HomeMy WebLinkAboutWhale Pass Com. Assoc.letter of sup.September 17, 2013
To Whom It May Concern:
We in Whale Pass need your help. As of August 2012, the cost of diesel
fuel is nearly $5.00 per gallon for fuel oil. We are writing this letter in support of
the Southeast Island School District's application to the Alaska Energy Authority
for purchasing a bigger more energy efficient biomass wood heating system for
the Thorne Bay School. The biomass wood heating system the school currently
has will be moved to the Whale Pass School.
The Whale Pass School is used for both school and community activities.
It is also used for island activities including POWCAC meetings, association
meetings, and forest service meetings.
The community of Whale Pass is in the heart of the Tongass National
Forest on the north end of Prince of Wales Island. It is sixty-eight miles from the
nearest heating fuel supplier. Hence the high cost for heating fuel. On the other
hand, finding firewood to heat the school would not be a problem with all the
logging that has occurred on the north end of the island. Heating our school with
firewood would be less than the cost of heating renewable biomass system,
which would provide heat our school.
Switching to an energy efficient biomass wood heating system at the
Whale pass School will be an energy saving, efficient system that will help save
school district funds. The funds that would be saved by converting to wood
would be used to educate the students and possibly create a local job supplying
firewood to the school district. We fully support the acquisition of funds and the
purchase of a wood fired boiler system to reduce heating costs at our school.
Sincerely,
A�
Gregg Cook, Secretary
Whale Pass Community Association
Box WWP
Whale Pass, AK 99950
The Whale Pass Community Association Board Members
Robert Meyer, President
Don Hull, Vice President
Pete DiSarro, Treasurer
Gregg Cook, Secretary
September 17, 2013
To Whom it May Concern;
The Whale Pass Site Advisory Council has met and heard about the proposed
wood fired boiler project and changes for Thorne Bay School. Priscilla Goulding,
the new federal programs and grants manager, presented a summary of the
change to be made to the Thorne Bay System. As it turned out the current
configuration was not big enough to carry the load and the idea is now to replace
the two existing boilers with two larger Garns, the 3200's. The ones currently
installed will be moved to our school in Whale Pass and the Hollis School.
The site council had some discussion at the meeting of September 17, 2013 and
all are in support of the new project and grant application to the Alaska Energy
Authority.
Sincerely,
Pat Welch
President of Whale Pass ASC