HomeMy WebLinkAboutAtch 5 - resolution and letters of support“Protecting the natural
environment of the Tongass while
supporting the development of
sustainable communities in
Southeast Alaska – since 1967.”
Sitka Conservation Society
Box 6533
Sitka, Alaska 99835
(907) 747-7509
info@sitkawild.org
www.sitkawild.org
September 16, 2013
Dear Alaska Energy Authority,
This is a letter of support for the City and Borough of Sitka application for a air-source heat
pump exchange system for the Kettleson Memorial Library. The library project construction and the
air-source heat pump is currently the top priority for Sitka. The library provides essential services to
Sitka residents of all ages and creates a positive-feedback-loop of improved knowledge, capacity, and
opportunities for residents, employers, aspiring entrepreneurs, and our community’s youth. It is truly
a community asset that ranks as one of the most important in the community. A highly efficiency
heating system in this building will be a showcase for Alaska’s adoption of cutting-edge technology for
living in a far-north climate, but will be an asset to the entire state and is a triple A investment for the
Alaska Energy Authority. The project has the added bonus is that the library’s system will be tied into
the adjacent Centennial Hall Building which will create the added advantages of scale and efficiency.
The Sitka Conservation Society works to protect the natural environment of the Tongass while
supporting the development of sustainable communities in Southeast Alaska. Sitka Conservation
Society has done extensive work on energy issues in Sitka and has been a partner in helping the City
of Sitka advocate for renewable energy funding, increase the energy literacy of the community, and
help to incentivize and utilize energy efficiency programs and improvements. We also put together
the report “The Future of Energy in Sitka” which can be viewed at http://sitkawild.org/2012/03/the-future-
of-energy-in-sitka/. We clearly understand that developing energy sources that are environmentally
appropriate and putting this energy to the best use is critical to economic development and
sustainability in our community and across all of Alaska. Air source heat pumps technology is an
energy technology that could bolster Sitka's energy system and could be utilized in many communities
throughout the state.
As can be seen in the energy report we produced, Sitka currently runs on oil. With the price
instability of oil and the environmental issues associated with the carbon emitted from using oil, it is
essential that we develop and implement technologies that move us towards a renewable energy
future. Heat-pump technology is part of the solution to utilizing local renewable energy resources in
the most efficient way possible to heat buildings in our community. The Kettleson Memorial Library
is a perfect site to utilize this technology and to showcase the viability and utility of these systems. We
believe that adoption by the library will help to catalyze further usage and investment in this
technology across other sectors of the community.
We are very supportive of the City and Borough of Sitka's application for this energy efficient
heating system at the Kettleson Memorial Library (and adjacent Centennial Hall) and we hope that
you will choose to support this project.
Sincerely,
Andrew Thoms
Executive Director
Sitka Conservation Society