Nine and a half hours

During my time in Wrangell I’ve had to cover a slew of issues and topics. Some are very benign – hundredth day of school, summer reading program, a mention of Wrangell in Alaska Magazine. And some are very dense and complicated – fisheries, seafood industry, energy. I’ve probably sat through thousands upon thousands of minutes of meetings where the discussion hovered about a foot above me, dipping every so often for brief moments of comprehension. I listen. My head strains. I pick up certain nuances. I manage to put a story together. But I never completely get it.

Earlier this week I attended nine and half hours of meetings within a twenty-four hour time period. And the issue at hand was energy. There is an important question out there that pertains locally. How can Wrangell and neighboring town Petersburg ensure that we have a secure hydropower source once the present hydro-project runs out? But it’s part of a larger state issue and problem – Alaska’s lack of an energy plan. Steven Haagenson, the state’s energy coordinator, put it best during a meeting in Wrangell Wednesday night – we essentially have all the money in the world, but no plan, so we throw it away. The issues, the politics, the history are all complex. But the one thing that sticks out the most to me is that for all the time I’ve been covering the news for Wrangell, when energy is discussed, it’s old, white men doing all the talking.

It's May...

... and the kings are back.