By Roger Maynard, on November 24th, 2011  Connelly Lake outlet, photo by Danny Gonce Paid commentary:
As you all probably know, AP&T has filed an application for a preliminary permit from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the Connelly Lake Hydroelectric Project (Project). We have read all of the comment letters that have been submitted to FERC as of November 21, 2011, and it seems like there are a few misconceptions about our plans. We’d like to take this opportunity to clarify a few matters regarding our interest in the Connelly Lake site. We have structured this as a series of questions and answers. Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on November 19th, 2011  Alaska Power and Telephone Manager for Power Operations in Haines, Danny Gonce, reports that the sudden onset of cold weather has made it necessary to begin providing supplemental power with diesel generators. Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on October 27th, 2011  AP&T Manager of Power Operations for Haines, Danny Gonce HAINES–The Connelly Lake hydro issue always draws a crowd in Haines, and last Friday’s Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Chilkat Bakery & Restaurant was no exception.
AP&T’s Manager of Power Operations for Haines, Danny Gonce, said that AP&T has applied to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for additional permits to continue studying the Connelly Lake hydro site, and the comment period for that permit is now closed. Several comments were received, both for and against. Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on September 15th, 2011  Google Earth rendition of the Chilkoot Valley, looking north from Chilkoot Lake, showing Connelly Lake. Notes by Roger Maynard HAINES has an energy crisis. A little town in the middle of coastal Alaska with high mountain lakes and running water everywhere, we should be rolling in surplus hydroelectric power, but we’re not. Instead, we periodically burn diesel to smoke up our valley at a premium cost to consumers. Even without the diesel surcharge, electrical (IPEC) business customers in the upper Chilkat Valley are getting soaked up to $0.61 per kilowatt hour. Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on August 3rd, 2011  The Fourth Southeast Alaska Integrated Resource Plan (SE IRP) Advisory Work Group met in Haines on Tuesday, July 26, 2011. The group, working under the authority of the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA), is focused on development of a 50-year Regional Integrated Resource Plan (RIRP) for Southeast Alaska from Yakutat to Metlakatla. Read more->
By Editor, on March 24th, 2011 Deanna Garrison | KRBD
KETCHIKAN–Congressman Don Young says this month’s ruling by a federal judge reinstating the roadless rule in the Tongass would most likely prevent the development of future hydro-electric projects in much of Southeast. Young made the statement during a community roundtable in Ketchikan today.
Listen to KRBD report.
By Editor, on March 23rd, 2011 Associated Press
JUNEAU — The Alaska Energy Authority could create a subsidiary to buy, build, own, run or finance a huge hydroelectric project under a measure approved by the Senate Resources Committee.
The panel’s version of Senate Bill 42 now goes to the Finance Committee.
Read full article in the Anchorage Daily News.
By Roger Maynard, on March 9th, 2011  Haines power consumption: Hydro vs. Diesel HAINES–Monday’s joint meeting between the Haines and Skagway borough assemblies underscored a number of issues of mutual concern. Among the most important is just how tenuous is our source of reasonably-priced electrical power.
Presently, Haines receives nearly 100% of its power from hydro projects in or near Skagway. The day the Haines-Skagway undersea cable fails, all of this power will have to be generated by the diesel-fired power plant in Haines. Read more->
By Editor, on March 2nd, 2011  Rolls Royce The 102EX is also known by the name Phantom Experimental Electric and is intended to test the opinion and reaction to alternative power configurations with stakeholders, enthusiasts and the media. The vehicle is a pure test bed at this time and there are no plans for a production version of the vehicle.
Read more at DailyTech.com.
By Editor, on January 7th, 2011  Press Release
ANCHORAGE–The Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) is soliciting competitive grant applications from qualified applicants for emerging energy technology projects to be funded by the Alaska State Legislature and the Denali Commission. AEA must receive completed applications by 5:00 PM Wednesday, March 2, 2011. Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on December 29th, 2010  Former Crystal Cathedral Water and Sewer System (CCWSS) customers filled the Haines Borough Assembly Chambers earlier this evening as the assembly’s Government Services Committee listened to their concerns. The system was recently purchased from Vicki Floreske by the Haines Borough, which is attempting to address needed upgrades to the system and establish equitable billing rates for the service.
Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on December 28th, 2010 The Chilkoot Lake Recreational Use Area Meeting scheduled for January has been cancelled until further notice.
If you have questions please call Representative Thomas office at 766-3581
For more info about the Chilkoot Lake Recreational Use area proposal, read the following from the Haines Alaska News: “Chilkoot Corridor Meeting” (12/4/2010)
By Editor, on December 16th, 2010 By Danny Gonce, Alaska Power & Telephone:
HAINES — Skagway has been running a little bit of peaking diesel the last couple of days. Our system peaks with this chilly weather has put us up in the 4300 kW range. Read more->
By Editor, on November 29th, 2010  Sow and two cubs at the fish wier. Photo by Roger Maynard This just in from Representative Bill Thomas’s office:
HAINES–You are cordially invited to attend a public meeting concerning the Chilkoot corridor, Friday, December 3, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. in the Haines Borough Assembly Chambers.
State of Alaska, Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation Director, James King and local staff will be in attendance. Read more->
By Editor, on November 28th, 2010 By Ben Brown | The Alaska Observer
JUNEAU — “Even Anchorage, Alaska’s metropolis, can no longer take its energy supply for granted, so I’m excited with this week’s news that the Susitna Dam Hydroelectric Project is back on the table as a viable and economically sensible means to address energy needs in Southcentral Alaska. It will also help encourage sustainable energy projects across the Last Frontier.”
