The past couple of weeks we have had alternating views of what is happening in Washington DC – House leadership spent time with Senator Murkowski. She spoke of one of the primary issues we continue to fight as a state – federal over-reach on our lands, waters and resources. She is also working very hard to ensure Alaska is represented in all Arctic discussions.
Senator Begich was also here this past week and provided his outlook on education, taxes and health issues.
Several legislators headed back to Washington DC this past week to attend Energy Council meetings. Energy is so important and such a huge factor for our state that it is pertinent that Alaska legislators attend. However, House leadership chose to reduce the number of attendees this year so that we could still fully function in our committees and work on legislation and budgets all week here in Juneau.
We had a few confirmation hearings this week in Resources - the Governor had two re-appointments to the Big Game Commercial Services Board, Michelle Metz and Gene Petola. There is one new appointment going forward to the Board of Fisheries, Fredrick Johnson. Additionally, Joe Balash had a confirmation hearing on his appointment as Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources.
Senator Giessel's Senate Joint Resolution 15 (SJR15) opposes a United Nations International designation of any further land in Alaska as parklands. Currently, the presidents of the United States of America and Russia have a Memorandum of Understanding that has been quietly working to designate more of Alaska's Bering Strait region as the Beringia International Park. Giving up more of our state's land to an international entity, the United Nations, certainly does not seem to be in Alaska's best interests. The federal government already owns and controls 60% of our lands. We don't know that Alaskans would even be allowed to continue subsistence hunting or fishing let alone any type of resource development once that designation happens.
House Bill 32 passed the House this week and is now over in the Senate and will reduce the number of business licenses that small businesses are currently required to purchase while performing various activities under the same name. I am hopeful that small steps such as this will continue to encourage small business in our state.
This week we had a joint Transportation meeting presentation from Merged Energy Solutions on twenty-first century airships (similar to blimps) by Skylift Aeronautics. This may sound pretty odd to many of you but it is an interesting model that brings to mind countless opportunities. There is the possibility that these
airships could transform our current modes of shipping and hauling products in Alaska. The proposed aerodynamics of the airship could handle cross winds up to 45 mph and temperatures of negative 40 degrees. Lockheed Martin is currently building a 25 ton
airship that will be readied for testing in Alaska in order to receive FAA approvals. We should see the airship here in Alaska in early 2015. The three proposed models are 25-ton, 100-ton and 500-ton ships. The ships run on biodiesel engines with a helium component (versus highly flammable hydrogen) that gives the aircraft the lift. We were told the airship could be hit with bullets and still be able to land safely. Truly an interesting concept and certainly worth watching for future updates.
The Transportation Committee was also updated on the Juneau Access Project and the Ambler Road Project. Both of these long term projects have the opportunity to provide regional economic benefits as they open road access for industry and constituents.
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