Saturday, September 13, 2008

Alaskan village facing a winter with no power - UPDATE ON BOTTOM

As Alaskans all over the state are spending their $1,200 energy relief money on everything from actual energy relief to big screen tv's, Adak will be in the dark.

It's not a hurricane or some natural disaster.

Adak can't pay their oil bills, so the oil company that delivers out there is cutting them off.

My cousin is doing research in Adak, a largely Native community, formerly a military station, and was told she would probably be going home early. The city and state have not found solutions, a problem that's been on the radar, and the power will be shut off this weekend.

Adak was in the high 40's yesterday. Winter is coming, and the residents will be figuring out what to do with no power.

My question - where is Sarah Palin? Where was she before this, when they were trying to work out the problem, and had to shut off the power at night on a few occasions to conserve? Where is she now as Adak faces a dark week, and a cold winter? Will she be showing up at next week's Rural Energy Conference?

She has disappointed lawmakers and residents alike with her previous Rural vetoes. And energy vetoes (except the oil ones, of course.) Yes, this is how she runs our state, this is what's happening under her watch.

I don't know that she'd be that sympathetic anyways - she already vetoed funding for some Rural energy relief - she line-item vetoed funding for the Yupiit School District's energy costs when they were more then the district could handle.

I wonder if Adak will similarily be left to just deal with it?

UPDATE: "nomad toes" left this link, from a few weeks ago.

LATEST UPDATE: The Anchorage Daily News finally reported on it! Sept. 15 ADN

STRANGE... The article also in the Daily News, same day, specifically targeting RURAL ENERGY didn't mention it...

3 comments:

Archaeolaw said...

Wow. Here's a post that that has a letter from the Aleut Corp, although its from two weeks ago.

http://navstaadak.blogspot.com/2008/08/update-on-adak-fuel-shortage.html

I don't know much about the area. What are alternative fuel sources there, if any?

Anonymous said...

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Nora said...

IT looks to me (an outsider, I admit) as though Gov. Palin approved the construction of a very expensive kitchen in the Wasilla Sports Complex and authorized $22 million in federal support to "provide economic support to the Alaska salmon industry" -- Todd Palin is a salmon fisher -- is he one of the beneficiaries of this money?
Take a good look at a sample of the projects Gov. Palin vetoed, including support for disabled veterans, people with brain injury, Alaska Native communities, victims of violence...

Alaska budget 2007. The whole document is about 187 pages long.
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/omb/08_OMB/budget/Enacted/SB_53_bill.pdf

AN ACT
Making and amending appropriations, including capital appropriations, supplemental
appropriations, and appropriations to capitalize funds; ratifying certain expenditures; and
providing for an effective date.

* * * * * Office of the Governor * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 11

APPROVED BY GOVERNOR:
Wasilla - Sports Complex 630,000 630,000 Kitchen (HD 13-16) 5
Page 75
APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR:
Pacific Coastal Salmon 22,000,000 22,000,000 12
Recovery Fund (HD 1-40)
It is the intent of the legislature that a significant percentage of the federal receipts that the
state receives in the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund and are appropriated to the Office of the Governor for FY 2008 be allocated to the greatest extent possible to provide economic opportunities for the Alaska salmon industry.
Page 95:


LINE ITEM VETO:
Anchorage - 200,000 200,000 School District Student Nutrition Program Emergency Backup Fuel
System (HD 17-32)
Anchorage - 190,000 190,000
Service High School Emergency Response
System (HD 17-32)
Page 49

LINE ITEM VETO:
Hoonah - 60,000 60,000
Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall Renovation
(HD 5)

LINE ITEM VETO
Hoonah - 99,920 99,920
Children's Playground Equipment and Safety Surfacing (HD 5)
Page 53

LINE ITEM VETO
Diomede - 25,000 25,000
Waste Oil Recycle System Purchase (HD 39)

LINE ITEM VETO
Anchorage - 5,000 5,000
Kasuun Elementary Chairs and Lunch Tables (HD 17-32)
Page 45

LINE ITEM VETO:
Yupiit School District - 150,000 150,000
Utility Overrun Costs (HD 25
38) 26
Page 37

LINE ITEM VETO:
Ketchikan General Hospital 48,500 48,500 - Replacement Coagulation Analyzer (HD 1)
Ketchikan General Hospital 70,000 70,000
- Replacement Of Outdated Equipment (HD 1)
Page 24

LINE ITEM VETO
Jane Mears Middle School PTA 79,500 79,500 –
Furnish 15 Classrooms with 35 Universal-Style
Desks (HD 17-32)
Page 22

LINE ITEM VETO:
Interior Alaska Center for Non-Violent Living 44,000 44,000
Facility Improvement Grant
Page 22

LINE ITEM VETO
Fairbanks Council of PTA's After-School Program
Support (HD 7-11) 15,000
Page 16

LINE ITEM VETO:
Cook Inlet Housing Authority 3,500,000 3,500,000
Student Housing and Day Care Facility
Services (HD 1-40)
Page 14

LINE ITEM VETO:
Anchorage Youth Council of the NAACP
20,000 20,000
African-American Summit Documentary Production (HD 17-32)
Page 8

LINE ITEM VETO:
Alaska Native Heritage Center 250,000 250,000 –
Expansion and Improvements (HD 17-32)
Page 4

LINE ITEM VETO:
Alaska Disabled Veterans 50,000 50,000
Sports Program, Inc.
Sports Program Support (HD 17-32)
Page 3

LINE ITEM VETO:
Alaska Brain Injury Network 50,000 50,000 -
Virtual Resource Center Computers and Library Materials (HD 17-32)
Page 3