HAINES ASSEMBLY PONDERS SUPPORT OF CONNELLY LAKE HYDRO PROJECT!

The following (below) was to be presented at our recent Haines Assembly hearing on whether to support AP&T's application to FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) to explore  Connelly Lake project site to determine the feasibility of a new hydro-electric generation source for Haines.

At our Assembly meeting held, November 29^th, I suspect EVERY environmental extremist was at the meeting beating their drums on loss of fish habitat, and every conceivable scenario from impacts of building a dam, potential flooding if dam is breached, construction problems and our local fishermen claiming the same. The Assembly Chambers was packed to the limits and several of us had to sit out in the entrance.


After listening to Pam Randles, Tim Shields, Rob Goldburg, Burl Sheldon, Gerson Cohen etc. etc. it became completely evident this was a coordinated effort and these folks do not care about the well being of ANY resident in Haines. They strongly believe that fish habitat and natural surrounding far exceed the basic needs of everyone who consumes electricity.


They do not even want our public utility to begin investigation of our only suitable hydro-site which could provide EVERY resident in Haines with lower cost electrical rates, remove the existing potential catastrophic loss of hydro power via our current underwater cable dangling in a local fiord and provide a source and surplus of clean, renewable electric power for Haines!


The Assembly decision to support this study was in jeopardy when Damon Hoffman, Steve Vick and Norm Smith "waffled", but the full Assembly vote decision finally gave Borough support of the FERC application.


The process used by our Assembly proved once again that the imposed 3 minute time limit is really a dis-service to all residents who feel passionately about a subject before our governing body. 

In my opinion, this discussion should NEVER have been made without a full public discussion in a town meeting type setting where ALL the facts could have been presented and discussed rather than just 3 minute segments.


Granted the 3 minute limit reduces the time spent by our Assembly, but is that really important or should there be a forum for complete exchange of information (not just a regurgitation of the same testimony)? An opportunity to introduce new and important information to insure our elected officials have all the information, facts and have heard from their constituency before making a decision which may impact all of us.

NOW IS THE TIME TO SUPPORT THE FEASIBILITY STUDY OF CONNELLY LAKE HYDRO PROJECT

November 29, 2011

As you know, last year our Haines Chamber, Economic Development Committee spent over 5 months assessing our community’s economic health. We studied all major SE Alaska communities in an attempt to understand how Haines fit into the “puzzle”.

One of the basic elements evaluated was our electricity rates. We found and verified that Haines pays twice the rate of these other communities. (except Skagway which is on our same hydro-electric feed.)

Even more surprising was the discovery that, according to AP&T, we do not have ANY surplus power available during the winter months, which is unique among our sister SE Communities.

Even worse was the learning our only source of hydro-electric power was suspended underwater and AP&T would not attempt to recover this cable IF it were to fail and fall to the bottom of our local Fiord.

Our scenario is similar to our earlier computer's it is not a matter of IF the computer fails, but WHEN the failure will occur.

WHEN we lose our existing cable we will be forced to immediately switch to diesel generators and Haines residents and businesses would see an immediate increase in our rates which could last greater than 6 months.

We have a perfect recent example of how this might impact Haines, based on the events in Juneau in 2008 when an avalanche destroyed Snettisham Hydro transmission lines . (Twice in two years). The Juneau Economic Development Council conducted a study on the impacts of this event to the Juneau business community.

AEL&P rates did not just double, but increased 5 times to $.52 per KWH! 51% of Juneau business's RAISED their prices to compensate for the increased cost of electricity! And Juneau was paying less than 10 cents per KWH and the price of diesel was $4.17 per gallon. And “luckily” for this “unlucky” event it occurred in the winter months, when cruise ships were absent or the financial impacts would have been greater.

Can you imagine the impact of paying even 4 times our current rate? --$.92 KWH and higher outside the Haines Townsite? What can you conceive of the financial impact to everyone in Haines!

DEVEASTING!

EVERY business and resident in Haines is DIRECTLY impacted by the high cost of energy and these costs are indirectly passed on to every loaf of bread, piece of meat, gallon of milk, sheet of plywood, Borough office, and every family in Haines.

*SEE JEDC (Juneau Economic Development Council) (link below) report on the financial impacts to Juneau businesses when avalanche damaged) Snettisham transmission towers and Juneau had to switch to diesel generators) - Published on this Blog.


 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1N1nByRiipTvzACUUd4GYJLKmzmvisf5hYhAp_QUMHzs/edit?hl=en_US

The decision to support or not support the exploration of AP&T on the feasibility of Connelly as a potential source of hydro power is probably one of the most important decision's you will make which will impact the future health and well being of our whole town.

Electricity if one of the 3 essential services needed in EVERY community.

Maybe this is one of the factors used by the Alaska Dept of Labor when they published their 2010 forecast, Haines will experience a 37% population decline by 2025.