About
Alaska Statewide CEDS Energy Group
On October 19, 2007, the working group currently referred to as the Alaska CEDS Energy Group was formed out of the concerns of economic development professionals during a training session of the Economic Development Administration in the Denali Commission board room in Anchorage. These professionals from across the State of Alaska all work in the development of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) under the Economic Development Administration’s Economic Development District Program. Those present at the meeting represented most of the state’s eleven Alaska Regional Development Organizations (ARDORS) and several Alaska Native Tribes that are assisting communities with economic development plans and projects.
Energy stood out as a keystone factor in the efforts of all present. Crisis was a term used by all that work with rural communities. Therefore, it was unanimously agreed that the group will focus on Energy issues first.
The concerns of the group were:
1. Rural Communities across the state of Alaska are dying due to high energy costs and limited availability. The diaspora of the residents, referred to in the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce energy report “Hope is Not a Strategy” as “energy refugees” is a symptom of an ongoing failure to address issues.
2. A failure of leadership at all levels within the State of Alaska to establish a workable energy policy. There is no clear and communicated energy policy and plan for addressing energy issues in the state.
3. The continuing disconnect between community energy needs and priorities and any State plan of action to insure project success in addressing community needs. This includes a lack of a funding prioritization of energy projects, based on community needs, as part of an overall state energy plan to meet the needs of all communities.
4. The continued political competition for funding between communities for energy projects. The results of which have been disastrous for rural communities throughout the state.
5. The current energy situation in rural Alaska is untenable and not sustainable.
6. The best efforts of communities, including Anchorage, to address energy availability and costs are often thwarted by private interests, energy businesses, and utilities. Control of state and local energy policy groups by “energy interests” has insured the status quo.
7. A statewide lack of communication of those in Alaska charged with energy issues.
The group concluded in its first organizational meeting in October of 2007 that failure of the State to adequately address the above issues in an expedient manner will result in lack of opportunities, slow death and the ultimate disappearance of many rural communities. Failure to address the energy cost and availability issues will also insure the stagnant and declining state of economic development in Alaska.
The group decided that it would like to continue to meet, define a plan of work and collaborate with Federal and State governments to address the issues in an expedient manner.
Scope of Work: Energy Policy, Plan and Project Funding Priorities
At its second meeting on November 30, 2007, the group decided to continue to meet and to concentrate its focus in two areas. The first of those areas is the lack of a comprehensive statewide energy policy and plan. The second being the failure of the State to tie funding priorities to community energy needs through statewide project prioritization using an equitable overall state energy plan.
The group will continue to meet and develop a work plan including a review of all the available state documents related to policy/plans and gather a list of all of the community needs driven energy projects available in the various CEDS documents. Teleconferences will be held on a monthly basis.
Next Steps:
Collaborate with the Governor and her staff to develop and deliver an energy plan and an equitable funding priorities list to address the state’s energy needs in an expedient manner.