Conservation Watch #7 - 3/2

Contents:

• ACV - New look, Same Great Conservation Resource
• Help Alaska Become A Leader in Emerging Energy Tech
  
• Energy Efficiency Hot Topic in Capitol
  
• On The Move
• New in Town
• Calendar
  

New Look, Same Great Conservation Resource - www.acvoters.org

You may have noticed some changes with our Conservation Watch email and website.  We've been working hard these past few months to upgrade our online resources to make it easier for Alaskans to keep up-to-date on what's happening on conservation issues.  We hope you like the makeover - and pass this link on to a friend.  Thanks!

Help Alaska become a leader in Emerging Energy Technology

Now that the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee has approved the 77 renewable energy projects for the passage of HB152 it is time to look to the future and ask a tough question: Do we want to just be an importer of energy technology or do we want to export energy technology and create new jobs?  Given Alaska's vast resources and the need for innovative solutions to our energy crisis the answer seems fairly simple: Let's be an energy technology exporter.

Because of Alaska’s unique remote communities and abundant renewable energy resources, our state has an excellent opportunity to become a world leader in emerging renewable energy development.  Unlike any other place in the nation, Alaska can develop and demonstrate new niche technology for “off grid” locations and save consumers money at the same time because energy prices in rural communities are already so high. Additionally, the remoteness and off-grid nature of many of our communities positions Alaska to be a leader in developing hybrid electrical generation systems such as wind-diesel or hydro-diesel; systems suitable for many parts of the developing countries aspiring to a middle class lifestyle.  In order for Alaska to be part of what many are calling the next industrial revolution in energy innovation, Alaska needs to create its own “Emerging Energy Technology Development Fund.” Establishing an Emerging Technology Fund also will help grow our cutting edge University programs like the Alaska Center for Energy and Power and create a highly valued workforce.

With the Governor’s recent announcement that the goal of the State of Alaska shall be to obtain 50% of its electricity from renewable energy sources by the year 2025, the state has set an important target.  Establishing an emerging energy technology development fund is a necessary and timely component of reaching that goal as well as stabilizing energy costs and diversifying Alaska’s economy. It could also help to favorably position Alaska to receive a larger portion of the federal funds targeted at clean energy development.  

Please write a letter to the editor of your local paper highlighting the importance of creating an Emerging Energy Technology Development Fund. Let's not lose important momentum. We can take advantage of the federal stimulus funds and Alaska's unique and abundant renewable energy resources to make an investment that will benefit generations of Alaskans to come.

Energy Efficiency Hot Topic in Capitol

On February 17th President Obama signed the stimulus package into law with at least $20 billion earmarked for programs to improving energy efficiency. Breaking down the $20 billion stimulus package - there is $4.5 billion to modernize federal buildings, $2.5 billion for research into energy efficiency and renewable energy and another $6.3 billion for state and local governments to spend as needed for efficiency upgrades.  In order for Alaska to get a piece of this energy efficiency pie we will need to act quickly to pass the necessary legislation to allow us to apply for and effectively use the stimulus funds.  As a recent article in the New York Times points out, some states are much farther ahead than Alaska in inventorying and prioritizing efficiency upgrades. 

Luckily, three bills - HB148, SB119 and SB121 - were recently introduced that would address energy efficiency in Alaska's public buildings.  This is very good news for Alaska and came not a moment too soon. 

• HB148 and SB119 are identical in wording and direct the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to prepare and adopt a state energy use reduction plan.  The plan calls for efficiency upgrades to existing public buildings and new public buildings to be built according to the most recent version of the International Energy Conservation Code.  It also allows for the use of performance contracting, a work contract where payments are made out of preset energy savings.   Finally, HB148 and SB119 create a fund to provide grants for energy efficiency projects.
  
• SB121 was introduced by the Senate Resources Committee and takes a slightly different but complementary approach.  One important aspect of the bill is that it sets a goal of reducing energy consumption by public facilities by 20% of 2000 levels by 2021 and increasing jobs in energy efficiency.  This bill requires the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to establish an energy use index for the purpose of monitoring energy consumption and energy efficiency. 
  

Alaska Conservation Voters applauds the sponsors of all of these bills and hopes to see them combined into one piece of legislation that has the support of all of these emerging energy leaders: Members of the Senate Resources Committee (Co-Chaired by Senators Bill Wielechowski and Lesil McGiure), Senators Thomas and Ellis, and Representatives Gara, Thomas, Holmes, Salmon, Seaton, Wilson, Petersen, Kerttula, Buch, Tuck, Crawford, Kawasaki and Gruenberg. We also hope to see language built into this energy efficiency legislation that will train Alaskan energy efficiency experts who will be able to turn these great ideas into warm and energy efficient homes and businesses across the state. 

Alaska needs to act quickly and decisively to train a workforce and lay out a clear process for using state and federal energy efficiency dollars.  Please send a quick email to your Legislators telling them that you support strong energy efficiency legislation!

* Find out who your legislators are...