Read more in the Juneau Empire->
By Gary Lidholm, on October 9th, 2010  AP&T's Sunnahae Repeater; AP&T photo by Gary Lidholm
HAINES — Haines is now a 4 meg/4 gig town! AP & T customers will receive a flyer along with the telephone bill this month announcing a faster internet/e-mail connection for Haines users.
This might be a good time to use the PFD check to upgrade that old computer with more RAM and a faster processor. Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on September 4th, 2010  Lineman Jim Schnabel adjusts the electrical load on one of four diesel-fired generators. by Roger Maynard
HAINES 9:36 a.m. — The power went out in Haines about 8:50 a.m. today. AP&T started the diesel powerplant, restoring power shortly after 9:00 a.m.
When asked about the severity of the outage AP&T Manager Danny Gonce said, ” We don’t know yet. The outage was wide spread, affecting both Haines and Skagway.” Haines will continue on diesel power while AP&T can identify and correct the source of the outage.
Update 11:20 a.m.: Manager Danny Gonce reports that the Skagway crew found a failed voltage arrestor. They are repairing the problem, and both communities should be back on hydropower shortly.
By Roger Maynard, on June 28th, 2010  Salmon River area. Gustavus historical photo GUSTAVUS — The community is celebrating its new Falls Creek Hydroelectric Project, which came on line last year. Now its diesel generators have been replaced with cheap, clean and plentiful hydroelectric power. Gustavus’ diesel generators cost 74 cents per kilowatt-hour to produce power during the peak of fuel prices, with a more recent price of 39 cents per kwh. Falls Creek will bring that cost to under 20 cents.
Click here to read the entire story by Pat Forgey in the Juneau Empire online.
By Gary Lidholm, on March 3rd, 2010  Can heat from the ground several hundred feet below the surface help heat your home or public buildings in Haines? It is a possibility and is being done large scale in Juneau for several public buildings and on a small scale even locally in Haines.
Several interested members of the public dropped in on a subcommittee meeting of the Energy and Sustainability Commission Tuesday afternoon in the Borough Administration building to learn about geo-thermal. Read more->
By Gary Lidholm, on February 26th, 2010 
There is much talk in the Haines community about the adverse impacts on the world-class fishery and wildlife resources of the Chilkoot River if Connelly Lake Hydro were to be built. Certainly these resources deserve first-rate protection. But how much would a hydro at Connelly really adversely affect the environment? Or perhaps, as some have suggested, could the hydro even enhance the resources?
Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on February 14th, 2010 Three weeks ago the Alaska Alliance for Commerce published a paid commentary in the Chilkat Valley News, comparing proposed hydro projects at Connelly and Schubee Lakes. Two weeks ago Rob Goldberg, Scott Carey and Kathleen Menke responded with letters to the editor regarding our paid commentary. Although we don’t intend to get into a tit-for-tat letter writing contest, we do consider it our mission to clarify facts when the anti-development folks resort to faulty assumptions and hyperbole.
Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on February 2nd, 2010 The Haines News poll posted here from January 9, 2010 through February 1, 2010 consistently showed strong support for Connelly Lake hydro, ranging from 79 percent to 84 percent during the time the poll was posted. The poll was not scientific, and respondents were not restricted. The poll was advertised in the Haines News print edition and on this web site. Read more->
By Gary Lidholm, on February 2nd, 2010 How do Connelly and Schubee Lake hydro projects stack up for feasibility study grant money in state-wide rankings developed by the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA)? Good enough to be recommended for partial funding but not in the first group of funds recommended by the governor.
Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on January 20th, 2010  Photo Map of the Chilkoot Valley, courtesy of Alaska DNR Alaska Power & Telephone has applied for grants and permits to develop Hydropower at Connelly Lake in the upper Chilkoot Valley. A few folks including a local environmentalist organization, Lynn Canal Conservation, have stated unequivocally that they will oppose development of Connelly Lake. LCC has already notified the Alaska Department of Fish and Game that they intend to sue to stop the project, even though they do not yet have grounds for a lawsuit.
In early 2009 LCC members suggested an alternative site, Schubee Lake, on the opposite side of Lynn Canal from Haines, indicating it has their support. Schubee has not been studied and there is little data to support this decision.
Read more->
By Gary Lidholm, on December 3rd, 2009 Part III in a Series about Biomass Heat for Haines
 Boiler Building for the Craig Schools At our farm in the Ozarks my father was always good-naturedly rebuking my mother for keeping the house too hot and always throwing another chunk of wood in the stove. He would quip to me, “Your mother burns wood like it grows on trees!”
I would snicker at that remark but the reality of it was we, on the farm, were fairly energy independent. Because our property was large enough to have timberland and my father was conscious of good forestry, our heating supply was sustainable right there on the farm. My mother could keep the house as warm as she wanted and we did not even pay attention to oil prices. Our trees were a renewable energy source. Read more->
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| Nate Beeler
The Columbus Dispatch
May 16, 2012
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Lynn Canal Map & Marine Traffic (refresh for current ship positions)
Publisher Information:
Publisher Information:
Alaska Alliance for Commerce, Inc. (AAFC)
P.O. Box 784
Haines, Alaska 99827
Editor:
Roger L. Maynard
P.O. Box 784
Haines, Alaska 99827
editor@hainesnews.net
The Haines Alaska News is a public information service of the Alaska Alliance for Commerce, Inc., a grassroots movement organized to advocate for small business and a free market economy in Alaska.
The AAFC is organized under section 501(C)(4) of the U.S. Tax Code; contributions are not tax deductible. |
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