Bills would end daylight saving time, establish 'Marmot Day'

It passed the House 22-15 Wednesday.

Sponsor Rep. Anna Fairclough, an Eagle River Republican, says many Alaskans consider the time change to be intrusive and a waste of time. She says it's irrelevant in the land of the midnight sun and a health risk because it disrupts sleep.

Opponents say it would make communications with the Lower 48 states even more challenging by adding another hour's difference from March to November.

Fairbanks Republican Rep. Jay Ramras says it's also bad for Alaska businesses not to move in sync with rest of the country.

Rep. Harry Crawford, an Anchorage Democrat, asked for reconsideration, which means the bill could come up for another vote. -- The Associated Press

Senators push for building energy code

State senators filed a bill Wednesday to create a statewide building energy code. That would qualify Alaska for $29 million of the stimulus money Gov. Sarah Palin didn't accept, saying the requirement to adopt a code means "these types of funds are not sensible for Alaska."

The bill is by the co-chairs of the Senate Resources Committee, Republican Sen. Lesil McGuire and Democratic Sen. Bill Wielechowski.

The code would apply only to communities with over 2,500 people. Structures without plumbing or central heating would be exempt. New and renovated residential buildings would have to meet the energy efficiency standards set out in the International Energy Conservation Code. Commercial buildings would have to meet a code set by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers

Anchorage already has an energy code that would meet the requirements of the bill, and Fairbanks does for residential structures, according to Wielechowski's office. Ketchikan is also planning to adopt a code in the next few months. Structures built by the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation meet the requirements as well.

McGuire said, "Over time, any additional costs of building energy efficient homes are recouped, and exceeded, by energy savings."

But Palin's opposition to accepting federal money that mandates a statewide energy code has legislators worried she'll veto the funding.

-- Anchorage Daily News

Senate OKs additional energy assistance

The state would provide an extra $9 million in short-term energy aid to low- and middle-income Alaskans under legislation that passed the state Senate.

The Senate voted 18-0 Wednesday to help residents pay their heating bills in hundreds of urban and rural communities statewide.

The amount each household receives will depend on its size and income and the region's fuel costs and climate.

Nome Democrat Donny Olson says western Alaska residents were forced to burn oily rags, cardboard and wax-soaked wood chips to heat their homes this winter.

The bill now goes to the House.

-- The Associated Press

Senate: Groundhogs out, marmots are in

Alaskans would celebrate Feb. 2 as Marmot Day -- instead of Groundhog Day -- under a bill that has passed the state Senate.

Senators voted 14-4 Wednesday to establish the marmot as Alaska's version of Punxsutawney Phil, the Pennsylvania groundhog famed for his winter weather forecasts.

There are no groundhogs in Alaska, but three other species of marmots call the state home.

The bill doesn't give marmots any weather forecasting duties. But sponsor Linda Menard, a Wasilla Republican, said Alaskans could create educational activities and tourism trinkets around the animal.

Her husband, the late Sen. Curt Menard, argued for a similar bill 20 years ago.

Senate Bill 58 now goes to the House.

-- The Associated Press