Legislature(2001 - 2002)
01/24/2002 08:10 AM House CRA
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
January 24, 2002
8:10 a.m.
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
ALASKA INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND EXPORT AUTHORITY (AIDEA)
INCLUDING THE ALASKA ENERGY AUTHORITY (AEA).
TAPES
02-1, SIDES A & B
02-2, SIDES A
CALL TO ORDER
Representative Kevin Meyer, Co-chair, called the House Community
and Regional Affairs Standing Committee to order at 8:10 a.m.
PRESENT
Committee members present were Representatives Meyer, Halcro,
Murkowski, Guess, and Kerttula.
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION
ROBERT POE, Executive Director, AIDEA and AEA, stated the Board
of Directors had recently announced a $19 million dividend
bringing the total dividends paid since 1996 to $128 million.
The assets of AIDEA total about $1.2 billion. Mr. Poe gave a
brief description of ongoing AIDEA programs, projects,
successes, and failures. He explained the progress on the Four
Dam Pool sale and stated the sale should be closed on January
31, 2002. He provided detailed information on AIDEA involvement
in the Alaska Seafood Center, the Delong Mountain Transportation
System associated with the Red Dog Mine, the Healy Clean Coal
Plant, the Ketchikan Shipyard, and the Snettisham Hydroelectric
Plant.
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI asked if AIDEA planned to support
Ketchikan Shipyard developing a second berthing system.
MR. POE replied AIDEA thinks this expansion is important, but
doesn't know where the money is coming from.
REPRESENTATIVE HALCRO asked how many people were employed at the
Alaska Seafood Center.
MR. POE said that currently about 120 people are employed with
the Alaska Seafood Center, although there have been production
spurts.
REPRESENTATIVE HALCRO asked if the fish supply was from Alaska.
MR. POE, in further response to Representative Halcro, said that
the fish supply is all Alaska fish right now. He commented that
supply is not a problem.
REPRESENTATIVE KERTULLA asked if the daycare at Alaska Seafood
is operational.
MR. POE replied the daycare is not operating because there
aren't enough employees.
REPRESENTATIVE MEYER asked Mr. Poe for his assessment of the
overall Alaska economy.
MR. POE characterized the current average Alaska economy as a
slow, stable growth economy as opposed to the spikes and dips of
1986. He cited some examples.
There was further discussion on the condition of the Alaska
economy among committee members and Mr. Poe.
REPRESENTATIVE GUESS asked about the Alaska Science and
Technology Foundation.
MR. POE said he couldn't comment on ASTF, but he did comment on
one project [AIDEA] is doing with ASTF. He then explained the
Unisea project in Dutch Harbor where fish oil is being mixed
with diesel oil and used for electrical generation. If this
project is successful, it will be worth millions of dollars to
Alaska in terms of reducing the cost of energy. He also
commented on a business plan competition done in concert with
Alaska Pacific University.
MIKE HARPER, Deputy Director, Alaska Energy Authority (AEA),
gave an overview of AEA's five programs, and explained the
Authority's mission.
MR. POE cited some specific examples of rural energy projects.
REPRESENTATIVE MEYER asked about the progress from last year in
terms of bulk fuel and rural electrical deficiencies, and the
ranking of needs.
MR. POE replied that rankings are out and available, and that
they are working down the list.
REPRESENTATIVE MEYER asked what areas are the most critical.
MR. POE said the Wade Hampton district has the highest level of
deficiency. He further stated there are 46 bulk fuel projects
in the pipeline and 12 rural power system projects in the
pipeline.
MR. POE commented on a screening survey to try to find promising
ways to reduce the cost of power in rural Alaska.
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI asked about operation and maintenance.
MR. POE explained that they are responding on several fronts and
cited examples. He also explained the business plan required by
the Denali Commission.
There was other similar dialogue between committee members, Mr.
Poe, and Mr. Harper.
MR. POE went over the status of Power Cost Equalization (PCE)
and provided a handout to the committee.
MR. POE and the committee exchanged questions and answers on
PCE.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
There were no announcements.
COMMITTEE ACTION
The committee took no action.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee was adjourned
at 9:55 a.m.
NOTE: The meeting was recorded and handwritten log notes were
taken. A copy of the tape(s) and log notes may be obtained by
contacting the House Records Office at State Capitol, Room 3,
Juneau, Alaska 99801 (mailing address), (907) 465-2214, and
after adjournment of the second session of the Twenty-Second
Alaska State Legislature this information may be obtained by
contacting the Legislative Reference Library at (907) 465-3808.
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