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Southeast Conference Applauds the State's Investment in the Region Governor Parnell Approves Budget Priorities           

                Governor Sean Parnell signed the FY2013 budget bills into law on May 14th along with a $453.5 million general obligation bond package for transportation projects that will go to the voters in November. Southeast Conference President Gordy Wrobel said the Legislature and Governor were to be commended for both their fiscal restraints and their considerable investment in the region. "The State has invested another two billion dollars into savings balanced by a $2.9 billion capital budget that will see improvements throughout southeast in critical priorities of transportation, energy, education, public safety and economic development", said Wrobel.

                 Key appropriations were made for ...

 This is an excerpt of the full article which can be read here: Continued ...

  Mine Training Program offered to Southeast Alaska Schools

                On May 2nd Mike Bell, Director of Mine Training for University of Alaska Southeast and Elaine Price, Workforce Development Coordinator for SE Conference traveled to Prince of Wales Island to visit 7 schools.   The students were introduced to the possibility of an Introduction to Mining class, currently offered to Juneau High School students, being offered by distance delivery to students throughout the state. 

                The students at Craig, Klawock, Hydaburg, Coffman Cove, Thorne Bay, Kasaan and Naukati panned for "gold" and identified rocks and minerals supplied by Alaska Resource Education.  Mike Bell explained the importance of attendance and how it affected chances for employment in any industry but especially mining jobs.  144 different jobs have been identified at the local mines.  Only about 30 are underground jobs with the rest being support such as mechanics, water technicians, cooks, supply, and construction workers. 

                Mike talked to the students about how the class is offered as a dual credit class on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:15 pm to 6 pm during the spring semester.  The students receive 3 college credits and ½ high school credit.  Hecla Green's Creek funded 15 students this spring and SE Conference funded 5.  Presenters were brought in from Green's Creek, with participation from Usibelli Coal Mine, Kennsington, and Alaska Department of Natural Resources large mine permitting.  Green's Creek sponsored an all day field trip to the mine in March.  Students were treated to a once in a lifetime trip to see how ore was processed, an underground tour and breakfast and lunch at the cookhouse.  They learned how the water is recycled and treated, core drilling is analyzed, tailings disposed, and ore shipped. 

                Interested students from Prince of Wales and around SE Alaska can participate next year.  The mining industry, including the two proposed mines on Prince of Wales Island, has made a commitment to invest in Alaskans as a workforce.  Green's Creek donated substantial funding to set up this program at the University to work with our youth.  The first class of Juneau students has been very successful.  The presentation to the Prince of Wales students sparked a lot of interest in the possibilities of a future in mining.  On May 11th Mike presented a similar presentation to 135 8th grade students in Ketchikan at the UAS Robertson/Hamilton Technical Education Complex.

Pictured: Left - students learn gold panning techniques, right - Professor Mike Bell shows the students how to identify different minerals.

Prince of Wales Mining Symposium

            Richard Peterson and the staff of POWTECH put on very well organized and well attended Mining Symposium in Craig May 8-10.  Patrick Smith, Niblack Project LLC explained their timeline for development of their mining project on Prince of Wales Island.  Ken Collison, Chief Operating Officer of Ucore (Bokan Mountain) answered questions concerning the threat of uranium near the proposed rare earth minerals mine.  Mr. Collison explained the uranium mine operated in the 1950's is a mile and a half from their site and there is no threat to their project. 

              State and Federal agency representatives explained permitting and environmental processes.  Randy Ruaro, Chief of Staff for the Governor addressed the interested participants.  Senator Begich took time to SKYPE and express his support for mining in Alaska. 

             Mike Bell, Director of Mining, and also Charles Edwardson, KIC,  talked about education to develop a workforce of Alaskans to fill the good paying positions with benefits offered by the mining industry and the need for thousands of employees statewide in the next 6 years. 

              On Wednesday afternoon Rick Harris, SEALASKA, Greg Mickelson, AP&T, Alvin Edenshaw, Haida Energy/Reynolds Creek and Jason Custer Mahoney Lake Hydro Partnership all talked about energy projects in development.

             The Symposium was the second on Prince of Wales Island.  The public participation and interest showed how the future of mining in SE Alaska is important to the whole region.  Thank you POWTECH and its sponsors for hosting this event.  

Energy Department Announces $5 Million to Assess Upgrade Opportunities at Hydropower Facilities -- Only 40 Grants are Awarded Across the Nation

April 17, 2012

             In support of President Obama's all-of-the-above energy strategy, the Energy Department today announced up to $5 million available this year to assess opportunities to increase power production at up to 40 existing hydropower facilities around the nation. Through this competitive funding opportunity, the Department will work with hydropower professionals to conduct standardized assessments to identify opportunities to increase generation and value at hydropower plants-already the nation's largest source of renewable energy. As much of America's aging hydropower infrastructure is more than 50 years old, this effort could help accelerate the deployment of upgrades at existing hydropower facilities, creating clean energy jobs, supporting our nation's economic competitiveness, and increasing the supply of renewable energy to American families and businesses.

This is an excerpt of the full article which can be read here: Continued...

