Valley gives AEA earful at first energy meeting

PALMER — Wind farms in Butte, tidal power in Cook Inlet, methane harvesting at the landfill and the oft-discussed and theoretical Susitna hydroelectric dam were all bandied about Monday at the Palmer Depot.

The meeting was the first of 28 planned throughout the state this summer, hosted by the Alaska Energy Authority. AEA Executive Director Steven Haagenson said he was there to ask three questions.

• What type of local energy resources are available?

• Which resources do folks not want to see used?

• Why shouldn’t those resources be used?

By the middle of the five-hour meeting, locals in attendance had affixed sticky notes to a map pointing out possible spots for wind, tidal and methane projects. Others had circled spots ripe for biomass generation. The goal, Haagenson said, is to lower energy costs to the state. But AEA isn’t looking to hand out funding — it’s looking for projects that can be locally controlled and stand alone without state subsidies.

Bruce Tiedeman, community relations manager for AEA, said the state would be more interested in roping together groups of local agencies, companies, organizations or government bodies interested in a project, then helping them find and apply for federal or private grants to get the ball rolling.

Of course, that’s all down the road. Right now, he said, officials are trying to figure out what’s available.

“We’re not trying to put anyone in business or take anyone out. We’re just trying to figure out what’s out there,” Tiedeman said.

At Monday’s meeting, people had lots of ideas to share. Haagenson said he gleaned ideas for linking together small hydroelectric projects in the hills surrounding the Mat-Su Valley. During a question and answer period with Haagenson, folks brought up a number of ideas; few, though, were related to specific generation projects.

Helga Larsen said there’s a need for more education — low-cost community college classes geared towards letting people know how to conserve electricity or install their own power generators such as solar panels or wind turbines.

“I don’t think the public is against it,” Larsen said, adding they just don’t know where to get started.

Haagenson agreed education is key.

“I think you should start at the second grade and take it all the way through high school,” he said.

Mark Masteller asked if AEA was looking into possibly helping homeowners work to make their homes more energy efficient.

Haagenson agreed that weatherizing homes is the best thing an individual can do. He also tossed out the idea of someone starting a business employing high school students to rate people’s homes.

“You could start that business right now,” he said.

During a lull in the meeting, Haagenson said he was pleased with Monday’s Valley turnout and called the meeting a success and a good start to the tour.

“I think people are very excited about being asked what they think,” Haagenson said.

A theory had been circulating that this could be the first time Alaskans were asked what kind of generation facilities they’d like to see implemented. He said is was glad to be the first, even if “that really wasn’t my goal.”

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.