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Rural energy a hot topic for cold climate communities

by Jason Lamb
Tuesday, October 22, 2008

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Alaska leaders met in Anchorage Wednesday to deal with the high cost of energy in Alaska's rural areas.

The discussion took place during the annual Alaska Federation of Natives Conference. The focus Wednesday was helping Alaska Native villages and Bush communities deal with fuel prices that are double what they are in Alaska's cities.

Leaders from both the state's rural and urban areas have called it a crisis.

Various representatives that are viewed as Alaska's energy leaders gathered at the Hotel Captain Cook to talk about solutions for skyrocketing rural energy costs.

"We've been dealing with the energy crisis in rural Alaska for the past 15 years," said Percy Frisby, an energy expert with the Tlingit and Haida Tribes of Alaska. "The last year has kind of broken the camels back."

With the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention official opening Thursday, leaders said the timing of the discussion couldn't have been better.

"You have industry, and state tribal members, so you have pretty much everybody that needs to be looking at energy issues," Frisby said.

Marvin Odum, president of Shell Oil USA, also participated.

"The main purpose for Shell being here is to learn more about what's happening in Alaska and what the real issues are," Odum said. "I think the discussion really focusing on rural Alaska and what some of the challenges are has been really helpful for us to hear."

The main concern was over short-term, versus long-term, solutions about renewable energy.

Tribal leaders say their communities can't wait much longer for action to be taken.

"People are migrating out, because they can't afford it," Frisby said. "There are no jobs, school districts are suffering, and they can't continue to keep up with the high cost of energy."

Two out of the three members of Alaska's congressional delegation also made appearances.

Rep. Don Young called on big oil companies, such as Exxon and Shell, to talk about building a large refinery in Alaska.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Alaska has the ability to develop its renewable energy sources.

"We are the envy of every other state in the country when we talk about renewable energy sources, because we pretty much have it all," Murkowski said.

They all agreed that they hope these talks soon turn to action.

After about four hours of discussion, there was clear agreement that something had to be done soon. Still, no concrete plans emerged.

Shell has been interested in drilling in the Chukchi Sea, but some Alaskans are challenging their attempts to start the process.

Environmental groups have filed a lawsuit to stop Shell and other oil companies to stop surveying the area, using loud airguns to map out the sea floor.

Native villages say it disrupts whale hunting.