Serving Muldoon and
Northeast Anchorage

Representative
PETE PETERSEN
Visit my Website
Write me an email

Contact my office:
State Capitol Bldg.
4th Floor, Room 422
Juneau, AK 99801
(907) 465-4939

Contact the Governor
Governor Parnell's Anchorage office may be reached at 269-7450, or e-mail him at sean.parnell@alaska.gov
You can also visit the state website at www.state.ak.us

Congressman Don Young,
Anchorage Office:
907-271-5978
EMAIL: Rep. Don Young

Senator Lisa Murkowski,
Anchorage Office:
907-271-3735,
EMAIL: Sen. Lisa Murkowski

March 18, 2011

Working for Lower Gasoline Prices;
Turning Garbage into Energy;
Anchorage Caucus Meetings; and
House Finance Taking Testimony on Oil Tax Bill

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Fighting for Lower Gasoline Prices

     Gasoline prices are back in the national news, but in Alaska high gas prices have been an issue that hasn’t gone away.  Since 2008 Alaskan gas prices have consistently been the highest in the nation, excluding state taxes, even though we produce more oil per capita than any other state.  It didn’t use to be this way, as early as March 2007 Anchorage actually had the lowest gas prices of any city in the country.

     Three separate investigations have shown that Alaska’s high prices are caused by abnormally high mark-ups charged by Alaska’s two major refineries.  Usually we rely on competition to keep prices reasonable, but the Attorney General has investigated and found that the two refineries do not really compete with each other.  That is why I have been pushing for legislation to ban price gouging by oil refineries, which I introduced this year as HB 25.  It has been an uphill battle, because obviously the refineries do not want this bill to pass.  I have heard from many Alaskans whose families are struggling because of these high prices, and I will continue to fight for fair gasoline prices for Alaskan.

Using Garbage to Make Energy

     Today I introduced another resolution aimed at lowering energy costs and helping meet Alaska’s goal to make 50% of our electricity from renewable energy by 2025.  There have been many exciting advances in energy technology in recent years, and one of the most exciting news energy sources is garbage.  Cities around the world, and in 24 states, have installed high efficiency incinerators to burn garbage to create electricity, and these facilities actually produce fewer emissions than if the garbage were left to decompose in the landfill.

     Waste-to-energy technology is already being used successfully at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, and the Anchorage landfill is in the process of building a power plant to use the natural gas produced by the landfill for electricity.  HCR 10 would encourage communities across the state to consider whether waste-to-energy was appropriate for meeting their energy and waste management needs.

Representative Petersen with colleagues being honored by the Alaska Nursing Association for their work on HB 50 to protect patient safety

Anchorage Caucus Meetings Next Two Weekends

    I just wanted to give you a quick reminder that the Anchorage Caucus, which I co-chair, will be holding public meetings this Saturday March 19 and Saturday March 26 at the Assembly Chambers in the Loussac Library.  The March 19 meeting will be from 10am to noon, and the March 26 meeting will be from 10 am to 1 pm.  The Anchorage Caucus consists of all legislators who represent the Anchorage area so these will be great opportunities to make you voice heard.

House Finance Committee Taking Testimony on Oil Tax Bill

     The House Finance Committee will be taking public testimony on Governor Parnell’s proposal to lower oil taxes on Thursday March 24th and Friday March 25th.  Testimony will be taken from 5 to 8pm on Thursday and between 3 and 7pm on Friday.  In order to testify, you must go to the Legislative Information Office in downtown Anchorage (if you are travelling elsewhere in the state you can go to one of the other LIOS).  There has been hours of testimony from the governor’s staff and the oil industry, so it is very important that Alaskans make their voices heard too.

    As always, please call or email me with any thoughts, ideas, or concerns.

Sincerely,

P.S. The deadline to apply for crew member jobs in the Municipality of Anchorage’s Youth Employment in Parks program in Tuesday March 23.  The YEP program provides summer job opportunities for youth age 16-19 working in Anchorage Parks.  You can apply for a position online here.

Representative Pete Petersen
District 19 - Muldoon & Northeast Anchorage
State Capitol, Room 422
Phone: 907-465-4939
Fax: 907-465-2418
Representative_Pete_Petersen@legis.state.ak.us