Hello again. The 25th Alaska Legislature ended this summer’s special session late on Aug. 7, after passing a short-term energy relief plan. The Legislature also approved the other special session agenda item, Gov. Palin’s contract with TransCanada for construction of a natural gas pipeline on, Aug. 1.

Energy relief package

A total of $910.5 million was appropriated for energy relief. Part of the funding is a $1,200 one-time resource rebate payment to Alaskans eligible for this year’s permanent fund dividend. The resource rebate payment will be added to this year’s PFD, which is projected to be in the $2,000 range.

The energy relief package also makes a 50 percent increase in the maximum loan amount for bulk fuel bridge and bulk fuel revolving loan funds to communities and cooperatives, up to $750,000.

Additionally, the state’s motor fuel tax on gasoline, marine fuel, and aviation fuel will be suspended for a year and the Legislature increased funding for the Power Cost Equalization program, which helps reduce the cost of electricity in many Bush Alaska communities.

If you followed the special session deliberations, you know that the final energy relief package was a last-day compromise between what the two legislative bodies would support.

While what was passed is not perfect and will not resolve everybody’s energy needs, I think it will provide some short-term assistance while lawmakers and the administration look for long- term solutions.

I look forward to continuing this discussion in the coming months. As always, I welcome your thoughts on this critical issue.

On a personal note, I commend the electric utility cooperatives in Senate District R as they explore methods of generating electricity through renewable resources such as wind turbines and hydro electricity. Hopefully, we will see a marked increase in this type of activity throughout the state.

Pipeline contract

With the Legislature’s passage of House Bill 3001, the administration received authorization to grant a license under the terms of the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act to TransCanada to permit, develop and build a 1,715-mile natural gas pipeline from a natural gas treatment plant at Prudhoe Bay to Alberta, Canada.

This was also a hotly contested topic, but I think in the end it was the best solution available to us. Hopefully, it will spur the Big Oil companies that have control over much of the gas and TransCanada into working cooperatively to get Alaska’s gas to market.

Primary elections this month

I encourage you to vote in the primary election on Aug. 26. In addition to choosing candidates for state and federal offices for November’s general election, you will be asked to vote on four ballot measures.

• Ballot Measure 1 would create a seven-member gaming commission within the Alaska Department of Revenue. The commission would have to authority to adopt regulations, as well as investigate and enforce gaming laws.

• Ballot Measure 2 would amend current law banning same-day airborne shooting to include grizzly bears. This measure would give the Board of Game the authority to allow a predator program for wolves and bears in area where they are causing a decline in pray should the commissioner of Fish and Game find there is an emergency situation.

• Ballot Measure 3 creates a voluntary program of public funding for state elections in statute. Under terms of this measure, a candidate would need to collect a number of $5 contributions from their election district and agree to limits for campaign fundraising and spending. The measure also allows a qualified candidate to receive state matching funds if their opponent does not take part in the program.

• Ballot Measure 4 will establish two water quality standards on new large-scale metallic mining operations (those in excess of 640 acres in size) in Alaska. The first standard does not allow such a mining operation to release toxic pollutants that will adversely affect human health or the life cycle of salmon. The second standard does not allow such a mining operation to store mining wastes and tailings that could release sulfuric acids, other acids, dissolved metals or other toxic pollutants that could adversely impact water used by humans or salmon.

District R resident named to state board

Congratulations to Marty Shuravloff of Kodiak, who recently was reappointed to the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation’s board of directors. As the executive director of the Kodiak Island Housing Authority since 1996, Mr. Shuravloff has a wealth of knowledge and experience he will continue to bring the AHFC board.

It is always nice to see local residents adding their input to the state’s 122 boards and commissions. According to the governor’s office, between 10 and 15 boards have expiring terms every month. If you’re interested in serving on one of these panels, you should submit an application via mail, e-mail, fax or in person to the governor’s office.

You can contact the governor’s office at 465-3500 for more information, or check the state Web page at: http://gov.state.ak.us/boards

Keep in touch

Please do not hesitate to contact my offices for assistance with problems involving state agencies. The Homer office number is (907) 235-0690. The Kodiak office number is (907) 486-4925. The statewide, toll free number is (800) 821-4925.