The following was posted on a blog on Renewable Energy - April 23, 2009

Rob Rosenfeld:

There is no “silver bullet” for renewable energy. Therefore we need to
diversify as much as possible. I will be talking a great deal about
how to do this during my run for Governor of Alaska.

The Natural Gas pipeline is one important ingredient to the solution.
Additionally, we should take propane off the pipeline in strategic
locations and barge the propane to communities that live on interior
Alaskan Rivers. I checked with one of the major barge companies and
they see this as viable.

We also need to develop wave, tidal and hydro energy and utilize as
much wind and solar as possible. Biofuels will create many jobs and
provide energy as well. Willows grow fast in Alaska and can be turned
into chips and pellets for burning. The old discarded fuel tanks can
be used for storage of the pellets at times.

Let’s keep talking about what is possible.

Check out the December addition of the Yukon River Inter-Tribal
Watershed Council newsletter to see photos and a write up on
hydro kinetic (hydroelectric) unit that was installed in Ruby, Alaska
on the Yukon River last summer. It is a 5kw unit and has already
produced energy. The YRITWC now has funds secured to install a 25kw
unit. I have worked for the YRITWC for 12 years, serving for 11 years
as the Director in Alaska. I am pleased to say that the tribes are
breaking new ground. check it out:
http://www.yritwc.org/Portals/0/PDFs/currents_2008_12.pdf

An excerpt from blog post “Rural Alaska Fuel Tanks: Fill ‘em Up!” - April 30th, 2009

How do we bring money into the state while controlling development and its impact on the environment?

Rob Rosenfeld:
The short answer is: There is no quick fix solution. A few things are needed:

1) Strategic Planning in communities that involves Municipalities, Tribes, corporations and the average individual. Strategic planning is ongoing and needs to be driven by local people to have a sustained result.

2) Multi-community planning can be key to solving regional problems by encouraging communities to work together on economic development, fuel delivery and other matters.

3) National awareness. This discussion is contibuting to this and more can be done. We need to put the phrase “Appalachia of the North” out there in order to get necessary supports from the federal government.

4) Learn from the hundreds of mistakes of the development industry in Africa, Asia and South America. Development has often been top down and has failed in many places because the wrong people were driving the process with hidden agendas.

5) Adding value to all products that are removed from Alaska is also very important. We sell trees, chips, and more that goes to Asia and comes back to us in the form of cheap furniture that we buy at Fred Meyer. The state can offer incentives for business start ups that provide 10 or more jobs and that add value to Alaskan products. Value can be added to the fish industry by smoking fish and preparing the fish products in different ways. We can even make dog food and cat food with some of the lower quality by-catch if necessary.

6) Check out the Denali Commission. Senator Stevens convinced Congress of the substandard living conditions in rural Alaska with regards to sewer, water and high energy costs. The Denali Commisssion has received about 300 million per year and guess what? The development mistakes that I have spoken of have been repeated. The Denali Commission focused on building huge bulk fuel farms and health clinics that no one can afford to heat. Money was used to build sewage systems. High cost systems were built and about 25% have failed because they are not arctic appropriate and there was no operating and maintenence costs built in.
This money could have been spent on appropriate technologies and engaging folks in planning and determining their own future.

Read the books "Small is Beautiful" by E.F. Schumacher, "Rural Development" by Robert Chambers, and "Getting to the 21st Century" by David Korten.
After reading these books you will have a clear idea of how to support community-driven rural development solutions. A collective vision that improves lives is possible when we stop lining the pockets of big time contractors and work directly with the people at the grassroots.

An excerpt from blog post “Rural Alaska Fuel Tanks: Fill ‘em Up!” - April 30th, 2009

Rob Rosenfeld:
It wasn’t long ago that the President of Venezuela offered support to rural Alaskan villages because the state and the federal government were providing minimal support.
I was in Bolivia last month and went to a village 9km from what is said to be the 2nd largest oil field in South America. There was zero electricity in the village and a great deal of evidence of enviromental damage. Not one light bulb was powered in the community.

Of course Alaska is an oil producing state. Has the state done enough to reduce the profits of the oil companies and afford more opportunity to the residents in the state? I would say NO WAY.

President Evo Morales of Bolivia changed the arrangement with the oil companies in Bolivia. When he was elected the oil companies received 82% of the royalties and the government received 18%. As soon as he was elected he changed this reality. Instead, the oil companies now receive 18% and the government receives 82% giving them the opportunity to assist the average Bolivian. Believe it or not all the oil companies stayed despite the fact their royalties dropped from 82% to 18%.

I believe that the State of Alaska has given the oil companies too easy of a deal, which has minimized the profits that can be dispersed to communities in need and to drive fuel costs down.

If the reality is going to change we need elected leaders that will truly negotiate the best arrangement for Alaskans and all Americans.