Volume 2 Issue 6

Energy Council

Sharing Alaska’s Energy Message

March 4, 2010

Today marks the mid-way point of session, day 45 of 90 – but the legislative halls are relatively quiet with 21 legislators gone for Energy Council. While they’re doing important work in Washington DC, those of us left here in Juneau are using the lull to reflect on the first half of session and get ready for the second half.

One item that has been in the news a lot lately is the amount of money lobbyists may spend on a meal for a legislator before they have to disclose that meal publicly. I think that every meal should be disclosed to you, no matter what the cost.

Finally, I’ve received a new position movement report that continues the positive trend towards decreased capital creep.

Thank you for reading my newsletter. I enjoy hearing from you, so please stop by the office, call, write or email me.

From the Vault: That’s me with the bunny as Governor Bill Egan signs one of my father Jay’s bills with my sister Anna and mother Joyce.

There has been some concern about the Legislature sending 21 members to the Energy Council meeting in Washington DC. Three out of the 15 members of my caucus are going. While I do not agree with every view of the Energy Council, I believe the work our legislators will do is important for Alaska.

The Energy Council is a legislative organization comprised of energy producing states and countries, including 11 states and Canada. The Council provides a forum for discussing government policies regarding energy and the environment. While traditionally concerned with fossil fuels, the Council is also expanding discussions on alternative energy forms, such as wind power. With so much of Alaska’s budget dependent on oil and gas production, it is essential that we have a strong voice in these discussions.

The three House Democrats who are going will also take advantage of the opportunity to meet with several people and groups that are essential in forming national and international energy policy. Among their extra-curricular appointments are meetings with:

·         Alaska’s Congressional Delegation;

·         Pete Rouse, Juneauite and Senior Advisor to the President;

·         The Federal Coordinator of Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects;

·         The Environmental Protection Agency office that is in charge of Outer Continental Shelf permitting;

·         A member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources;

·         The Department of Transportation on pipeline integrity issues and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System; and

·         Our very own Senator Kim Elton in his current position with the Department of Interior.

Topics of discussion at the Energy Council meeting include:

·         Natural gas policy;

·         Market monitoring by the Federal Energy Regulation Commission;

·         Report from the U.S. Department of Energy;

·         Report from Copenhagen;

·         National security and energy;

·         Clean energy program development;

·         Smart grid implementation; and

·         Research projects.

While a learning experience for Alaskan legislators, going to DC is also an opportunity to teach people about Alaskan energy issues. The work they do there is valuable for the state. I always look forward to hearing from them when they return – and then forging ahead with the session!

From the Vault: My caucus members Berta Gardner, Scott Kawasaki and Bob Buch attended meetings during last year’s Energy Council meeting.

You may have seen all the hullabaloo in the news, op-eds and letters to the editor about the disclosure limit on meals bought by lobbyists for legislators. Current law says lobbyists can treat legislators to dinner, but if they spend more than $15 on food, they have to disclose that publicly. A proposal added to an important ethics clean-up bill moving through the legislature would raised that limit to $50.

I think all meals bought by lobbyists for legislators and legislative staff should be disclosed publicly, no matter what the cost. It is the public’s right to know that kind of information. However, it looks like the section may be removed from the bill altogether, keeping the disclosure law as it currently is and allowing the critical piece of legislation to move forward.

I received a new position report from the Department of Administration that showed that not only was there less job movement in general in the second half of last year, Juneau only had a modest loss of jobs – and not to Anchorage.

Between July 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009, Juneau gained 17 jobs and lost 24 jobs (out of about 4,000), for a net loss of seven jobs. Of those jobs, 11 moved to Anchorage and 11 moved from Anchorage, for no net loss to Anchorage. We did have a net loss of six jobs to Fairbanks, mostly in the Sport Fisheries Division – probably a result of the new hatchery in Fairbanks. There was also modest movement (one to three jobs) into and out of smaller communities across the state, including Bethel, Cordova, Ketchikan, Haines, St. Mary’s and Sitka.

While I’m glad we’re moving in the right direction, I look forward to the day I can report “no loss” to you.

Southeast Conference met in Juneau this week and held a legislative roundtable discussion. Left to right: Senator Dennis Egan, Representative Cathy Muñoz, Senator Albert Kookesh, Representative Peggy Wilson, Representative Bill Thomas and myself.