Coal plan draws fire


Published on Monday, May 7, 2007 11:20 PM AKDT

Activist seeks borough help

May 8, 2007

By Russell Stigall/Frontiersman

MAT-SU - The whole of the Mat-Su Valley will benefit, suffer or both from Matanuska Electric Association's proposed coal-fired and gas-fired electric generators. However, the co-op may not ask all Valley residents where, or even if, they want the generators.

Local watchdog Bill Erickson spoke at the May 1 meeting of the Mat-Su Borough Assembly about this lack of representation. Like many Valley residents, Erickson is not an MEA member.

“I'm speaking for those folks that aren't allowed a voice,” Erickson said.

Erickson spoke in reference to MEA's selection process for the site the co-op will choose to build its generators. To get public input on possible sites, MEA has scheduled meetings for May 19 and May 24.

Erickson said that only the person on the MEA account, the name on the electric bill, will be able to vote on the site ballot. Even a 24-year-old living at home would be denied a vote if his or her name is not on the bill.

“I would suspect that hardly any of my senior citizen friends have a voice,” Erickson said.

Though he and others will not be allowed to vote on the site selection, Erickson said they will still have to contend with the potential environmental fallout and quality-of-life side effects from the power plants.

“It's everybody's grass, everybody's air, everybody's water,” Erickson said. “This is going to affect the Valley for the rest of our life, if it goes through.”

Erickson was speaking about the mercury, sulfur and carbon dioxide emissions typical of a coal-fired generator.

Mark Masteller, director of Alaska Center for Appropriate Technology, said MEA's proposed coal plant is yesterday's technology.

“Similar to Bill Gates deciding to build typewriters,” Masteller said.

Assembly member Bill Allen asked Erickson what role the borough would have in the coal-plant site selection.

“You are our collective voice. You work for us and with us. You are our tool,” Erickson said. “You can give everybody their rightful voice.

“Let's get together and resolve this thing, solve it together. I don't want to buy coal for the next 40 years,” Erickson said.

To help give representation to all of the Valley's residents, Erickson has planned a renewable energy parade to be held near MEA's Palmer headquarters, at 163 Industrial Way. The parade is scheduled for Monday at 3 p.m., just before the monthly meeting of the MEA board of directors.

“Help MEA go green,” Erickson said.

Tim Leach, member of MEA Ratepayers Alliance, a group that opposes MEA's coal plan, is also not a member of MEA. He and Erickson asked the assembly to make a statement supporting the efforts of Mat-Su residents who are not able to cast a vote on MEA ballots.

Michael Janecek, a Meadow Lakes resident and former MEA board member, said his family gets one vote, even though both he and his wife are listed as MEA members. “The bill comes to Michael Janecek and Gayle Janecek, but we only get one ballot,” Janecek said.

The requirements for membership are in MEA's bylaws, which can be found at www.mea.coop.

Assembly member Allen said the borough should be informed of the co-op's plans as they move forward.

“Something of this magnitude, we need to go down this road together,” Allen said.

Kluberton said the borough may be required to regulate MEA's coal plant proposal, which has the potential for land pollution and water pollution from the plant's smokestack fallout.

“It's definitely in the borough's powers to weigh in on that,” Kluberton said.

For more information about the renewable energy parade, contact Bill Erickson at

232-3153.

Contact Russell Stigall at

352-2267 or russell.stigall@

frontiersman.com

Comments

25 comment(s)

    anita wrote on Mar 7, 2009 4:08 PM:

    " It seems to me that all of you out there are more into gossip, than what could help this country, afterall, how many of your friends or aquaintances, do u know that are perfect growing up?
    you have the right to judge? u must not have a life, or anyone in your family who have had altercations in their youth that made them grow up, and furthermore, the thing that matters, is, if they turn out to be useful good members of society, right? are u perfect? exactly! "

    Gerry Ardo wrote on Nov 15, 2008 1:59 PM:

    " Umm, seems like this Palin gal drags around a whole lot of baggage! She says that she can talk, chew gum, and whistle at the same time. Some of us have serious doubts about that though. Thank God she was not "installed", oh, but wait! We have a Supreme Court in this country! Maybe it's not to late! She may yet be "installed"! "

    jill wrote on Nov 5, 2008 6:15 AM:

    " HEY THATS ME!!! lol i just see this now when i get board and google my name, how bout that. You guys talkin about track shut up, hes a cool cat AND he didnt do shiet with the busses by the way. "

    LMAO wrote on Oct 28, 2008 9:04 PM:

    " You realize California gal that this story was posted in 2005, when the boy WAS 16?? You realize that's why it didn't name names?? Like, OMG, you make me, like, ashamed that I'm from California!! Do some research before posting!! "

    The Truth wrote on Oct 5, 2008 11:48 AM:

    " I believe it!! Political Candidates do it all the time to protect the FAMILY!! Just another example of her skills as a MOTHER!! "

    Michigan Lady wrote on Oct 5, 2008 8:48 AM:

    " I don't think this is true because he was a juvenille when it happen. However, it is an indication that Palin may have a dysfunctional family system. "

    Michiganvoter wrote on Oct 1, 2008 5:53 PM:

    " This would explain why the boy came to Michigan to attend high school. I mean, even though Alaska is "closest to Russia", he would not be considered as a foriegn exchange student. Also, in the last few years, more districts have had bus vandalism. Perhaps he taught our kids how to do it. Is this why he is in the service? "

    Marci Bereu wrote on Sep 24, 2008 3:25 PM:

    " My cuz, an Alaska resident since leaving the military (he was in intelligence & asked to go CIA after discharge...what I'm saying is, he only gives facts)

    The report is true, including going into the army to avoid jail. I'm sure strings can be pulled for kids of VIP parents. "

    Steve McAdam wrote on Sep 16, 2008 4:19 PM:

    " The article could refer to any 16 yr old youth - on what basis do you, or can, you conclude this is about Track Palin? This seems to be a wholey unjustifed inference. Another example of wanting to believe the worst to shore up one's partisan bias. "

    California Gal wrote on Sep 16, 2008 3:23 PM:

    " I don't think this story is true because once a child turns 18, his/her juvenile record is sealed and he/she is given a fresh start, negating the whole "join the army or go to jail" theory of Track's enlistment. And even though I'm a card-carrying Democrat from California, I'M TIRED OF THE GAMES! Let's focus on issues, people! "

    Doug Polcin wrote on Sep 14, 2008 9:49 AM:

    " Could it not be more obvious that Palin cannot manage her own family? Unwanted pregnancy, juveline delinquent son, and God knows what is next. This woman's family is a disaster area and she will be a nightmare for our country. "

    Will wrote on Sep 13, 2008 6:31 PM:

    " Demswrong, obviously you haven't been paying attention. If you've been listening to Barack Obama, you would know that he's been sticking to the issues in every speech he's made. It's the McCain camp that continues to run a dirty campaign by attacking Obama, hiding Sarah Palin from the media and not educating the American people their plan to get us out of the mess that old George and the Republican party has put us in. So much baggage around this pick, the pregnancy no one noticed, the investigation around her ex-brother in-law and so on. "

    Log Dog wrote on Sep 11, 2008 2:27 PM:

    " Sabotaging public facilities and equipment in a way that could cause serious injury or death is a form of terrorism. Think about it. "

    Fran wrote on Sep 11, 2008 12:32 PM:

    " Desperation her. No Names except two mentioned and no value in the lies that have grown from this even. "

    DEMSWRONG wrote on Sep 10, 2008 4:15 PM:

    " YOU people need to get a life and get back to politics not looking for past dirt on people. get a da** life!!!!!!! and not it wasn't him that was involved it was a another punk that did it.believe me i know all of them involved. so go dig up some dirt on someone your own size!!!! "

    Rock Roll wrote on Sep 9, 2008 9:42 AM:

    " This just keeps getting better & better. This is just another reason Sarah isn't giving interviews...absolutely incredible. This like a soap opra...stay tuned. "

    wes wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:08 AM:

    " Sue, do you by any chance mean you were accepted at WELLESLEY, Harvard, and Stanford? I would think someone as smart as you would know how to spell that name. You are right that Barack Obama is vrey intelligent and that does not threaten me as it seems to threaten so many people. I think it will be a great change of pace to have a smart president. "

    Jay wrote on Sep 6, 2008 4:58 PM:

    " Why can't you people take the truth. No way will McCain/Palin win. Oh of course if they steal the election which by now the Repubs are masters at. "

    Sue wrote on Sep 6, 2008 1:14 AM:

    " 16, male, are you crazy? Why does this come up now that Gov Palin is running w/Sen McCain? More garbage, who is behind this? Obviously the Obama camp. Did you realize he went to the the most expensive, elite Academy in the nation? Punahou is the Harvard of High School, the elite of the nation. I was accepted to Wesley, Harvard & Stanford & disappointed & bored as we learned in our Sophmore and Junior yrs the curriculum taught in college. But boys will be boys & Obama was Barry Obama! "

    Foobar wrote on Sep 5, 2008 2:59 PM:

    " Pwned.

    The entire Palin family is like a well-dressed episode of Jerry Springer. "

    MrUniteUs wrote on Sep 5, 2008 5:31 AM:

    " Very serious if true. The brake lines were cut on 50 buses!!

    Was Sarah Palin's son "Track Palin" arrested for vandalism ... Most recently there is discussion that Track Palin, then 16, was one of the 3 boys arrested for vandalizing 44 Mat-Su school buses - an incident that forced ...
    answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080904193702AAGlSCL - "

    aklocal wrote on Sep 2, 2008 8:07 PM:

    " I remember that story. Timeline makes it loosely plausible. Don't think this will catch fire without more fuel, though. Good luck. "

    Destyne Pope wrote on Feb 12, 2008 4:20 AM:

    " How do you get out there when you are blind? You must be really brave "

    vacation wrote on Jan 30, 2008 12:39 PM:

    " Hi! I'm John Strass and i like your site!
    Thank you! "

    Nyakeh Sam Suale wrote on Nov 14, 2007 10:59 AM:

    " I think i love Wasilla High More than all high schools in the United States. They have the best Soccer team and coaches....oh.. they won the Basketball State Championship at the Sullivan Arena....Thats so cute. I like all the students over there. "

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