opportunities to reshape Alaska's food and energy systems, encouraging the broad use of small-scale, regionally appropriate technologies, is looking better all the time. Besides encouragement from some state policy, there are not nearly as many institutional barriers so common to the lower 48 states. In the area of energy, for instance, Alaska's lack of electric grids and the exorbitant costs of bringing conventional fuels to both bush and cities make decentralized, renewable energy systems all the more attractive. Solar energy systems at $20 to $25 per square foot, total initial cost, are competitive with electricity for hot-water heating in nearly all areas of Alaska-in Alaskaf-even though they cannot provide 100 percent of all heating needs. The promise of developing its own northern technologies and local economies is a mobilizing factor of real strength for Alaskan activists. Food, energy, community action and environmental groups-along with back-up institutional supportMay 1979 RAIN Page 7 are cropping up in the major population centers, networking around research and demonstration projects that may change the conditions under which Alaska reaches for self-determination. Fairbanks, the second-largest city, is a center for grassroots innovators and inventors doing work with food and energy production. Anchorage, the state's center of business and finance, houses organizations working exclusively with rural Alaska and its issues. Juneau, Alaska's capital, may see important initiatives coming from the government that will make a difference. These outposts of activism in a state so vast and sparsely populated have much work ahead of them, yet their various efforts, if well-coordinated, could teach the rest of the country-and cold-climate peoples everywhere- a lot about the ways in which.we need to move. Below, we've collected in one place some of the good groups, projects, articles and resources from up there in the field that caught our attention: Office of Northern Technology (Division of Policy Development and Planning, Office of the Governor) Pouch AD Juneau, AK 99803 Northern Technology is Alaska's way of saying regionally appropriate technology. And among the other agencies that are encouraging such alternatives through small grants programs or revolving loan funds, the Office of Northern Technology (established in September, 1978) is specifically seen as the govern· ment's in-house advocate for "methods t of energy production, waste disposal, recycling, food production, transportation, building design, and industrial enterprise which are more efficient, less costly and less energy-intensive than those methods presently utilized, and which are appropriate to the Alaskan environment." Besides its involvement in the Tanana Loop area, ONT recently sponsored the design and construction of an energy-conservation home suited to northern owner-building by community college students, and is advising other schools and gov, ernment agencies on construction plans and alternative technology building workshops. Slide and video presentations on A House for Bethel are avail· able from ONT. Alaska Federation for Community Self-Reliance Box 73431 Fairbanks, AK 99701 Recently something of a political force, this group promotes energy conscrvation, appropriate technology and good building practices. One of their members, Brian Rogers, is a state legislator. Fairbanks Environmental Center 461 Steese Highway Fairbanks, AK 99701 Besides its environmental and conservationist work in and around Fairbanks, the Center is sponsoring a VISTA project as a follow-up to the Tanana Loop report on small-scale farming. Staffer Helen Ross is investigating the institutional barriers to such agriculture in great depth. This project is receiving assistance from VISTA in Alaska (contact: ACTION, Box 1957, Anchorage, AK 99501). APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY Alaska Center for the Environment 1069 West 6th Anchorage, AK 99501 907/274-3621 Apart from its extensive work in Alaskan wilderness preservation issues, ACE has done a lot in the area of appropriate technology and solar energy. Nancy Lee (a former RAIN staffer!) is the prime Alaskan networker in these areas. Nancy's the Alaska delegate to the Solar Congress, a SUN Day organizer and is working to develop an appropriate technology resource center atACE. ~01ll1TfT l ---..... L... j,: ; L.; ~ } E.. -s z J! ... e £ ~.---- ~'~..'~ .....~<:.;. n.us: l. PERSPECTIVE LOOKING S-E II .....1ll::.,-.·.~ ·::, ~ . """,} .,~"",. ~ -5
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