HomeMy WebLinkAboutOfficeOfTheMayorCITY/BOROUGH OF )UNEAU
ALASKAS CAPITAL CITY
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
Telephone: (907) 586-5240; Facsimile: (907) 586-5385
MayorC&ci Juneau.ak.us
February 22, 2010
The Honorable Lisa Murkowski
709 Hart Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Murkowski,
I write in strong support of Snettisham Avalanche Mitigation project funding.
As you are so well aware, damage to the transmission line caused by the avalanches of 2008 and 2009 separated
Juneau from the Snettisham hydroelectric generators —the source of most of Juneau's electric power.
Juneau is fortunate in that Alaska Electric Light and Power Co., the community's local public utility, had back-up
generators available to supply power in the face of such natural disasters. Nevertheless, near -record diesel prices
in 2008 (they were substantially lower in 2009) and a rate of consumption of nearly 80,000 gallons of diesel per
day combined to have a significant adverse economic impact to the community and surrounding areas.
The funding request proposed by Alaska Electric Light and Power Company and the Alaska Industrial
Development and Export Authority could significantly enhance the safety of the transmission lines and, in the
event of a recurrence, reduce recovery time and dependency on oil.
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me
155 So. Seward Street, Juneau, Alaska 99801-1397