North to Alaska:
Ventures in the Interior

Dear Friends and Neighbors, 

I have been fortunate all summer to attend many community events, meeting with friends, new and old, from our midtown district as well as the greater Anchorage area. Recently, I took a trip to the Interior to attend the Chena Renewable Energy Fair as part of my duties with the House Special Committee on Energy. While I was in the north country, I had several other meetings to better educate myself on issues facing Alaskans. 

A good way for parents to learn the safest routes for children to walk to school is provided by the Municipality of Anchorage at the following link:

muni.org/Departments/works/traffic/Pages/SafeRoutesToSchools.aspx

Day One: UAF

One of my district’s neighborhoods that I am most proud to represent is the University of Alaska-Anchorage. I sit on the House Finance Subcommittee for the University of Alaska system, and although I am knowledgeable in matters regarding the Anchorage campus, I have not spent as much time on the Fairbanks campus. During my trip to the Interior, I was able to meet with Chancellor Rogers at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks and take a tour of campus.   Our focus was on the derelict campus power plant (circa 1962) and the site of the new UAF Engineering building.

Seeing things like old boilers, and faulty heating systems first-hand makes me better informed to make decisions regarding the University’s budget when I return to Juneau. Talking with the Chancellor made me even more proud to be a part of the University of Alaska system. As a former adjunct professor, I have always taken great pride in Alaska's higher education system; the Fairbanks campus further instilled in me a dedication to the University. 

Day Two: Fort Knox Mine 

Mining has been one of Alaska's most important industries since statehood. Today, Alaska's mining industry provides 3,500 jobs for Alaskans. The Fort Knox Mine is 45 minutes northeast of Fairbanks. The average worker's salary is $90,000 dollars.  Mining operators and laborers are extremely skilled workers and experts in their field.  The Fort Knox Mine is an archetype for Alaska's mining operations; despite the pure magnitude and size of the facility (and it is certainly an eyesore), Fort Knox is a seamless operation.   While the mine only contributes $18 million per year to our state’s coffers, it does employ over 600 people.  I found Fort Knox to be a generally acceptable resources extraction.

My tour and the conversations I had at the Fort Knox Mine were eye opening. However, I still maintain extreme skepticism when it comes to projects like the Pebble Mine, and the Chuitna Coal Mine, both of which risk trading one of our precious resources for another.  I feel strongly enough about this fact, that my staffer and I will be traveling to Dillingham mid-September to meet with Bristol Bay community stakeholders and further discuss concerns they have.

Day Three: Park Clean-Up

During the drive north my car began having difficulties, so I spent the majority of this day getting the car fixed. However, while I was dealing with car troubles several of our neighbors volunteered their time to clean-up the Campbell Creek Trail. I would like to thank the members of the Campbell Park Community Council for spending their morning out chopping wood and clearing the trails so the rest of us can use them with ease, and to reduce fire and flooding hazards.

Day Four: Renewable Energy Fair

My final day in the Interior was spent at the Chena Renewable Energy Fair. I joined several of my colleagues on the House Special Committee on Energy learning about innovations in energy technologies.  Attendees included Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Lt. Governor Mead Treadwell.

Encouraging the development of renewable energies in Alaska is one of my priorities. Oil and natural gas are two incredibly important energy sources, however, both those resources are finite. Renewable energy development will only become more important as populations increase and total world energy sources decrease. 

As always, please contact me if I can be of service to you or your family.

I Answer to You!

Sincerely,

Representative Andy Josephson
716 4th Ave, Room 390
Phone: 907-269-0265
Rep.Andy.Josephson@akleg.gov