More than a dozen organizations will come together for an open house-style event to talk about climate change in Alaska on Tuesday. The event is hosted by Alaska Common Ground, a nonprofit that aims to facilitate community discussions on important public policy issues. “Climate change is obviously one of those issues,” said Kari Gardey, the program coordinator for Alaska Common …
Alaska business, environmental groups split over Pres. Trump’s environmental policy proposal
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) — A proposal by the Trump administration to revise an environmental law fundamental to all major development projects is drawing support from pro-resource development groups and concern from environmental groups. The National Environmental Policy Act requires federal agencies to assess the environmental and social impacts of proposed actions and hear public input before making decisions. President Trump’s …
Solar energy lighting up more of land of Midnight Sun
A new industry is lighting up Alaska. Anchorage residents in particular have seen solar panels going up on buildings in their communities in the past five years. But across the state, more Alaskans are turning to the sun to power their homes and businesses. Over the last four years, Arctic Solar Ventures in Anchorage has seen 200 percent year-over-year growth, …
Building a brighter economy with solar energy
Alaska is in a state of change – most strikingly evidenced by climate change and our economy. The economic recession- in part caused by and coupled with a decline in commodity pricing and generous tax structures – has lead to Alaskans leaving for new economic opportunities. From 2015 through 2019, the Alaska solar industry has seen exponential growth and a …
A climate change wake-up call
The Anchorage Daily News recently published an article entitled, “It’s November, and Southcentral Alaska’s unusually warm fall has some plants putting out spring buds.” If that’s not a wake-up call about climate change, I don’t know what is. Of course, the scariest, hottest, smokiest, summer ever in Alaska should have been enough of a wake-up call about what may have …
Two more legal challenges brought to EPA’s Pebble Mine actions
ANCHORAGE (KTUU) – One day after five regional groups representing Alaska Natives, commercial fisherman, and economic development organizations filed a suit, several environmental groups filed two separate lawsuits today alleging the that the Environmental Protection Agency violated environmental laws. Trout Unlimited, a coldwater fisheries conservation organization with more than 300,000 members nationwide, filed its complaint Wednesday. The lawsuit claims that …
Pebble Mine opposition: Wrong mine for the wrong place
Six rallies around the state this week have one purpose — spurring Alaska’s U.S. senators and representative to stop Pebble Mine permitting. The U.S. House of Representative passed an amendment last week that would suspend funding for permitting for the Proposed Pebble Mine project near Bristol Bay, and a rally held outside Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s Juneau office Tuesday is part …
Governor’s cabinet-level picks all confirmed by the Alaska Legislature
JUNEAU, Alaska (KTUU) — Three of the governor’s controversial picks to run state agencies have been confirmed by a joint session of the Alaska Legislature. Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Jason Brune had come under scrutiny for his previous work as a public face of the Pebble Partnership, with some lawmakers voicing concerns that he may struggle to regulate the …
Anti-Pebble Mine rally happening outside public hearing on Draft EIS
ANCHORAGE (KTUU) — Ralliers are gearing up to protest the Pebble Mine Project outside the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage, where a public hearing on the project’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement is well underway Tuesday evening. Five anti-Pebble groups are hosting the rally — Save Bristol Bay, The Alaska Center, Cook Inletkeeper, The United Tribes of Bristol Bay, and Trout Unlimited …
Summer camp evacuates kids during Anchorage wildfire, adapts to 2019 fire season
Leaders of an Alaska summer camp say this year’s wildfires have forced them to change plans more than once this season. A large brush fire in East Anchorage forced the Trailside Discovery Camp to evacuate their staff and campers Tuesday evening. The camp, which is run by The Alaska Center Education Fund, and the Campbell Creek Science Center were notified of the …