $900m and about 20% less.   While the cost-savings seem to make the decision over construction method a no-brainer, there are some engineering questions to be answered.  Specifically, there is no RCC constructed dam that stands as high as the proposed Susitna dam.

AEA and legislators did not spend much time discussing environmental impacts or other fiscal issues of the proposed project.  A few questions were asked and AEA did address some fish impacts but the issue needs much more discussion.  Voters will keep asking tough questions about the Susitna project and hope that we’ll get all the answers we need to make an informed decision about this huge and expensive proposal with a checkered past.

Take a look at this page to download the AEA Power Point presented at the hearings and other Susitna information presented to the legislature.

Coastal Zone Debate Already Noisy

Last week Randy Bates, the Division Director of Ocean and Coastal Management, presented to the House Resources committee.  His division oversees and administers the Alaska Coastal Management Program, a hot-topic these days in the legislature and a program that Voters wants to see amended to restore a legitimate local voice in development decisions.  

What was intended to be an overview of the division turned into a fairly tense dialogue between Mr. Bates and a few legislators.  Rep. Herron commented, probably not so much to Mr. Bates but to the Governor’s office, that it struck him as ironic that the Gov. Parnell continues to talk about maintaining Alaska’s rights in the face of Federal intrusion while the state takes control away from local communities in development decisions.   Rep. Foster asked about an unfilled position for the Bering Straits management area.  It has been almost a year since the position became available and Federal dollars are left on the table until the position is filled.

With the hot-coastal-zone-rhetoric already flying in the building, the debate is receiving attention in the media.  This Alaska Dispatch article provides a more comprehensive overview of the debate at the Capitol.

Media Catching on to a PBDE Phase Out

One of the of Voters’ Priorities is getting a lot of media attention.  Legislation to phase out a dangerous class of flame retardants, PBDEs, has caught reporters’ eyes.  Sen. Wielechowski and Rep. Holmes both gave great interviews in a KTUU story which aired last Wednesday and Alaska Newspapers published a wide-ranging story highlighting the proposed phase out.   Considering that many people do not know about PBDEs or their harmful effects to our health, the news stories are particularly important in raising awareness.  Voters will be working hard to translate this media attention into legislative action.

Energy Efficiency Film to Premiere at AK Forum on the Environment

Energy efficiency is a critical part of creating a clean energy future.  That’s why Voters, and our sister organization, Alaska Conservation Alliance is promoting state support for business and non-profit energy efficiency projects.  That’s also why Alliance staff, Kate McKeown and Katy Parrish, worked together to make a short film for small businesses.  Here’s a brief description:

“Increase Your Bottom Line: Be Energy Smart”

This film summarizes the journey of four diverse Anchorage businesses which have undergone energy efficiency improvements and have reaped the benefits.  Businesses that have completed energy efficiency retrofits have lowered operating costs, lowered energy bills, lowered maintenance costs, increased return on investments and increased economic competitiveness.  The film tells the unique story of each business and addresses questions business owners should know about energy efficiency.

Now is the time for the Alaska State Legislature to provide incentives to private commercial businesses, non-profit organizations and churches to improve their energy efficiency.  The commercial sector must be involved to reach Alaska’s goal of increasing energy efficiency by fifteen percent by the year 2020.

If you’re headed to the Forum next week, keep an eye out for the film on Friday.  A time has not yet been set.

New Conservation Bills

A handful of conservation bills have been introduced since the beginning of session.  Each of those bills is listed below with a brief description.

SB 42—Authorizing Alaska Energy Authority to Acquire and Construct Projects

This bill, introduced by the Governor, would repeal the existing Railbelt Energy Fund and create the Alaska Railbelt Energy Fund.  The Alaska Energy Authority would be able to use the new fund to acquire and construct power projects.  The remaining of the bill extends AEA’s statutory authority to acquire and construct projects.  If passed, this would clear the statutory hurdle for AEA to fund and own a stake in the Susitna dam.

SB 44—Transferring Land to State Forests in Southeast

Land identified in the bill, exclusively in Southeast Alaska, would be added to the State Forest.  

SB 45—Alaska Coastal Management Program Extension

The Governor introduced this bill to extend the Alaska Coastal Management Program “as is” for six years.  

SB 56—Alternative Alaska Coastal Management Program Extension

Introduced by the Senate Finance Committee, this bill would only extend the Alaska Coastal Management Program for one year.  Essentially, an identical bill to the Governor’s except for a much shorter extension.

SB 63—Establishing a Renewable Energy Tax Credit

Sen. McGuire introduced this bill to establish a tax credit for producing electricity from a renewable source or making a capital investment in a renewable energy source.  The tax credit may not exceed 10% of the capital investment or $30m, whichever is lower.  Ormat Inc., the company developing Mt. Spurr, suggested a tax credit of this type in their presentations to the Senate and House Resources committees last week.

HB 93—School Gardens and Farms Funding

Introduced by Rep. Guttenberg, the bill would allow schools to authorize non-profits to operate school gardens or farms.  It also established a grant fund for school gardens and farms.

HB 99—Requiring Farmed Fish and GMO Labeling

Rep. Miller introduced this bill to required farmed fish or genetically modified fish to be labeled as such.  

HB 100—Banning GMO Fish in Alaska

Rep. Kawasaki introduced this bill to prohibit the production of genetically modified fish in Alaska.

HB 103—Authorizing Alaska Energy Authority to Acquire and Construct Projects

This is the House companion bill to SB 42.  Introduced by the Governor, it would repeal the existing Railbelt Energy Fund and create the Alaska Railbelt Energy Fund.  The Alaska Energy Authority would be able to use the new fund to acquire and construct power projects.  The remaining of the bill extends AEA’s statutory authority to acquire and construct projects.  If passed, this would clear the statutory hurdle for AEA to fund and own a stake in the Susitna dam.

HB 105—Transferring Lands to the State Forest in Southeast

This is the House companion bill to SB 44.  Introduced by the Governor, land identified in the bill, exclusively in Southeast Alaska, would be added to the State Forest.  

HB 106—Alaska Coastal Management Program Extension

This is the House companion bill to SB 45.  Introduced by the Governor, this bill would extend the Alaska Coastal Management Program “as is” for six years.  

HB 123—Creating a Financing Mechanism for Non-point Pollution Controls

Rep. Seaton introduced this bill to create a state fund to provide loans at premium rates to fund non-point pollution programs or projects.

HJR 8—Urging FDA to Require GMO Labeling

Rep. Kawasaki introduced this resolution urging the Food and Drug Administration to require labeling of genetically modified foods.

HJR 10—Resolution on Ocean Acidification

Rep. Kerttula sponsored this resolution recognizing ocean acidification as a threat to Alaska’s seafood and tourism industries, and calls for research and monitoring of ocean acidification.