Alsaska Sens. McGuire, Wielechowski seek $294 million in budget recommendations for energy

By Jeremy Hsieh, AP
Friday, January 22, 2010

Alaska senators seek $294M in energy projects

JUNEAU, Alaska — Two state senators want to spend $294 million on a spate of energy initiatives ranging from improving energy efficiency of homes to upgrading rural power systems and supporting new technologies.

An energy bill pushed by Sens. Lesil McGuire and Bill Wielechowski proposes spending $200 million for projects in the Railbelt. The goal is to fulfill a 50-year plan for maintaining reliable and affordable energy in the region.

Energy is expected to be a focal point of the legislative session that began this week. Among other potential hot-button issues: Gov. Sean Parnell’s plans give scholarships to good students, crackdown on domestic violence, and give oil and gas companies greater incentives to do business in Alaska.

Beyond the Railbelt projects, McGuire and Wielechowski’s proposal would pump additional money into programs Parnell wants to support, including the Renewable Energy Fund; rural power system and bulk fuel storage facility upgrades; and replenishing an existing power project fund. It would also provide:

— $25 million for home weatherization

— $10 million for the Susitna, Lake Chakachamna and Glacier Fork hydro projects

— $10 million for the Southeast Energy Fund

— $3 million to support emerging energy technology research

— $3 million in matching funds for public transportation

— $2 million for consumer rebates on the purchase of Energy Star appliances

Another $725,000 would go toward a PR campaign, technical assistance to businesses and rural power system operators and energy-related job training.

The recommendations were sent to the Senate Finance Committee.

The Anchorage senators’ bill sets goals to improve energy efficiency by 15 percent per capita by 2020 and generate half of the state’s electricity from renewable sources by 2025.

A similar omnibus energy bill has also been proposed in the House.

McGuire is a Republican; Wielechowski is a Democrat.

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