Anchorage Daily News

Alaska needs 'net' metering

Net metering is a good opportunity for developing renewable energy on the railbelt. It is a simple agreement with electric utilities that allows homeowners and businesses to install affordable, reliable, and safe solar, wind and hydro electric systems and connect them to the grid.

Using an electric meter which turns in both directions, you can receive a credit at the retail rate when excess power is generated -- your meter simply turns backwards. The effect on the utility grid is much like energy conservation -- you will simply be taking less power from the grid each day that you produce renewable energy.

Like the fishing, hunting and wilderness that inspire us to live and invest in Alaska, net metering embraces the idea that we can live a simple and self-sufficient lifestyle by making use of that which nature provides to us. Many of the renewable resources that are close to the grid in Alaska are located on private land and cost-effective technologies are now available to harness them.

The Regulatory Commission of Alaska is seeking comments up through July 28, 2008, from the public on net metering policies in Alaska. This is your chance to let them know your ideas on growing the renewable energy economy that now lies as close as your meter box.

-- Andy Baker

Anchorage

Some feds try to hoard parkland

Craig Medred's commentary about how America's environmental community, or industry, is sending the wrong message these days is spot-on. Two elements of this "movement" especially concern me: the unholy alliance noted by Craig between bureaucrats and environmentalists, and the elitist outdoor enthusiasts who want to keep it to themselves.

In the first case there are definitely employees of the federal government who actively dissuade citizens from going out in the country. I experienced this myself in the late '90s when several of us planned a trip along what we called the "Lost Coast" between Lituya Bay and Dry Bay along the Gulf of Alaska.

As we talked, I realized that this person considered this park to belong to him and his fellow park employees and the rest of us were viewed as intruders.

The environmental industry reinforces the non-use of one of our most precious resources by blocking any attempt to utilize it under the guise of protecting it. The lack of a hut system in Alaska is a prime example.

After almost 30 years of living in Alaska and finding adventures in many of the state's wild corners, I now live in the Lower 48. I have a renewed appreciation for all that our country, our parks and especially Alaska, have to offer citizens. We should encourage public policy and funding that make it easier for people to recreate in our parks.

-- Mike Kaminski

Placitas, N.M.

One who knows defends Kopp

If the handful of people bent on sullying Chuck Kopp's reputation will pause their war council for a moment, I'd like to offer a different view of the state's new public safety commissioner on behalf of the thousands of Alaskans who respect and admire him. I am one of those. I am his brother.

I know the kind of character he has because I was there when his character was being developed. When we were nearly the only white kids in Newhalen, he was my peaceful defender against bullying. During countless nights working the decks of fishing boats in Bristol Bay, I was witness to his resolute worth ethic. I've seen him excel at everything from high school sports to the FBI Academy. I've seen the tender, dignified way he carried out the toughest duties of a police chief -- informing a family member of a lost loved one; shepherding his department through the dark days of a fallen officer.

Those who portray, for their own reasons, an isolated and resolved matter as a pattern of unprofessional behavior defraud the utmost professionalism and true character of the man I know better than most, the man I am proud to hold up as a role model to my sons. Once the petty mudslinging dies down, he will show why Gov. Sarah Palin's confidence in him is well placed.

-- Joel Kopp

Crofton, Md.

Look at Pebble and think Exxon

There is a lesson in the Exxon Prince William Sound disaster if only Alaska will see and learn from it. The same system that allowed Exxon to stall punitive damage payments for 20 years, and is now allowing them to fight paying even any interest on what they owed, is the sort of scenario that could occur if there were a disaster at (the proposed) Pebble mine.

The situation with the mine would be even more difficult because we would be dealing with a foreign company. Cleanup and restitution would therefore be even harder -- if not impossible -- to pin down and collect. Does anyone believe that such a disaster would be properly taken care of? Do we have enough confidence in this system, based on the Exxon fiasco, to risk the irreplaceable Bristol Bay fishery? We already know that the mining industry has a worse track record than the oil companies.

We need to ask: What was the real cost to Alaskans affected by the Exxon spill? What was the real cost to wildlife and the environment? Will things ever be the same? Then envision an even worse disaster at Pebble.

