Federal energy expert to assess Juneau crisis
Originally published Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 4:40 p.m.
Updated Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 7:14 p.m.
JUNEAU -- The U.S. Department of Energy is sending a senior energy expert to Juneau to work with the city on conservation measures.
Avalanches took out transmission lines over a week ago from the Snettisham Hydroelectric Facility, which provides most of Juneau's power. It forced the city onto backup diesel generators and is expected to boost utility bills by almost 500 percent.
Allen Meier is a senior scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California. He will spend two days next week helping the city and its residents look at new ways to conserve energy.
Federal assistance may be available if the state issues a disaster proclamation. A state cabinet is currently reviewing the request.
Comments
Even with the 500% increase...the cost of electricity in Juneau isn't as expensive as it is in some parts of rural ALASKA.
Now that we have got the attention of the US Department of Energy; don't stop with just patching up Juneau. Let's get the electrical power rates down in ALL of ALASKA.
I agree 100%
I would gladly pay $1 per kilowatt for three months if I knew that I would only be paying 11 cents for rest of the year. It's not like it's winter or anything. I'd unplug everything but the refrigerator and water pump and get by just fine.
Fairbanksgas-
As what seems always, I agree.
I keep thinking that, if their rate goes to what would be a bit more than double ours, than that still comes out to them paying for what is less than a year of our rates.
And the feds are there...?!
And Juneau's rates will go down again in a few months, while the word I'm hearing is ours are about to rise again.
Everyone needs to attend the GVEA member meeting next Tuesday and put their feet to the fire. GVEA needs to implement a plan to reduce our dependency on petroleum immediately or our rates will soon be over 25 cents. As a utility they are able to pass all costs on to us. They could be burning $100 bills and it would make no difference to them. Coal is 1/8 the cost of naptha per BTU, and natural gas could be 1/3 the price.
What are your solutions for rural AK? I live out there also and all I see is how rural AK wants everything to be subsidized and they are entitled to help. I figure the cost of living in rural AK is expensive, but that is the price to pay for living somewhere I want to live. How about people learning how to conserve. I don't see any reasonable answer to lowering power costs in rural AK without a dam, some type of small scale nuclear power like proposed for Galena, etc. Face the facts, we live in these places because we want to and if the price of living out there is higher, so be it. I don't look for the govt. to find ways to help me out. I find ways that "I" can help myself out.
Fairbanksgas: Thanks for the heads up on the GVEA annual members meeting, April 29th at the Carlson Center. Information on the web if any member wants additional info. http://www.gvea.com/news
Corinne: Your suggestion a couple of days ago about a getting concerned ALASKANS working together for reduced energy costs...might start with the GVEA meeting and then the Alaska Energy Authority at the Carlson Center on the 30th, too. The more the merrier for the mob, to be sure that the Legislature has the ALASKAN energy problems firmly in their minds when the head back down to Juneau for the SPECIAL SESSION.
borderdog: Not sure if you you are planning on attending one of the 25 community AEA meetings that will be discussing various energy options?
But as far as your Galena small scale nuclear power option;
Sodium cooled fission reactor using U-235 fuel, 100 feet underground, in permafrost and below the water table, located near a known but ill defined fault line. Sodium is highly reactive with water by releasing hydrogen gas on contact, which in case of an accident would produce ROCKET FUEL burning at very high temperature. Half life decomposition of Uranium is 10,000 years. Wouldn't be much need for electricity in the surrounding area, as everything would glow in the dark.
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