Leadership takes many forms but a goal believed in by most is the key component for a successful outcome. In our recent past we can look to the Marine Travelift and haul out facility as an excellent example of leadership, which has generated economic activity for our community and stimulated other cities in SE to imitate our success. The formation of the newest Borough in the state is another very recent example of leadership coming from Wrangell and being copied by others. Some will argue the need of individual projects, or the specific design, placement, or financial arrangements; but none should argue that Wrangell has been since its beginning a leader in promoting economic growth and opportunity, willing to step out in front and take control of our future. Not only have our previous leaders pointed the way, secured the resources, but protected the generations to come. How so? Is this now at risk?
Decades ago Wrangell joined with Petersburg in a joint venture organization The Thomas Bay Power Authority (TBPA) with the intent to build a hydro project in Thomas Bay to supply the electric needs of the communities. It was determined to be too large an undertaking to be financed at the time by the State and the Tyee project was constructed instead and operated by TBPA, which it is to this day, although now owned by SEAPA. The key point is that Wrangell and partner Petersburg fought for and spurred the development of the Tyee Hydro electric generator and then by means of a contract that our forefathers negotiated our communities are guaranteed the output of the Tyee facility, which is currently in excess of our loads. This foresight and leadership certainly places us in a strategic economic position, which is now ours to maintain, but will we, or more to the point can we? SEAPA is an artifact of the Four Dam Pool Power Agency created by the State to divest itself of ownership in several power projects; theory says that it is controlled by a board of directors appointed annually from the communities of Ketchikan, Petersburg, and Wrangell. Reality is that the control on the board alternates from Ketchikan to the combination of Wrangell and Petersburg.
There are coming projects and issues that may instigate an opening of the contract securing our priority to Tyee. Will we protect our energy security or abrogate the decisions to SEAPA? Will TBPA continue to have local support and be our watch dog protecting the current level of extraordinary maintenance of the Tyee facility? Will we look to SEAPA to supply our future drinking water, at what cost?
Wrangell’s previous leadership secured our energy and utility needs and provided for local control. Do we no longer feel adequate to provide for our own future? Do we support the State control of load growth and therefore economic activity by limiting access to future electric output as the SEAPA supported “load growth management” would impose.
I think not! We in Wrangell and our neighbors in Petersburg have historically fought to compete in an open market. We are competitors, we are builders, we are leaders, we believe in economic growth, we wish to be secure and in control. Don’t we?
Tell your Assembly that we want to develop Sunrise Lake for our future water needs, and excess electric energy. Tell our Assembly that we want to see our hydroelectric generation projects built to grow our economy, not managed to only serve present load.
I want my seafood industry to not worry about access to water or power and not have to go to Ketchikan to secure that access, don’t you? I want a new mill powered by “clean green hydro”, don’t you? I want my children to have 22nd Century jobs in high tech computer server farms built in Wrangell because we have a clean environment, with excess inexpensive hydro energy, an educated work force, good transportation access, fantastic recreational opportunities, and a forward looking leadership, don’t you?
Paul G. Southland
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