On The Move

HB 43  Geoduck Aquatic Farming/Seed Transfer – Rep. Seaton (R-Homer)
HB43 prohibits the absence of wild geoduck stock within a management area as the reason for denial of an aquatic farm permit. Now, if a permit is issued for an aquatic farm to culture geoducks, in a management area that does not have wild geoduck stocks when the permit is issued, the permit may not allow operations for that purpose in the intertidal habitat or environment.  The bill was heard last week and passed out of the House Fisheries Committee.  Its next committee of referral  is House Resources but no hearing has been schedule yet.

HB 74 Coastal Management Program – Reps. Joule (D-Kotzebue) | Rep. Edgmon (D-Dillingham) | Rep. Buch (D-Anchorage)
HB74 is an attempt to correct problems with Alaska’s Coastal Management Program resulting from changes made several years ago by the Murkowski Administration.  This bill has quite a bit of support from coastal districts and local coastal communities but has been strongly opposed by DNR. At the most recent hearing Representative Harris twice highlighted DNR's lack of cooperation with the process and a failure to fully consider the views of local communities in resource management.  All three of the amendments put forward by Representative Joule, the bills' sponsor, were accepted by the committee but the bill was held for the March 3rd meeting of the House Community and Regional Affairs Committee.  We expect HB74 to pass when it is heard this Tuesday, March 3rd at 8am in room 124. ACV supports HB74 and its Senate companion, SB4.

HB 134 Cruise Ship Wastewater Discharge Permits – Rep. Harris (R-Valdez | Rep. Kelly (R-Fairbanks) | Rep. Millett (R-Anchorage) | Rep. Johansen (R-Ketchikan) | Rep. Foster (D-Nome) | Rep. Keller (R-Wasilla) | Rep. Chenault (R-Nikiski) | Rep. Coghill (R-North Pole) | Rep. Johnson (R-Anchorage) | Rep. Wilson (R-Wrangell) | Rep. Munoz (R-Juneau)
HB134 amends the voter mandated cruise ship wastewater discharge law to remove 5 critical words: “at the point of discharge”. This very small change would essentially grant cruise ships a mixing zone, allowing their wastewater discharge to exceed clean water act standards until the cruiseship waste mixes with enough ocean water for dilution to occur. The cruise ship association is taking the very first opportunity to amend the voter-approved initiative, claiming that the discharge levels are too onerous. However, ACV believes that instead of prematurely changing law, we should try to work to find appropriate technology to meet the discharge levels or potentially grant the cruiseship industry additional time to develop the technology. This bill appears to be fast-tracked and will have its next hearing today at 1pm in House Resources Committee, room 124.

HJR 7 Endorsing ANWR Leasing - Rep. Millett (R-Anchorage) | Rep. Lynn (R-Anchorage) | Rep. Dahlstrom (R-Anchorage) | Rep. Johnson (R-Anchorage) | Rep. Chenault (R-Nikiski)
House Joint Resolution 7 urges “the United States Congress to pass legislation to open the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas exploration, development, and production.” A regular gesture by the House, it was heard last week and passed out of the House Resources committee.

HJR 18  Opposing ANWR Wilderness Designation – Rep. Millett (R-Anchorage) | Rep. Stoltze (R-Chugiak) | Rep. Lynn (R-Anchorage) | Rep. Johnson (R-Anchorage) | Rep. Neuman (R-Wasilla) | Rep. Keller (R-Wasilla) | Rep. Ramras (R-Anchorage) | Rep. Wilson (R-Wrangell | Rep. Kelly (R-Fairbanks)
HJR 18 urges “the United States Congress to refrain from passing legislation that designates land in Area 1002 of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as wilderness.” It was heard last week in House Resources where it was passed out of committee. 

SB 31 Geothermal Electricity Production Tax Credit – Sen. McGuire (R-Anchorage) | Sen. Elis (D-Anchorage) | Sen. Thomas (D-Fairbanks)
SB31 now is no longer limited to just geothermal energy and offers a tax credit to any type of alternative energy. The bill was passed out of the Senate Energy Committee on Friday and is on its way to Resources, the second of three committee referrals in the Senate. ACV also supports this bill. Important issues raised by Senator Stedman and others regarding project eligibility criteria were left for the Finance Committee to resolve.

SB 59 Medium-Speed Motor Vehicles – Sen. Stedman (R-Sitka)
SB59 changes the limitations on low-speed vehicles to allow them on roads with a speed limit under 45 miles per hour, an increase from the current 35 miles per hour max.  It also allows for low speed vehicles to cross highways at designated intersections. Despite some logistical and safety concerns to work out, this bill could have a very positive impact on expanding the use of electric cars and ACV supports this bill.  It was on the agenda for the Senate Transportation Committee meeting last Tuesday but was not heard.  It will have a hearing in the same committee this week, March 3rd at 1pm in room 205.

