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Lobbyists And Legislators Converge On Energy Council Meeting
Stephanie Joyce, APRN Contributor
Every March, the Alaska legislature shuts down so lawmakers can travel to Washington, DC to participate in the Energy Council. The Council is a non-profit whose stated mission is to facilitate discussion about energy and environmental issues. But the trips have frequently been criticized as taxpayer-funded junkets.
The Washington meeting is just one of four the group holds every year. The latest was in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, over the weekend. Stephanie Joyce was there and as she reports, so were some Alaskan legislators – and Alaskan lobbyists.
Pew Trust Proposes Arctic Drilling Standards
Steve Heimel, APRN – Anchorage
The Interior Department’s top offshore oil official says he welcomes a detailed set of recommendations from the Pew Trust on what standards should be required for Arctic drilling.
BLM Confirms Strategy For Old Alaska Well Cleanup
The Associated Press
The Bureau of Land Management says its strategy for cleaning up old oil wells in the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska will focus initially on 16 high priority sites.
Scientists Find Unexpected Response To Climate Change In Northern Moths
Emily Schwing, KUAC – Fairbanks
The world’s northern-most moths may be dealing with a changing climate more effectively than some scientists expected. In fact, they may be surviving rising temperatures better than their southern counterparts. That’s according to a study out Tuesday in the journal Global Change Biology.
Owners Fight To Save Fairbanks’ Polaris Building
Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks
There’s new hope that a derelict downtown Fairbanks landmark can be spared the wrecking ball. The Polaris building could be torn down, but its Anchorage based owner isn’t giving up.
Healy Clean Coal Plant Shouldn’t See Impact From New Regulations
Tim Ellis, KUAC – Fairbanks
New federal regulations on coal fired energy should not affect’s Golden Valley Electric Association’s re-start of the Healy Clean Coal plant. GVEA President and CEO Cory Borgeson expects the plan to purchase and operate the long idled facility to remain on track.
Mat-Su Voters Will Decide On Alcohol Tax Proposition
Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage
Matanuska Susitna Borough voters will consider an alcohol tax proposition on the Oct. 1 election ballot. The 5 percent tax would be used to offset the burden on Borough property owners, but opponents of the plan say it unfairly targets a specific industry.
A Bear Walks Into A Bar…
Jeremy Hsieh, KTOO – Juneau
Throwing out visitors who overstay their welcome is a common late night practice in downtown bars. But one guest Monday night was particularly unwelcome at Juneau’s Alaskan Hotel & Bar.
7 Things You May Not Know About Alaska Airlines
Ed Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska – Juneau
We independent Alaskans may think we’re not joiners. But we are.