For more information about solar energy contact David Pelunis-Messier or Robert Venables, contact info below.

            The Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council (YRITWC) recently received a grant with the Alaska Department of Labor to provide 4 weeks of Free Training through Solar Energy International (SEI).

             These training courses in Anchorage will include:

PV101: Grid-Tie Solar Electric Design and Installation : June 4-8  

            Specifics about the classes are described in the documents attached. YRITWC is looking to attract students, contractors, linemen, ex-military, electricians, heating technicians and anyone who will benefit from this opportunity.

             Solar Energy International is the premier energy training entity in the lower 48 and each course is usually $1080 per person for the week. They provide an industry recognized certification that can be used to gain employment in the Renewable Energy field OR build skills for career advancement.

David Pelunis-Messier

Renewable Energy Dept. Project Manager
Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council
323 2nd St. Apt. A.
Fairbanks, AK 99701
907-978-1866 Cell
907-451-2534 Fax 

www.yritwc.org

Robert Venables 

Energy Coordinator, Southeast Conference

Po Box 21989

Juneau, Ak 99802

907-723-0177 Cell

907-463-5670 Fax

energy@seconference.org

www.seconference.org

Weekly Federal Funding Opportunities Announcements Update 

• North Pacific Landscape Conservation Cooperative (NPLCC), 2012 Funding Guidance (Applications Due: May 16, 2012)
• FY12 Region 2 Wetland Program Development Grants (Applications Due: June 8, 2012)
• Fuel Cell Powered Airport Ground Support Equipment Deployment (Applications Due: June 11, 2012)
• Validation of Hydrogen Refueling Station Performance and Advanced Refueling Components (Applications Due: May 10, 2012)
• Decadal and Regional Climate Prediction using Earth System Models (Applications Due: May 11, 2012)
• Energy Storage SBIR/STTR Funding Opportunity Announcement (Applications Due: May 14, 2012)

Thank you to Van Ness Feldman for this funding information. For more information please email vnf@vnf.com

Southeast Solid Waste Authority 

Board Meeting - Prince of Wales Island

                The Southeast Alaska Regional Solid Waste Authority (SEASWA) Board Members meeting will be held on May 23rd, at Thorne Bay City Hall, you can also call in to the teleconference. Representatives will be present from Craig, Coffman Cove, Hydaburg and Haines. A recycling program is also in the process of being developed.  

                 Click the underlined links to see the agenda for the upcoming meeting & minutes from previous meeting. 

Southeast Alaska Solid Waste Authority Board of Directors

Meeting Agenda for May 23, 2012, 10:00 am

Thorne Bay City Hall

For more information contact: Richard Hertzberg at (503) 675-2705 or  rhertzbg@aol.com

Alaska Class Ferry on Board

Press  Release -- Alaska Marine Highway Partners with Alaska Ship and Drydock to Design Alaska Class Ferry

           The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) announced today that Alaska Ship and Drydock LLC (ASD) has officially signed on as a partner with the State of Alaska to design the Alaska Class Ferry.

               Alaska Class Ferry project information may be found online at Alaska Class Ferry Project.

This is an excerpt of the full press release article which can be read here: Continued...

Lemonade Day Alaska 2012

May 6, 2012

              This May all across the nation thousands of kids set up their first business for one day, and participated in Lemonade Day. In Southeast Alaska kids from Haines to Ketchikan set out to take a step toward being Alaska's next generation of entrepreneurs. The kids set up their lemonade stands, some donating portions of their earnings to a charity, some opening savings accounts for the first time, and some spending their money locally to participate in the local economy. 

                 In Juneau, we met with Alaska Governor Sean Parnell in April. He told us the story of how he was also a young entrepreneur at the encouragement of his father. He listened to each of the messages that the kids (pictured below) brought with them. The governor signed the Lemonade Day Alaska proclamation, which you can see by clicking here.

Pictured, front to back, left to right: Mayah Russell, Arielle Parker, Sidda Dawkins, Leilani Russell, Governor Sean Parnell, Toby Russell, Shelly Wright, and Ms. Lemonhead (Taylor Russell).

                Lemonade Day is a nation-wide event that teaches kids the skills they need to be successful in the future. Youth learn to set goals, develop a business plan, establish a budget, seek investors, provide customer service, and give back to the community. Lemonade Day is the perfect opportunity for a community to show kids they care and train the next generation of entrepreneurs through a FREE, fun, engaging, and learning activity. You can participate next year, too! Learn more about this program and how you can participate as an adult volunteer, and how you can get your kids involved. Lemonade Day Alaska website.

Thank you to UAS for contributing to Lemonade Day Alaska, 

in Juneau. 

Highlights

April Events:

April 22 - Earth Day

April - Registration open for Lemonade Day

May Events: 

May 1 - May Day

May 6 - Lemonade Day Alaska

May 5 - Cinco de Mayo 

May 13 - Mother's day

May 28 - Memorial Day

May 29 - John F. Kennedy's birthday

Up Coming

September - Southeast Conference Annual Membership Meeting, 

Craig, Prince of Wales Island  [Book your own travel and lodging now!]