FAIRBANKS — A Senate working group representing the Interior, Anchorage and rural Alaska has announced plans to tackle the issue of expensive of gasoline and heating fuel in the state and come up with a solution that can be implemented next legislative session.
The first of what’s planned to be multiple meetings will be held Wednesday at the Anchorage Legislative Office from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., where leadership will take testimony from the public on exploring why Alaska’s energy is so expensive and what can be done to fix it.
The senators heading up the effort include Sens. Joe Thomas, D-Fairbanks, Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, and Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel.
“Interior families and businesses pay nearly $600 million in energy costs annually,” Thomas said in a news release. “Much of this money flows out of our local economy. It is crucial that we reduce these costs.”
“There is no silver bullet, and these hearings will bring to light some of the steps that we can take today to lower the cost of energy until a gas line and Susitna (dam) can bring long-term solutions to our community.”
The effort comes after a legislative session that focused on oil taxes and natural gas pipelines, both of them unresolved long-term issues for Alaska’s energy and finances. Much less attention was paid to reducing the cost of heating fuel and gasoline this winter.
But that’s not to say there weren’t a few solid attempts at lowering energy prices.
An energy voucher program proposed by Thomas and Rep. Steve Thompson, R-Fairbanks, would have given Permanent Fund Dividend recipients vouchers good for heating oil, electricity, natural gas, wood or pellets. Aimed as a short-term, one-winter solution, the bill also would have had the governor investigate other plans for long-term relief from high energy prices.
The measure passed the Senate on a strong majority but failed to make it the House Finance Committee or to the floor for a vote.
Both Gov. Sean Parnell and Republican House leaders were skeptical of the plan. Parnell said he believed it wasn’t fair for everyone to get a voucher when not everyone is suffering from the same degree of energy prices. House leaders said they were more interested in finding a long-term fix through the supplier side of energy but didn’t put forward any significant legislation of their own.
Recognizing some political resistance, senators heading up the latest effort are taking a broader look at what the Legislature can do soon to deliver energy relief to Alaska. According to the news release, the group will take a look at measures such as “attracting new suppliers to increase competition, creating more fuel storage, and increasing funding for weatherization and other energy-efficiency programs.”
“Many Alaskans feel gouged at the pump and are asking for relief,” Wielechowski said. “The purpose of this hearing is to look for concrete ways we can lower costs and decrease the burden on Alaskans.”
•••
Submit suggestions to: affordable.energy.for.alaskans@gmail.com.
Testify at any local legislative information office.
Contact Fairbanks Daily News-Miner staff writer Matt Buxton at 907-459-7544. Follow him on Twitter: @FDNMpolitics.
You have indicated this comment should be removed.
The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .
Mike J said on Tuesday, Jul 10 at 6:07 PM
Funny to visit lower 48 and have them fuss about $3.26 a gallon. Looking forward to the investigation, though thinking we've had a couple in the past few years with just BS excuses as a result.
96033516Price Gouging said on Tuesday, Jul 10 at 12:57 PM
The legistlators need to pass a "Price Gouging Law" once and for all. Gas produced in Alaska is sold for less in Washington than in Alaska - WHY??????
96012721Mike Price said on Tuesday, Jul 10 at 12:02 PM
Do you people really think thies polititions are trying to help us? Well think again all they care about is getting rich all they think about is how high they can keep charging us they all have state credit cards so they dont care what gas costs, they get free rides on airplanes to meet in a place most of us cant afford to go and they pat us on the heads and say thank you like were there lil dogs. Untill we really stand up to them and say NO MORE! we will keep getting screwed
96008196Kathleen Tonn Move the Mountain Ministries... said on Tuesday, Jul 10 at 10:45 AM
I hope this gathering of senators will affect a positive outcome! Knowing that approximately half of all Alaskan jobs spring from the petroleum industry, according to Scott Goldsmith’s study conducted at the University of Alaska Anchorage Institute of Social and Economic Research, we know how dependent we are upon that natural resource. Sarcastically, Alaskans joke about the outrageous cost of gas at the pump or that notorious bill they receive just to heat their homes! I have a question. Did the levies on Prudoe Bay production get reduced to zero as a result of oil tax reform? If not, could these imposed levies be done away with as a viable means to help Alaskan consumers?
96002206Add a comment
Most Popular