As a member of the House Special Committee on Energy, Rep. Chris Tuck dives into issue and potential solutions to Alaska's energy crisis. Hopefully we will hear more innovative ideas like tidal power in False Pass during the upcoming session.

The potential for tidal energy in Alaska is tremendous. Go False Pass!

False Pass Experimenting With Hydro Power | alaskapublic.org

www.alaskapublic.org

The tiny Aleutian village of False Pass is about to become a lab for cutting-edge renewable energy. If the experiment works, False Pass will be the first town in the country to be powered by ocean currents.

Congrats to everyone who worked hard to make Fire Island Wind a reality. It's the first of what will hopefully be a strong mix of economic, reliable, and renewable energy sources for Anchorage.
http://www.alaskapublic.org/2012/09/24/fire-island-powers-up/

Fire Island Powers Up | alaskapublic.org

www.alaskapublic.org

All 11 wind turbines on Fire Island are now generating power for Southcentral Alaska. Officials at Cook Inlet Region Incorporated say they've been testing the turbines and transmission lines for nearly a month now. And today it became official – all of them are feeding into the grid.

Rep. Scott Kawasaki has been a leader on education issues. Here's his latest back to school message:
http://akdemocrats.org/kawasaki/091312_juneau_note.htm

Need contact info for utilities in prep for the next windstorm? Rep. Lindsey Holmes has'em here: http://akdemocrats.org/holmes/091312_newsletter.htm

Representative Lindsey Holmes' Newsletter

akdemocrats.org

Write a Letter to the Editorsubmit your 225 word letter to the Anchorage Daily News via e-mail letter@adn.com, or fax them to 258-2157, attn: letters to the editor.

Need an #oil tax refresher? Rep. Chris Tuck just updated a great document on the recent debate. Check it out...

http://akdemocrats.org/tuck/2012_Oil_Tax_Newsletter.pdf

More fallout from the gov and House Majority's short-sighted lack of commitment to Alaska schools

http://juneauempire.com/local/2012-09-13/overcrowding-still-issue-harborview#.UFIS4Y1lQ44

Overcrowding still an issue at Harborview

juneauempire.com

While the Juneau School District Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday night to provide for an additional teacher at Riverbend Elementary School, some parents are wondering why Harborview Elementary School was not selected for extra staffing.

Here are photos of the new rescue boat Rep. Gruenberg secured for the Anchorage Fire Department to use in Cook Inlet.

AFD Welcome New Rescue Boat with Christening

www.ktuu.com

On Sep. 11, the Anchorage Fire Department had a christening for its light rescue boat and it will be stationed at the Port of Anchorage.

We all know smaller class sizes are best for students, but as the Juneau School District shows, maintaining reasonable class sizes with inadequate resources too often requires risky decision making. The governor and House Majority could've prevented Juneau and schools across the state from having to put what's best for students at odds with what's best for fiscal responsibility, but instead they insisted on undercutting school resources and refused to make lasting commitments to Alaska schools.

House Democrats fought to keep resources up with inflation and to make a lasting commitment to education early in the session so school districts can plan not only for the upcoming year, but down the road. That is the only way to protect schools, teachers and students from this type of uncertainty in the future.

We will never forget the tragic events of September 11, 2001 or the lives they cost or changed forever. Thanks to all who served that day, before and since to keep our nation safe and free.

New Anchorage Fire Department rescue vessel for Cook Inlet to be christened today. Thanks Rep. Max Gruenberg for securing the resources to get this much needed vessel in the water!
http://akdemocrats.org/?p=2645

| Alaska State Legislature House Democratic Caucus |NEWS: Rep. Gruenberg to Attend N

akdemocrats.org

REPRESENTATIVE MAX GRUENBERG(907) 269-0123www.repmaxgruenberg.comrep.max.gruenberg@legis.state.ak.us CONTACT: Ted Madsen Legislative Aide

House Democrats fought the governor's oil giveaway on the House Floor where it barely escaped with only one vote to spare

Stand Against the Giveaway, March 31, 2011

House Democrats fought the governor's oil giveaway on the House Floor where it barely escaped with only one vote to spare

Here's more from Rep. Petersen about how you can help those in E Anchorage w/o power by bringing emergency supplies to the Spirit of Muldoon picnic tomorrow http://akdemocrats.org/petersen/090712_petersen_report.html

The Petersen Report: NEWS from the CAPITOL

akdemocrats.org

Write a Letter to the Editor submit your 225 word letter to the Anchorage Daily News via e-mail letter@adn.com, or fax them to 258-2157, attn: letters to the editor.

Hey Anchorage, here's an easy way to help out your neighbors who still don't have power. Pete Petersen invites you to bring your extra batteries, candles, canned goods and other supplies to the Spirit of Muldoon picnic tomorrow from 12-2 at Old Green House Property, 2140 Muldoon Road (Where Debarr meets Muldoon near Fred Meyer). Any extras will go to local emergency assistance organizations.
http://akdemocrats.org/?p=2642

| Alaska State Legislature House Democratic Caucus |NEWS: Rep. Petersen Initiates Em

akdemocrats.org

REPRESENTATIVE PETE PETERSEN(907) 269-0265www.reppetepetersen.comrep.pete.petersen@legis.state.ak.us CONTACT: Tabitha Williams Legislative Staff

New report on renewable energy sources in Alaska. Now, if only the governor would quit vetoing community requests to develop them...http://www.akenergyinventory.org/

Once the power's back on, could you be saving more $ on your bill? Here's an upcoming lecture series on ways Alaskans can lower their energy bills. Thanks REAP!
http://alaskarenewableenergy.org/events/reap-monthly-forums/

REAP Monthly Forums | alaskarenewableenergy.org

alaskarenewableenergy.org

REAP hosts FREE forums from 6-8pm on the 2nd Wednesday of every month from September-May at the Anchorage Museum auditorium, 625 C Street. Those who can't

Thanks to all those working hard to restore the power!

"And when you just cram more and more kids into a classroom, that’s where the difficulties lie. It’s really not fair for the kids.” - Juneau elementary school teacher Davin Savikko.

Alaska must do better by our students. We cannot allow inflation and budget cuts to eat away classroom resources.

http://juneauempire.com/local/2012-09-01/some-classes-exceed-pupil-teacher-ratio-juneau-schools#.UEaQqtZlQ44

At the beginning of the last legislative session, the governor proposed flat funding for education, and the House Majority opposed making any lasting commitment to Alaska's students. We fought to have school resources at least keep up with inflation, to make the commitment last for more than one year, and to allocate school resources early on in the session so districts could plan for the future and avoid teacher layoffs.

Instead of addressing school needs early in the session, they ignored the issue until the last days of session. In the end, we forced the gov and House Majority to get much closer to keeping up with inflation this year and to make some commitments for down-the-road funding, but they refused to provide the resources Alaska's schools need to succeed. So here we are again: over-stuffed classrooms, not enough teachers, and legitimate complaints from parents and students.

Alaska must do better if we want our children to have the skills they'll need land good jobs and lead Alaska in the global economy of tomorrow. We'll proudly carry on the fight for appropriate school resources again next year because it's obvious the problem is far from solved.

Here's some of the Cook Inlet backstory, with a great quote from Berta Gardner on getting Alaska gas to Alaskans first.

http://www.alaskapublic.org/2012/08/23/cook-inlet-gas-storage-facilities-not-being-used/

Cook Inlet Gas Storage Facilities Not Being Used | alaskapublic.org

www.alaskapublic.org

A problem has come up between Marathon Oil and Enstar, Anchorage’s gas utility, over filling the Cook Inlet Gas storage facility – and the price for the gas that goes into it.