02/09/2006 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

10:51:34 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 243(FIN)                                                                                             
     "An Act relating to the financial plan for the intertie                                                                    
     between the Swan Lake and Tyee Lake hydroelectric projects;                                                                
     and providing for an effective date."                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
This  was the first  hearing  for this  bill in  the Senate  Finance                                                            
Committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Green announced  that testimony would be taken on this bill                                                            
at  this  time  to  accommodate  a  witness'  travel  arrangements.                                                             
However, full  consideration of the legislation would  be given at a                                                            
future hearing.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
10:51:41 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
DAVE CARLSON,  Chief Executive Officer, Four Dam Pool  Power Agency,                                                            
testified  that the  Agency  supports  this legislation  that  would                                                            
extend the $5 million "intertie  credit" for the construction of the                                                            
Swan and Tyee lakes intertie in Southeast Alaska.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
10:52:57 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bunde  asked the number of "groups that are  supporting this                                                            
and that are in the power business."                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
10:53:13 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Carlson  replied  that the  Four Dam  Pool includes  the  Kodiak                                                            
Electric  Association, Copper  Valley Electric  Association  and the                                                            
cities  of Wrangell,  Petersburg and  Ketchikan.  The Alaska  Energy                                                            
Association  (AEA) supports  this legislation.  He  had heard  of no                                                            
opposition.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
10:53:51 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
RON  MILLER,   Executive   Director,  Alaska   Energy  Association,                                                             
testified via teleconference  from Anchorage in support of the bill.                                                            
                                                                                                                                
10:54:08 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Green asked if  the AEA was aware of any opposition to this                                                            
legislation.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
10:54:11 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Miller was not.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
10:54:18 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
BRIAN  BJORKQUIST,  Senior  Assistant Attorney  General,  Labor  and                                                            
State Affairs Section,  Civil Division, Department of Law, testified                                                            
via teleconference  from Anchorage  that he was available  to answer                                                            
questions.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
10:54:29 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SARA FISHER GOAD, Alaska Energy Association, testified via                                                                      
teleconference from Anchorage that she was also available to answer                                                             
questions.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Green ordered the bill HELD in Committee.