Community perspective

Harold Heinze, the outgoing CEO of the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority, says that there is an abundance of propane on the North Slope readily available for use. Additionally, the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission recently opened an investigation into his private citizen claim that this propane is being “wasted” by pumping it into the ground when there is a local need and market available. Waste of oil and gas resources is illegal in Alaska and is enforced by AOGCC.

Air pollution in the Fairbanks and North Pole areas will not be permanently resolved without natural gas. A gas line does not seem imminent, and the use of inexpensive propane here until natural gas arrives is a natural intermediate solution. Converting from propane to natural gas, if it ever does get here, involves changing a $5 nozzle and removing the propane tanks. Propane would be needed for the outlying areas of the borough permanently, since the gas lines could not economically reach the less dense population.

Currently, most of our propane comes from Alberta, by ship to port, then by truck to Fairbanks. At about $3.50 per gallon, it costs more than oil, when comparing heat values. But hauling “wasted” propane from the North Slope should be about a quarter of that cost. This reduction should be sufficient to allow conversion of heat plants in Fairbanks and North Pole sufficient to solve the pollution problem until natural gas gets here. It is interesting to note that natural gas lines were laid in Fairbanks streets in 1956 in anticipation of imminent delivery.

Propane should also be the immediate solution to energy cost problems in Alaska’s coastal and river-accessible villages. The process of converting all our energy needs to our abundant natural gas resource should begin now by starting with propane. It can be delivered to all our population at reasonable prices, and more appropriately fits the demand of the Alaska Constitution that our resources “be used for the benefit of the people.”

“Energy Civilization,” by University of Alaska Fairbanks Professor Douglas Reynolds, describes the declining world oil supply and the consequent rise in prices in an informative, interesting and convincing book. The book makes a strong case that world oil production decline demands change to other sources of energy. Alaska is in a favorable position for that change and should get started now by in-state use of our gas. Beginning with propane for our needs in Fairbanks and outlying villages should be an initial step to energy independence for Alaska.

In April, the state Department of Environmental Conservation must file a program for airborne particulate (PM2.5) abatement for the borough with the federal Environmental Protection Agency. That program should include the use of propane and eventually natural gas as part of the abatement program. It should also include the startup of the Healy Clean Coal Project. EPA should agree to permit the startup which they have been withholding without sufficient cause. Not starting HCCP causes an increased use of wood and coal for heat and the use of less efficient and more polluting generators in Fairbanks.

Fairbanks pollution is just the beginning of a list of problems created by our lack of foresight in not developing our resources for our own use.

Villages frequently experience emergency situations arising from lack of or expensive fuel. Nome is a good current example. The environmental risks associated with oil are much higher in remote areas than gas or propane.

Alaska’s food production is not competitive with Lower 48 farms because of higher costs of energy here. The result is a very short in-state supply of food.

In short, every aspect of our economy is adversely affected as long as we pay more for fuel here than is paid elsewhere. We can reverse that with in-state use of gas, and it should start with propane in Fairbanks and our villages along the coast and up the Kuskokwim and Yukon rivers.

Ross Adkins of Fairbanks has lived in Alaska since 1960, working as a geodetic surveyor, electrical utility consultant and civil engineer. In North Pole, he owns Forbes Laundry, for which he designed unique heat recovery and water recycling systems.