Energy Crisis (Metlakatla: to buy, stores, best)

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by Xa'at

What's happening to us isn't comparable to what is happening in the bush. It is just that simple. People who were paying 200 a month for their electricity bill are now being billed 1,000 and this happened overnight. We had no time to budget or otherwise prepare for it.
We're supposed to be united as a state, instead, while we are facing a crisis everyone turns their back on us. Very nice.

Actually what's happening to Juneau in regard to this particular emergency is comparable to what has been going on in Bush Alaska since the day the oil money started to flow.

And if you look at it... how is it any different than the way Juneau has been treated on other issues? This isn't something new.

[Metlakatla]

Not to be nitpicking, but I don't recall using the phrase "back home" because Juneau is now my home.

I don't recall you using it either. Not to nitpick, but that doesn't change the intent of my previous post. A lot of people come here from other places they've lived their whole lives and make comparisons.

And since I'm sitting in the dark,no TV on, only using my computer rarely; perhaps I missed it if indeed the Gov. has issued a commitment to a resolution. If so-my apologies.

Again, welcome to Alaska.

Juneau does have a serious problem but all of our villages do as well. The 17-member group of commissioners and

other state agency representatives met for two hours Wednesday to consider how to

soften the blow of what’s expected to be about a 450-percent increase in utility

bills next month."

[Crossfire600]

As a person moving to Juneau I am obviously very interested in what is going on in the State of Alaska and her communities. I find that you folks have a wonderful sense of community in that, you stick together when times get tough, help each other and lend a hand where needed. On the other hand, you have absolutely NO sense of state. You folks are like the clans of Scotland from hundreds of years ago. Utterly unbelievable.

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by Crossfire600

As a person moving to Juneau I am obviously very interested in what is going on in the State of Alaska and her communities. I find that you folks have a wonderful sense of community in that, you stick together when times get tough, help each other and lend a hand where needed. On the other hand, you have absolutely NO sense of state. You folks are like the clans of Scotland from hundreds of years ago. Utterly unbelievable.

Isn't it wonderful? I love all the independent-mindedness in much of the state. Nice break from socialist Vermont!

The state is so incredibly diverse, it's not going to be possible to have a strong "state" feeling, there's going to be a dislike in the bush to some degree for those in cities (perhaps not hatred but distrust and bad feelings). The people in the cities are like other cities, want all sorts of regulations, services like schools, support taxes for them, etc., and most of the efforts at restricting hunting, logging and such have come out of places like Anchorage (albeit largely because of outsiders who've set up shop there). I think the worst whining I've seen come out of Alaska is from people in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Mat-Su, whining about the high taxes (particularly property) they pay (which they in fact support through wanting everything cities in the rest of the US have, they could vote to get rid of thsoe high taxes if they wanted to), then whining about those in the unorganized area who don't pay heavy taxes, when the truth is, most in the bush could do just fine without any sorts of state provided services or schooling. Heavy taxes like that would destroy the type of lifestyle present in the non-heavily taxed areas, but the city-dwellers don't care about that, and try to tax them...

So anyways, getting to one of my points, people in cities like Juneau (granted it's not on the road system but it's a reasonably developed city nonetheless) are paying through the nose now for energy and such, but people in the actual rural bush have been doing so for years for anything they buy. But since it struck a city it's a disaster, only because now it's affecting the city dwellers. If you can't afford it, just cut off the electricity entirely, and do without it for a while. Kerosene is going up in price but it's still cheap lighting, for example. You can do without other modern conveniences. I could just imagine the sort of whining that'll be seen when Anchorage has energy problems. Actually, I suspect Anchorage has more to worry about from earthquakes (most of the city is not really built on solid ground, see pics of the big Good Friday quake of what happened to many areas of it that are currently heavily developed), loss of power would be a trivial inconvenience. Then again, maybe if the power were just cut off from Anchorage and the surrounding area, all the city-types would flee the state...

[Marty Van Diest]

The situation in Juneau is just a small example of how vulnerable all of "civilized" Alaska is to natural disasters.

If we ever have another earthquake in 'South Central that is even close to the severity of the 64 quake the damage is going to be huge. In 64 we were still living a pretty independent lifestyle. We didn't have the natural gas grid we have now. Can you imagine the problems is we lose natural gas for months in mid-winter. Most houses are not set up for alternative heat.

The villages are in a more tenuous situation since most of them have modern houses that depend on fuel oil for heat and diesel for power. The only way to get the fuel to them "semi-economically" is by barge during the few months of summer when the rivers are open. Otherwise you have to fly it in...is that rediculous or what?

I grew up in a village on the lower Yukon and I can see the problems associated with trying to live a modern life, (ie flush toilets, a thermostat, TV), on the very edge of the transportation system.

I think both Alaska's, (and the third Alaska in South East), need to look at alternatives for how to live if we lose our fingertip hold on modern civilization.

[Wrennie]

Okay, that's it. I can't stand it.
Crossfire---I LOVE my state---every inch of it---every culture. Everyone I know--my fellow Alaskans---do as well. You absolutely cannot speak for me nor mine.
Sheesh. I'm going to stay off these boards for awhile.
Juneau folks: I hope that this stress is eased for you guys soon.

[Barkingowl]

Xa'at I'll send you 5lbs of gummy bears if you think that would help.

[Xa'at]

Originally Posted by Crossfire600

As a person moving to Juneau I am obviously very interested in what is going on in the State of Alaska and her communities. I find that you folks have a wonderful sense of community in that, you stick together when times get tough, help each other and lend a hand where needed. On the other hand, you have absolutely NO sense of state. You folks are like the clans of Scotland from hundreds of years ago. Utterly unbelievable.

Yes, unfortunately that is fairly true.

Originally Posted by Barkingowl

Xa'at I'll send you 5lbs of gummy bears if you think that would help.

Um... no thanks?

[Metlakatla]

This thing's going to be fixed in about three months, right? It's warm, it's light, you guys are going to be fine. There's plenty of work available there for anyone who needs a temporary second job. You guys are doing a great job in Juneau, by the way--I just read you've cut your power consumption by 30%.

[DannyL]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

This thing's going to be fixed in about three months, right? It's warm, it's light, you guys are going to be fine. There's plenty of work available there for anyone who needs a temporary second job. You guys are doing a great job in Juneau, by the way--I just read you've cut your power consumption by 30%.

yes, it could have been much worse....like happening in Jan.
I for one will be just fine without the fed's help, and especially ok without anyone's pity. Living off the road system has it's advantages...and disadvantages.
The advantages win....


metla...you have DM