Category Archives: Legislation and Policy

Interior Alaska group can challenge wood stove regulations

From The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Saturday, June 26, 2010:

A local group opposed to a new borough ordinance that regulates the sale, installation and use of wood and coal stoves, has gathered enough signatures to challenge the ordinance.

North Star Landowners, sponsors of The Home Heating Protection Act, gathered more than 3,000 signatures for the petition, according to group treasurer Rick VanderKolk. A total of 2,379 qualified signatures are required before the initiative can be added to the October election ballot.

The petition books have been submitted to the Fairbanks North Star Borough municipal clerk’s office and will be reviewed next week.

“The signatures were collected rapidly. I hope this sends the Borough the clear message that air quality problems are isolated, not pervasive,” Rep. Tammie Wilson stated in an e-mail. Wilson is one of the initiative’s sponsors.

The borough ordinance, which also restricts chimney smoke emissions in an attempt to lower levels of a fine particulate pollution known as PM 2.5., was adopted June 10.

$25M veto cuts into Alaska clean energy plans

From The Associated Press, Thursday, June 23, 2010:

Renewable energy development in Alaska is getting about half the funding lawmakers had approved after Gov. Sean Parnell decided to veto $25 million for projects he said can still be considered.

The Legislature had approved $50 million for the Alaska Renewable Energy Grant Fund, but Parnell cut it in half just before the 2010 Business of Clean Energy in Alaska conference last week.

The conference was organized by the Renewable Energy Alaska Project to show Alaska’s leaders how to build a more sustainable energy future for the state and tap into the worldwide $155-billion-a-year clean energy market.

The Alaska Journal of Commerce reported the veto could delay 46 projects around the state unless other funds are found.

Continue Reading: $25M veto cuts into Alaska clean energy plans

Appliance Rebates Available for Qualified Alaskans

From The Alaska Housing Fincance Corporation, Monday, June 14, 2010:

Alaskans with disabilities have ample opportunity to qualify for the special appliance rebate program being funded by a $658,000 grant from the federal Department of Energy and administered statewide by Alaska Housing Finance Corporation.

The federal program, designed to encourage Americans to use energy-efficient appliances, kicked off in Alaska this past March and is scheduled to remain in effect through February 2012, or until the money runs out -whichever occurs first.

Continue reading: Appliance Rebates Available for Qualified Alaskans

Fairbanks Borough Assembly adopts stricter rules on chimney smoke

From The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Friday, June 11, 2010:

The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly adopted new chimney smoke regulations early Friday in an effort to crack down on air pollution, although the rules are looser than those sought by Mayor Luke Hopkins.

The panel approved the ordinance in a 5-3 vote shortly after midnight after listening to three hours of public testimony and making multiple changes to the mayor’s plan.

One of the changes was to reduce the fines tenfold. In another change, the assembly relaxed chimney smoke emissions standards.

“I think we ended up with a good ordinance that protects the health of the people,” said Assemblywoman Nadine Winters, who supported the measure.

Fairbanks Borough Assembly to review pollution proposal

From The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Sunday, May 30, 2010:

Proposed wood burning regulations — fining polluters up to $500 — return before the Borough Assembly in the coming weeks.

If approved, the regulations set limits on chimney smoke opacity and restrict the burning of certain materials, including trash, tires, animal carcasses and manure.

The assembly also will decide whether to launch a government-subsidized wood stove repair and replacement program.

The measure, Ordinance 2010-28, is subject to public testimony and a vote at a regular assembly meeting June 10. Before that, the assembly reviews the measure at a work session Thursday.

Click here to read the full story.

Students excited about flexibility of being sustainable

Before the Alaska governor signed a new bill that allows for local produce to be purchased and incorporated into school menus, Homer’s Flex High School was already a step ahead.
Teacher Jeff Szarzi and the school’s 32 students started their planting in March, using a $500 specialty foods grant to purchase materials to construct a “hoop” house, soil and seeds. Already, the delicate seedlings of beets, spinach, kale, onions, tomatoes and basil are starting to grow.
“I am doing this as a way to teach them to garden and show them that they can eat what they produce,” Szarzi said. “We wanted to start a school garden, and take that into the future so that we could grow produce to use in the school lunches.”
Click here to read the full story.

Alaska law promotes local produce in public schools

From The Associated Press, Wednesday, May 5, 2010:

Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell has signed a bill into law ordering state agencies to study and recommend ways to get local agriculture into the diets of public school children.

The Farm-to-School Program is estimated to cost $181,000 annually to cover one full-time and one-part time position, travel, and curriculum coordination.

Parnell and sponsor Rep. Carl Gatto, a Palmer Republican, say the law signed Tuesday supports local farms and could improve nutrition of school-age children.

It takes effect in August and expires July 2014.

University of Alaska Fairbanks student helps campus go green

From The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Monday, May 3, 2010:

If Michael Golub isn’t readying cars to run on electricity there’s a chance he’s spending his time on bigger conservation projects. 

Golub is one of a handful of staff, faculty and students at the University of Alaska Fairbanks working on an emerging, student-initiated directive to make the campus greener. 

Golub had been converting vehicles to run on batteries when last year students approved a fee to improve energy efficiency and conservation, and invest in renewable energy. 

That money, matched by campus administrators, could mean close to a half million dollars per year during the next decade. The task of deciphering the 2009 student vote and putting that interpretation into motion has fallen to elected and administrative student leaders. 

Click here to read the full story.

How You Can Help to Make HOME STAR a Reality

From efficiencyfirst.org:

HOME STAR is proposed new legislation to create jobs in existing industries by providing strong short-term incentives for energy efficiency improvements in residential buildings. The program will move quickly, with a minimum of red tape, and will act as a bridge to long-term market development of existing industries. This initiative establishes a $6 billion rebate program to encourage immediate investment in energy-efficient appliances, building mechanical systems and insulation, and whole-home energy efficiency retrofits. HOME STAR will rapidly create jobs in both construction and manufacturing, while saving families money on their energy bills. It will build on current state programs and existing industry capacity for performing both retrofits and quality assurance, using federal standards and incentives as a common platform to lower program costs and increase consumer awareness.

Click here for more information on how you can help to make Home Star a reality.

Mayor Hopkins revises air quality control plan

From the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Tuesday, April 13, 2010:

Borough Mayor Luke Hopkins revised his air pollution control plan, adding a provision prohibiting dense chimney smoke that creates a nuisance for neighbors.

Hopkins said Monday that he plans to ask for assembly approval in June.

The measure, Ordinance 2010-17, sets limits on chimney smoke opacity, bans the burning of certain materials and imposes fines on the worst polluters starting late next year. The measure also establishes government programs to help people replace old, dirty stoves.

Click here to read the full story.