Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican, Alaska, announced on Alaska Public Radio this week that she is working to get legislation passed that will amend a 1978 public utility act to include renewable energy sources and to classify hydro-power as renewable energy. Utility companies in Alaska are for it. Developers are for it. Public officials that like growth and development are for it.
One huge problem. This legislative proposal comes about as a direct result of a resolution put forth by Alaska's Republican State Legislator (House) to seek federal funding for hydro-projects in Alaska "without restriction." All attempts to insert language in the resolution to give consideration to wild fish stocks in Alaska when funding hydro-power projects failed. Alaska Republicans would not allow any fisheries language in the resolution. Alaska Democrats attempted to amend the resolution to include fisheries language, but did not have enough votes to do so. Ultimately the resolution passed the Alaska Legislature this season without any critical fisheries language.
The days should be past when hydro-projects in this country are fast-tracked for development interests without regard to siting these projects in areas where wild fish stocks will not be negatively impacted.
Washington, Idaho, Oregon, California have few wild salmon stocks left. They are looking at restoration for wild salmon stocks that at the current pace of recovery efforts will only happen centuries from now.
Alaska, on the other hand, has some wild fish stocks left worthy of protection before they are destroyed. If legislation is passed that will fast-track federal funding for hydro-power projects as "renewable energy without restriction" in Alaska, there is serious danger of losing some of the last best wild salmon runs left on the planet.
Of particular concern is Chilkoot watershed near Haines, Alaska. A beautiful, small 20-mile long river nestled in a narrow valley surrounded by high peaks and glaciers. In the upper end of the watershed (above Chilkoot Lake) is a lake, sorrily named Connelly Lake for the engineer that first surveyed the lake years back for potential hydro-power project. Local citizens have opposed the Connelly Lake hydro-project proposal for years. NMFS, ADFG, groups, and individuals write letters of concern every time the FERC permit is up for review. To access Connelly Lake, a road and power lines would run through sensitive salmon spawning area above Chilkoot Lake, an area so special and so important to salmon that it was designated part of the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve years ago. This narrow valley also supports Alaska Coastal brown bear, moose, wolves, beaver, otter, and much, much more.
So here's the kicker. Rep. Bill Thomas, who lives right here in Haines, Alaska, is the originator of the Alaska resolution to have hydro-power classified as renewable energy for federal funding purposes "without restriction." Bill Thomas wants to build this hydro-project. AP&T wants to build this hydro-project. The Haines Borough Assembly (you don't want to know more) wants to build this hydro-project. The local realtor figures he'll make money if the minimal amount of private land (a couple of homesteads) above Chilkoot Lake is developed. etc.etc. You get the picture.
The first major funding step was held back by citizen activists. The Alaska Energy Authority did not approve the the $1.4 million request for design phase as was requested in March. But...and this is a big but...they approved half of the funding if the other half can be secured elsewhere. So Republicans in our home town and in Alaska are promoting the above-mentioned legislation to get that critical other half of funding. They just need the Feds to send over a nice little block of money for "renewable energy" that includes "hydro-power" and let Alaska do whatever they please with the money.
And there goes the wild salmon of Chilkoot.
The legislation is part of a larger package of bills known as the Waxman-Mackey American Clean Energy and Security laws, or ACES. "We would love for this legislation (resolution) to become an amendment in the Clean Energy Act," says Rep. Bill Thomas's legislative aide. "I am working to get this legislation attached to other legislation," says Senator Lisa Murkowski.
Who's going to hear the whole story? Who's going to hear anything but we just want to build some good clean hydro-power projects in Alaska and elsewhere? Who's going to watch out for who's managing the money? Who's going to keep these projects off senstive salmon rivers, like Chilkoot?
Locally, we have a better alternative (as far as no impacts to salmon) and that is Schubee Lake, located near Skagway. It has a nice drop into the Lynn Canal and doesn't impact salmon. But there's no place to build a road or sell real estate up there, so it's not local officials first choice--if you get my drift.
Hopefully, this diary will reach the eyes and ears of those who care and those who can give Congress and the Administration a heads up.
Lisa Murkowski is up to no good on this one--and she may not even know it. Well, we can be sure she knows she being a good Republican team player and we can speculate she knows more than she's saying on the radio.
Rep. Bill Thomas sure knows what he's up to--no good. He started the ball rolling--with less than full disclosure to the media and fellow legislators--as he moved the resolution through the Alaska legislature. I know exactly what he's up to and I'm against it, strongly against it. Some national help is needed.
The vote is expected in Congress in June. The utility companies and Alaska's Republican officials have the inside track. Alert, alert, alert. If no one is paying attention, shit happens.
Thanks--if you read this far.
Hoping to read some comments.