KCAW Southeast News Stories http://kcaw.org 03/09/2010 JUNEAU, ALASKA (03/09/2010) The Parnell administration is not ready to join the campaign to build a power line linking Southeast Alaska to central British Columbia. But it’s tracking the project and considering its pros and cons. Gene Therriault, the governor’s energy adviser, discussed what’s called the A-K-B-C intertie at a Southeast Conference meeting earlier this month in Juneau. The administration of Governor Frank Murkowski pushed for construction of the line. But state support has lessened since he left office. The most likely route would start at the Bradfield Canal, southeast of Wrangell, and cross the coastal mountains to British Columbia. Canadian officials have taken steps toward extending the province’s electrical grid to a point where it could connect to the cross-boundary line. But construction is not certain. A private company trying to develop hydroelectric plants northeast of Petersburg wants to sell power across the border. And Wrangell officials have pushed for the project. Therriault says the governor has not made direct contact with British Columbia about the line. But he says the Alaska Energy Authority has been in touch with provincial power officials. http://kcaw.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&syndicated=true&ID=1045 03/09/2010 JUNEAU, ALASKA (03/04/2010) Only one Southeast project is slated for funding in the next round of Alaska Renewable Energy Fund grants. It’s work toward a small hydropower plant for Hoonah. But another 14 projects are on a secondary list that could be funded if the Legislature decides to spend more money than the governor wants. http://kcaw.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&syndicated=true&ID=1042 03/04/2010 KETCHIKAN, ALASKA (03/02/2010) Angoon Sen. Albert Kookesh has been slapped with a state ethics violation over comments he made in January at a Craig City Council meeting. A senate ethics subcommittee found that Kookesh implied that he would use his legislative power to block state funding for community projects if the Craig City Council opposed legislation he was supporting. http://kcaw.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&syndicated=true&ID=1038 03/02/2010 PETERSBURG-AK (03/02/2010) Six coastal communities could lose their local connection to the University of Alaska’s Marine advisory program. University officials say without legislative funding, they may have to close offices in some towns including Petersburg, Cordova, Nome, Dillingham, Unalaska and Kodiak. Marine Advisory staff are best known for the educational, research, and regulatory help they provide to fishermen and other small, marine-related businesses. Matt Lichtenstein has a closer look at the program and its funding situation. http://kcaw.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&syndicated=true&ID=1039 03/02/2010 KETCHIKAN, ALASKA (03/01/2010) An 8th grader from the Craig Middle School beat out 158 spellers from around Alaska to take top honors at the state spelling bee on Friday. Oliver Price will be one of two students representing the state in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. this spring. http://kcaw.org/modules/local_news/index.php?op=sideBlock&syndicated=true&ID=1035 03/01/2010