Conference offers energy education, solutions
Published Sunday, June 1, 2008
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NENANA — Pamela Samash had enough of paying $1,000 per month on heating fuel after last winter.
“It’s come to the point where families are having to choose between heating and eating,” Samash said.
Samash knows what that’s like and never wants to see another day like that for herself or anyone in her community.
“My whole life, I’ve had to make choices like that,” she said. “And now, everyone is in that boat, whether you’re a restaurant owner, homeowner or an oil distribution company.”
Samash pulled Interior resources together for the Oil Conservation and Energy Fair on Saturday at the Nenana Civic Center.
Her motivation for giving up two to six hours of her day for the last four weeks was out of the fear that entire cities were going to shut down because of their reliance on oil.
“The wrong people are being blamed for this,” she said. “Now is the time for all of us to put our differences aside and come together and learn to be self-sufficient.”
A bus load of Fairbanks residents came to the fair after Samash organized a carpool to help save gas.
Garrison Collette, of the University of Alaska Cooperative Extension Office, was on that bus. He shared a list of basic projects any homeowner on a budget can do.
“Insulating the attic and the foundation are probably the biggest things anyone can do to lower their costs,” he said. “Just insulating the foundation will cut your heating bill by 30 percent.”
Collette was in agreement with Samash that educating the public is the first and biggest step in breaking fuel dependency.
“Educating the not-so-technically minded needs to be a national priority, making up 50 to 70 percent of our efforts,” he said.
He suggested traveling to schools and educating future generations about conservation now.
“So far, we’ve either done nothing or we’re in crisis mode, but the bottom line is we cannot live the same lifestyle and expect to lower our costs,” he said. “Energy just isn’t sexy enough yet,” Collette said.
Members of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation were there to educate visitors about the energy rebate program as well as offer tips for homeowners who exceed the income cap for the rebate.
“Everyone can walk away with something but they have to get out and ask questions now,” Jim McCall of the AHFC Senior Housing Office said.
The AHFC is offering two ways to reduce energy bills that accommodate a wide range of Alaskans. The rebate program can help homeowners with up to $10,000 for energy efficient projects.
The weatherization program is another option.
Previously, the program was only funded with about $5 million, but with the additional $200 million from the state budget, the income cap has been raised to incorporate a larger number of homeowners.
“The important thing is for everyone to schedule an energy audit today,” McCall said.
After the initial audit is complete, homeowners have one year to make changes.
McCall suggested an urgency in making changes before the price changes impact the Interior anymore.
Marilynn Coghill Duggar was born and raised in Nenana and has seen devastating changes among some families.
Duggar works in the local general store and despite providing basic necessities to the town of Nenana, the general store is hurting, like other local business.
“Our profit margin is virtually gone,” she said. “It’s not that there isn’t food availability, it’s just the prices are going up at all levels,” she said.
This winter, she was forced to close the doors of the St. Matthew’s Episcopal Parish Hall because the church couldn’t pay the heating bill. Sunday school is now held in the back of the sanctuary.
Duggar has seen families torn apart because they couldn’t afford heating fuel and food.
“It’s happening in our community, but we’re pulling together to keep people from slipping through the cracks,” she said. “The energy fair was exactly what this town needed to raise awareness,” she said.
As for having to chose between heating and eating, Nenana residents won’t have to worry next winter, as they may have a saving grace. Samash donated 100 percent of the concession’s profits to a general fund that would help struggling families make it through next winter.
She is also working closely with Karen Garrity of the Fairbanks Title Agency to put on a larger show in Fairbanks on July 7.
Community Discussion
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Pamela Samash is an inspiration, donating her time and resources to help herself and her community survive what will undoubtedly be a very tough winter coming up. I am very impressed that she is willing to create a general fund to help those struggling in Nenana make it through the winter.
She, and the other individuals mentioned in this article show that the Alaska Spirit of rugged individualism in the face of adversity is alive and well. I'm having a hard time simply trying not to panic about how I'm going to afford heating oil and food this coming winter. I feel inundated and confused by all the different options and programs being proposed, and have found myself - because it's summer now - just trying not to think about the coming hardship this winter. And that's precisely the wrong attitude to take, the way most guaranteed that I'll experience the most hardship.
I thank Pamela Samash for being pro-active in taking initiative, and gathering information and resources to organize an energy fair in Nenana, and one in Fairbanks in July. I'll show up to the one in July, and will therefore personally benefit from her efforts. This woman, whom I don't know, is helping me get my head out from under the sand, and deal squarely with this issue. She's helping me muster the courage to face the hardship I know is coming for me, and everyone else who lives up here.
I truly thank her and those she's been working with. These people are simply awesome!
WAY TO GO, PAM! You are awesome!
I just checked my email and found a letter there from one of the local representatives, it stated in part:
The Legislature will travel on a “roadshow” to communities across the state. [He] will help to host the delegation as they travel to Fairbanks on June 11-13 to hear from Fairbanks constituents (regarding AGIA/gasline comments).
Since I have heard nothing about this nor seen mention of this in any of the blogs, I'm guessing that a lot of folks have not heard about this. Maybe something to check into. Just food for thought.
# Advocate that the legislature and Governor to develop a State Energy Policy and Plan (See “State of Alaska Energy Policy and Strategy Recommendations”)
* Alaska must provide energy equality for all the citizens of Alaska
* Energy must be affordable, reliable, and long-term
* Energy conservation must be encouraged for all Alaskans
* Alaska must work toward a common state-wide energy grid
* Energy alternative research and development must be encouraged and supported
* Non-renewable oil and gas set-asides need to be adopted to allow for in-state use
* Energy providers and producers must plan collectively for energy infrastructure development
* Alaska must be on a path of energy self-sufficiency by 2010 and energy self-sufficient by 2025
Anything less than a State-Wide Energy Policy and Plan, we will not see an equitable distribution of our vast energy resources in our state. Chaos reigns now but we need some order.
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