Climate Connection: Russian sanctions and a clean energy transition
The U.S. has put sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine. Sanctions have resulted in the devaluation of Russian currency, crippling of their banking sector, and financial panic. Despite Russia deriving much of its state revenue from its oil and gas sector, we have not sanctioned this sector because our European allies derive 40% of their fossil fuels from Russia. The U.S. exports fossil fuels, but the global market in fossil fuels has caused our own prices to rise, hurting our families, amplifying inflation, and triggering the release of strategic oil and gas stores in many countries. As a petro-state, Russia has a geopolitical hold on the effectiveness of our current sanctions in curtailing its military violence.
A clean energy transition would minimize the price volatility of fossil fuels and undercut Russia’s access to fossil fuel income. The quickest way to transition is to charge fossil fuel producers a fee. This will increase prices of fossil fuel and everything that’s made with fossil fuel. The way to insure that people are not hurt by a price on carbon is to return those fees to the American people in the form of a regular cash-back payment or dividend. We can protect U.S. business exports by placing tariffs on goods imported from countries that don’t have comparable carbon prices. There was bipartisan support in the U.S. House of Representatives for a bill with more than 100 co-sponsors: The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. There are ongoing discussions in the Senate about the climate provisions to be included in the reconciliation bill to be passed in this Congress. A carbon fee and dividend is the only way that Biden can meet his objective of halving carbon emissions from fossil fuels by 2030. Now a transition to clean energy has evident international security impact as well. Let Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan know if you agree.
Sitka is fortunate and nearly unique in having 99.8% of its electric energy supplied by clean hydropower. But the rising costs of fossil fuels will affect our expenditures on building heating, barged-in goods, and transportation on land and sea. Now is the time to decrease our dependence on fossil fuels, which is inevitable anyway since they are a finite resource. We have been so fortunate to have lived in an era of abundant fossil fuels, but world security and the climate crisis require us to focus on adaptation to a rapidly changing world. In Sitka, we need to transition to heating buildings with electric heat pumps (half the utility cost of heating oil). We need to increase local production of food and goods that come by barge. We need to bolster electric public transportation with charging infrastructure. Let our Assembly members know if you agree.
For once, when we wean ourselves from fossil fuels, our pocket books, climate mitigation, and international geopolitical security align.
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Kay Kreiss
Transition Sitka and Citizens Climate Lobby
Trails Organization
Seeks Board Members
Sitka Trail Works is seeking new board members.
Those who love Sitka’s trails and want to help plan for their future are invited to apply. Experience in fundraising, business administration, or strategic planning is a plus but not necessary.
To learn more visit sitkatrailworks.org. For an application email ben@sitkatrailworks.org.
Artist Talks Set
At SJ Museum
Friends of Sheldon Jackson Museum will host the last two public events in its Share Your Culture/Share Your Research Winter Public Program Series.
A Zoom event with Allison Akootchook Warden (Inupiaq) and a Zoom event with Lily Hope (Tlingit) are planned.
Both events are free of charge, will be delivered only via Zoom, and will be approximately 60 minutes long.
A storytelling event with Warden is 2-3 p.m. March 12. Participants will learn about the 10-legged polar bear, the giant worm that could catch a bowhead whale, and how the animals of the sea were created.
Zoom link details: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89154072069?pwd=cUZsejNRL0V1cFo5aTZPcUxMVDNBQT09; Meeting ID: 891 5407 2069; Passcode: 007887.
Warden is an internationally acclaimed Inupiaq installation artist. She is originally from Fairbanks and has close ties to Kaktovik. She was honored with the U.S. Artist Fellow Award in the field of traditional arts in 2019 and recently has been working on a collaborative project with Inupiaq photographer Brian Adams. Their project focuses on her travels and research in Abu Dhabi. In 2014, Warden was an artist-in-residence at the Sheldon Jackson Museum.
Reclaiming Community: Chilkat Weavers Call for Support, an artist talk and demonstration with Hope, will be 3 p.m. Saturday, March 26.
The Zoom details are: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83898852227?pwd=cnRzcE52aC8yY05jR0VlWloyZGs0Zz09; Meeting ID: 838 9885 2227; Passcode: 313305.
“Chilkat weavers only 100 years ago had a community network of support for creating ceremonial dance regalia,’’ Hope said. ‘‘Due to colonization, nuclear families, climate change, and federal and state restrictions weavers are struggling to do it all themselves. All the design work. All the harvesting and prep work. All the dying. All the spinning. This presentation is a call for support.”
In addition to giving her talk, Hope will demonstrate the prep work that goes into weaving a Chilkat dancing blanket.
The museum is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and is closed holidays. Winter admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, and free for ages 18 and under and active duty military and their families (with an ID). Call (907) 747-8981 to confirm hours.
Dessert Auction
For SAFV Set
Sitkans Against Family Violence’s online dessert auction will open on March 15 and end on March 20 at 1 p.m.
Individuals can support SAFV by going to tinyurl.com/safvdessertauction22 to take a look at desserts and bid. New items will be added frequently, the organization said.
Bidders will be asked for credit card information in their first bid. Outbid notices will be sent. Detailed instructions and links are at safv.org.
Winners can pick up desserts at the shelter (call 747-3370 for directions) or request a delivery by leaving a message at 738-0161.
To donate a dessert go to tinyurl.com/dessertentry22 and submit details of the dessert to be donated.
Seniors Offered
Free Firewood
SEARHC will provide firewood from the recently cleared, new hospital site to seniors ages 65 and older. One load per household will be given. To reserve free delivery, email firewood@searhc.org. Firewood is limited to availability, and age verification will be required.
Career Fair at
Centennial Hall
Sitka Job Center will host a Career Fair 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, at the Harrigan Centennial Hall.
It is free and open to the public.
Businesses that have not received a registration form and wanting to sign up to participate can contact Fran Schwuchow at 747-6921 or via email at fran.schwuchow@alaska.gov. The registration deadline is March 25.
Volunteers Sought
For City Boards
Volunteer positions are available on several municipal boards and commissions.
Currently available are: Animal Hearing Board (category specific seats), Building Department Appeals Board, Climate Action Task Force, Health Needs and Human Services Commission, Investment Committee, Library Commission, Parks and Recreation Committee, and Tree and Landscape Committee.
Submit a letter of interest and board application to the Municipal Clerk’s Office at 100 Lincoln Street. Applications are available online at www.cityofsitka.com or at the clerk’s office. For information, call Jess Earnshaw at 747-1826 or email clerk@cityofsitka.org.
