Voices

Federal funds can help Alaska fulfill its energy destiny

Alaska is an energy state. Our future economic strength and prosperity depend on developing an energy policy that includes oil, gas, renewable resources and effective conservation. Taking full advantage of stimulus funds in the Recovery Act will help us get there.

Anchorage, like many other communities in Alaska, has a weatherization program for low-income residents. Weatherization makes homes more energy efficient by plugging air leaks, adding insulation and curbing the home's "appetite" for energy.

With federal stimulus funds, we can do more weatherization. It would be a mistake to follow Gov. Palin's suggestion that we reject weatherization funds because there are "strings" attached to them. In fact, there are none. Weatherization saves energy, saves homeowners money on their heating bills and provides jobs for Alaskans. It's an important element of a sensible energy policy.

Looking ahead, a sensible energy policy for the 21st century has three parts.

• Power generation: We sit on the edge of what could be a new energy province in Upper Cook Inlet. Start with existing natural gas reserves and transmission capacity in the Beluga power plant. Add the Fire Island wind farm and the landfill methane project, which show that Anchorage is already on the cutting edge in developing energy alternatives. Then explore the potential for tidal, hydroelectric and geothermal power. Put it all together and we have the potential to meet tomorrow's energy needs.

• Energy efficiency: Anchorage is working aggressively to reduce waste and bring down operating costs through energy efficiency retrofits. We're a national leader in adopting high-efficiency outdoor lighting. And we're working to upgrade facilities and vehicle fleets to conserve energy and make taxpayer dollars stretch further.

A critical component of increasing efficiency is consolidating utilities. On the state level, we should follow through with Gov. Palin's initiative to consolidate the Railbelt utilities, which will bring large-scale planning and funding together.

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On the local level, Anchorage needs to consolidate its electrical generation facilities too. Given a community of 300,000, sensible utility planners would recommend only one electric utility. Yet Anchorage has three. Consolidation at the local level will benefit consumers in the long term and can set an example for Railbelt consolidation.

• Energy conservation: The best kilowatt is the one you don't waste. Weatherization is an important part of conservation, and we need these and other conservation investments in our future. California, an energy conservation leader, has kept its per capita energy use flat since 1974. At the same time, the rest of the nation's use has gone up 50 percent.

In today's challenging economic times, Alaska, as an energy state, has a future that remains bright. By moving forward on these three fronts, Anchorage can be one of the nation's leading energy cities.

Matt Claman is acting mayor of Anchorage and is a candidate for election to that post.

By MATT CLAMAN

Matt Claman

Rep. Matt Claman, D-Anchorage, was elected to the state House of Representatives in 2014. He has served on the Anchorage Assembly and also as acting mayor of Anchorage.

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