Date:

Wednesday, April 1st

Time:

noon-1pm

Location:

Online

Register Now!

How Permanent is Permanent?

Wednesday, April 1^st

Noon-1pm

Online via Zoom or by phone

Watch the video online

Join Commonwealth North online for a spirited debate about the future of the Permanent Fund. Ralph Townsend, Director of UAA’s Institute for Social and Economic Research, and Craig Richards, Chair of the Permanent Fund Board of Trustees, will debate the best way to manage the Permanent Fund to ensure its sustainability for future Alaskans.

You will get to vote for the most convincing argument to determine the winner.

We will be hosting the event with the online videoconference program Zoom so you can join us by video from computer, tablet, or smartphone. You also have the option to dial in by phone.

The event is limited to 100 so registration is required. It’s free for CWN members, $5 for non members. 

Fiscal Policy Study Group

Legislative Update with Tim Bradner

Online via Zoom or by phone

Friday, March 20th

8am-9am

Due to the impacts of Covid-19 on our lives and our economy, it is more important than ever for Alaskans to be well informed and to communicate with one another about public policy issues. Commonwealth North will be continuing our mission to educate Alaskans about the critical issues facing our state and identifying effective solutions. In the near term however, we will be migrating many of our meetings to Zoom, a popular online video-conference service. On Friday, we will host Alaska journalist Tim Bradner to give us the latest news from the legislative session and the policy issues now being debated in Juneau.

How to Zoom You can join us from any computer, smart phone, or tablet by clicking the link below. If you plan to connect by tablet or smartphone, I recommend visiting Zoom.com prior to Friday’s program to download the app. You can watch this tutorial for more information.

Join Zoom on Friday at 8am
https://zoom.us/j/894285477
Meeting ID: 894 285 477

To dial by phone for audio only
1 (669) 900-6833
Meeting ID: 894 285 477 #

Download Bob's PowerPoint Presentation.

Bob will discuss the Bradley Lake hydroelectric power generation station and the Battle Creek Diversion and their contribution to Railbelt energy strategies. He will also discuss the SQ Line which was damaged this summer during the wildfires.

The Bradley Creek Diversion Project will divert runoff into Bradley Lake. The project will enable the facility, which currently produces some of the lowest cost power between Homer and Fairbanks, to increase its annual output by about 10% (enough to serve almost 5,500 homes) for the next 80 years. The project is currently underway and is planned to be commissioned by summer of 2020.

Energy Action Coalition

Creating the Railbelt Reliability Council 

Julie Estey
Director of External Affairs
Matanuska Electric Association

Friday, February 28th

BP Energy Center
1014 Energy Ct.
(Google map)

The PowerPoint can be downloaded here.

Julie Estey, director of external affairs for Matanuska Electric Association, will give us a briefing on the establishment of the Railbelt Reliability Council, the legislation being considered, and the potential impact on the delivery and cost of electricity to Alaskans.

Last year, six railbelt utilities signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create a Railbelt Reliability Council to enforce common reliability standards, coordinate joint planning, and explore ways to reduce costs. This agreement follows a 2015 letter from the Regulatory Commission of Alaska to the Legislature recommending a number of reforms to the Railbelt electrical system. This year, the Legislature is considering SB 123 and HB 151 which contain statutory changes related to the creation of a Railbelt Reliability Council and oversight authority by the RCA.