HomeMy WebLinkAboutSupport for Biomass Project in Nenana - Miles MartinSaturday, September 15, 2012
Dear Mr Calfa
I strongly support the 'Nenana Collaborative Biomass System Project.' The City
School and Native Council are working together on this submitting an application.
I am Miles Martin, 40 year Alaska resident, 30 years in Nenana. I have been
the head of the Nenana Chamber of Commerce, and many years on the library
board. I regularly show up at city and community meetings. I donate time at the
school. Mostly I try to stay informed, care about my community, and do
something about it.
I support a biomass project for several reasons. The first is I am concerned
for the future of a dependence on oil. I'd like to see alternative energy sources
explored. There appears to be a trend for smaller communities to be absorbed by
larger communities in these economic hard times. Self sufficiency is healthy for
such communities who have been subsidized in the past. Biomass as a source of
energy in the Nenana area makes sense. We have an abundance of lush
vegetation that has no economic value other then a possible source of heat in
such an operation as this. There is the potential to make electricity and put
surplus 1)eat to various uses that would Delp us Mi. to the event of a naturaI
disaster — an earthquake, or economic hard times, a biomass plant could be kept
running without dependence on the road, the bridge, or outside help. The
economic savings and less need for oil here would ease the strain on everyone,
making oil more available where there is no alternative as it becomes a limited
resource. If biomass makes sense anywhere, it would be here, where there is
such a vast endless supply of biomass!
I also feel the cost of building here is in our favor, since we have the
railroad, an airport, and a barge line for transportation, and just an hour out of
Fairbanks on the road.
I hope you give favorable consideration to the Nenana's biomass grant
application.
Sincere thanks,
Miles Martin box 362 Nenana, 832 5442