09-21 Increase renewable energy in rural Alaska

Published on November 10th, 2009

By ALEX DEMARBAN

Summary

Congress must enact a national renewable electricity standard of at least 25 percent by 2025 which includes all appropriate renewable resources, such as wind, geothermal, ocean and solar, and provide double renewable energy credits on Native lands.

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Full Text

RESOLUTION 09-21

A RESOLUTION TO INCREASE RENEWABLE ENERGY IN RURAL ALASKA

WHEREAS: Rural Alaska pays the highest energy rates in America; and

WHEREAS: there is no single solution that can solve the energy crisis and the answer lies, in part, in combining local and national efforts in order to diversify our energy options; and

WHEREAS: Alaska has the ability to be a leader in the renewable energy realm and has capacity to deploy existing technologies and embrace forward-thinking policies that can offset rural Alaska's on-going energy crisis; and

WHEREAS: In addition to direct assistance and tax incentives, rural Alaska would greatly benefit from the establishment of a policy called a renewable electricity standard; and

WHEREAS: supporting a strong renewable electricity standard can effectively demonstrate to the United States Congress the high level of interest that rural communities have in producing renewable energy; and

WHEREAS: it is our desire and commitment to create new revenue streams and job opportunities for our current and future generations; and

WHEREAS: renewable electricity credits represent a potential revenue stream for Alaska Native groups that are investing in renewable energy projects; and

WHEREAS: under previously introduced legislation, renewable energy developed on Native lands would get twice as many credits.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the delegates to the 2009 Arumal Convention of the Alaska Federation of Natives Inc., that: the United States Congress immediately enact a national renewable electricity standard of at least 25% by 2025 which includes all appropriate renewable energy sources such as wind, in-stream and other appropriate hydro technologies, geothermal, ocean, and solar, and provide double renewable electricity credits on Native lands.

SUBMITTED BY: HAIDA COPORATION, KONIAG

COMMITTEE ACTION: DO PASS

CONVENTION ACTION: PASSED