SB 93  Municipal Air Quality Property Tax Credit - Senator Paskvan (D-Fairbanks) | Elton (D-Juneau) |Thomas (D-Fairbanks)
This bill would allow a municipality to provide an ‘air quality improvement tax credit’ to partially offset the property taxes on a property that is improved in such a way as to improve the air quality in the municipality. It is primarily designed to address PM2.5 non-attainment issues in communities like Fairbanks and Juneau. Already through its first committee of referral, Senate Community and Regional Affairs, it was heard and held last week in Senate Finance. ACV supports this bill.

SB 115 Rural Energy Assistance Program – Senate Finance Committee
SB115 would create a rural community energy assistance program in the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (DCCED) to provide grants for energy assistance to rural communities in the state. DCCED would then develop criteria, including requirements regarding the population of a community, the price a community pays for energy and for evaluating the rural communities most in need of energy assistance for disbursement of grants.  There are no provisions to encourage energy efficiency and conservation. At its first hearing in Senate Finance, it was explained as an immediate measure aimed at helping Alaskans make it through the winter.  The bill was heard and held. Recognizing the ongoing energy crisis in rural communities and that this bill only acts as a band-aid until measures and policies are put into place to reduce energy demand and build alternatives to high priced diesel, ACV supports SB115.

SB 116 Approp: Rural Energy Assistance – Senate Finance Committee
This is a $5 million appropriation bill for SB115. It was also heard and held in Senate Finance last week.

New In Town

SB 127 Southeast State Forest – Rules by Request of the Governor
SB127 would create a Southeast State Forest. It was referred to Senate Community and Regional Affairs and Resources Committees.

SB 131 Net Energy Metering – Sen. McGuire (R-Anchorage) | Sen. Ellis (D-Anchorage)
This bill is the Senate companion to HB66, sponsored by Representatives Seaton, Austerman and Gatto, introduced earlier this session.  It aims to implement net metering by some retail suppliers of electricity to promote the use of alternative energy resources from solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, or hydropower sources.  The bill was referred to Senate Energy and Labor and Commerce Committees. ACV supports this bill.

SB 132 Southeast Energy Fund – Sen. Stedman (R-Sitka) | Sen. Elton (D-Juneau)
This bill would create the Southeast Energy Fund, a fund that would make grants for power projects, the repayment of loans and the payment of bonds for hydroelectric projects serving Southeast Alaska or for other projects to assist in meeting the energy needs of Southeast Alaska.  The bill was referred to Senate Energy, Resources and Finance Committees.

HB 142 Stan Price State Wildlife Sanctuary – Rep. Kerttula (D-Juneau)
HB142 is the House companion bill to Senator Elton's SB104.  It amends the boundaries of the Stan Price Wildlife Sanctuary and adds bear viewing to the uses for the park.  It received a Resources Committee referral.

HB 148 Energy Efficiency Plan and Grant Fund – Rep. Gara (D-Anchorage) | Rep. Thomas (R-Haines) | Rep. Holmes (D-Anchorage) | Rep. Salmon (D-Beaver) | Rep. Seaton (R-Homer) | Rep. Wilson (R-Wrangell) | Rep. Petersen (D-Anchorage) | Rep. Kerttula (D-Juneau) | Rep. Buch (D-Anchorage) | Rep. Tuck (D-Anchorage) | Rep. Crawford (D-Anchorage) | Rep. Kawasaki (D-Fairbanks) | Rep. Gruenberg (D-Anchorage)
HB148 is the House version of SB119. It puts in place a plan, and funds necessary, to reduce the state's energy use through efficiency.  It requires the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to prepare and adopt a state energy use reduction plan that will allow the state to achieve a reduction of energy consumption for state facilities, starting one year after the effective date of this section.  The plan must improve the energy efficiency of all state facilities managed by the department. New public facilities managed by the department must be designed and constructed in accordance with the most recent addition of the International Energy Conservation Code, and must achieve cost recovery over the 15-year period following completion of the project.  The energy efficiency grant fund would be placed in the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation.   This welcome bill, along with SB 121, shine a spotlight on the critical need to focus on energy efficiency measures to round out the energy package. Huge gains are possible. This energy bill should also be a high priority for the Legislature this session. The bill was referred to House Energy, State Affairs and Finance Committees.

HB 150 Power Cost Equalization – Rep. Austerman (R-Kodiak) | Rep. Joule (D-Kotzebue) | Rep. Edgmon (D-Dillingham) | Rep. Wilson (R-Wrangell) | Rep. Foster (D-Nome) | Rep. Munoz (R-Juneau) | Rep. Thomas (R-Haines) | Rep. Harris (R-Anchorage) | Rep. Herron (D-Bethel) | Rep. Kerttula (D-Juneau) | Rep. Salmon (D-Beaver) | Rep. Johansen (R-Ketchikan)
"An Act repealing certain provisions relating to modifying the factors that apply to calculate the amount of power cost equalization; providing for an effective date by repealing the effective date of sec. 3, ch. 2, 4SSLA 2008; and providing for an effective date."  It was referred to House CRA and Finance Committees.

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