-- L.L. Raymond

Homer

'Blame' isn't the same as facts

In response to Mr. Krugman's column, "Economy faces long, slow recovery," I say, "Past performance is no guarantee of future results."

His editorial may contain a number of facts, but without placing them in the appropriate context, they are just curiosities. Saying that Los Angeles took more than 5 years to get out of their housing slump means nothing without a proper analysis of the socio-economic conditions of the time. Its relevance to today's housing market is coincidental.

Mr. Krugman then proceeds to let the reader know the true purpose of his column, through unrelated jabs at the Bush administration. There is no redeeming value to his "anecdote," yet it is wedged into the editorial with the subtlety of a Mack truck.

If Mr. Krugman believes that the Bush administration is the root cause of the current housing slump, I recommend that he provide some supporting evidence. If he believes that an Obama administration will be the remedy for today's economic woes, say why.

By publishing this editorial, the Daily News is doing nothing to educate the reader. In fact, they are doing the opposite, and promoting the idea that the current administration is the cause, and a new administration will be the easy fix.

-- Mike Edelmann

Anchorage

Build line south to Fairbanks

Any time government at any level does anything, the costs are unconscionably high. Deliberations seldom include less costly alternatives.

As for the hoped-for gas pipeline, I wonder if a line might be built from the big north fields to Fairbanks. In Fairbanks, the gas could be liquefied and shipped south via rail and/or truck.

Later, if needed, the line could be extended. A consideration might be a liquefaction facility at the Yukon River for shipment up and down that waterway.

It seems to me that this approach would be far less costly and much more timely than the $20 billion to $30 billion line we have heard so much about. Perhaps the state of Alaska could handle this with profits from the current high oil prices.

-- Jake Jacobson

Kodiak

Soft drinks a small part of health

Your recent story on soft drinks brought to light a concern shared by many parents. This concern has been heard by the beverage industry, which has been responding with a groundbreaking effort to improve nutritious options for children in schools in Alaska and across the nation.

The National School Beverage Guidelines were developed with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a joint initiative of the Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association. They remove full-calorie soft drinks from all schools and provide students with a broad range of lower-calorie and more nutritious beverage choices. They are part of a greater effort to teach children the importance of a balanced diet and exercise.

Our industry has also been innovative in creating products that respond to consumers' increasing demand for healthy beverage options. More important than simply replacing one beverage for another, though, we need to teach children the value of a balanced diet and regular physical activity.

Your readers know it is overly simplistic to target one particular food or beverage as the sole cause of obesity. In order to have a lasting impact, it is important that this is addressed in a comprehensive way that teaches balance and moderation.

-- Craig Stevens, vice-president

American Beverage Association

Washington, D.C.

Trooper should be cut loose now

It seems everybody's missing the point. This controversy should not be about Walt Monegan. You should be asking why Trooper Mike Wooten was not fired by the troopers. This man tasered his stepson. He said he wanted the boy to see what it felt like. Would he have split a bottle of bourbon with him for the same reason? It's wrong, and it's illegal.

He made alleged threats against his estranged family.

This man, who swore to uphold the law and to protect and serve, has been coddled and protected by his superiors. It's an absolute disgrace.

He needs to go. Immediately.

-- Lisa Peschel-Hoerter

Talkeetna

Palin owes nobody an explanation

Heads of state or business, be they government, private business or academics, have the right to hire or fire a department head without an explanation of doing such. The chief executive of General Motors, the president of Harvard University or the very president of these United States has that authority to dismiss any department head who does not adhere to a set policy. There can be and always will be one captain of the ship. The current governor has that authority given her by mandate of the governed.

The late great humorist Will Rogers said "If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging."

-- David S. Kaler

Fort Richardson

Mulcahy trash disgusts visitors

We recently were in Anchorage to visit relatives and to attend an American Legion baseball tournament. We were very impressed with the friendliness and courtesy extended to us by everyone in Anchorage. We had a great visit. We only have one complaint: the cleanliness of the Mulcahy ballpark. The seats were dirty, trash cans not emptied and loads of trash under the stands. It was disgusting! Someone should be in charge of cleaning up the stands not only for appearance, but for health purposes.

-- Don and Nancy Hedrick

Orange, Calif.

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