Climate Connection – Greening the AMH
By Leah Mason
I’ve only taken the ferry to Juneau once, but it was a great community experience. It was September, I had my mother with me, there were sports teams camped out in several rows of seats on the lower deck and small children running around outside in T-shirts and bare feet. The passing landscape was glorious, and I randomly encountered one of my instructors from Australia’s Taronga Zoo on the upper deck.
Five years later, the only ferry currently in service is waiting on expensive maintenance, and we’re getting a sneak peek at the impact of losing the marine highway system. It is not pretty. Even though we’re being offered much smaller, privately owned ships to complete passenger journeys, it’s not the same level of service. We can’t move vehicles, for instance. We’re told that the costs are a problem, and that the service doesn’t pay for itself. A 2016 report on the economic impacts of Alaska Marine Highway tells us that the investment we make as a state in the system is returned twofold. Yes, two dollars back for every dollar invested.
What we know for a fact is that the Alaska Marine Highway system makes life – and a lot of economic activity in many communities – possible. How does climate change enter into this discussion? Do you think that we would be having the same conversation if we were able to reduce fuel costs by 75%? Or dramatically reduce the time and money needed for maintenance? What if our ferries could continue providing their services and reduce the carbon footprint of our communities at the same time? How much would that be worth?
Last year, I wrote about the electric ferry industry being developed in a remote fishing and goat herding town in Norway. This year I can update you on how one of these prototype electric ferries is performing. Last month, the BBC reported on the progress of the “Ellen,” a prototype electric ferry which is currently home to the largest battery system on a ship. Along with the 4.35 MW battery, the Ellen can carry 200 passengers and 30 cars for 25% of the fuel costs of a similar sized diesel vessel. As for maintenance! Bearings and battery cells are as complicated as it gets on the Ellen. So going with two electric motors has reduced a lot of the problems we’ve seen with our dirty diesel ferries.
On the day that the BBC visited the Ellen, the vessel was traveling a 22-nautical mile route between two island ports. The journey took 70 minutes, and the Ellen plugged in to recharge using local wind power for 25 minutes before making the return journey. Canada is getting two bigger versions in 2020-2021 that will travel much shorter routes. The important part is that the regular service patterns of ferries makes recharging easy to plan.
Of course, longer routes would require larger or more efficient batteries, but investing in a network of renewable energy charging stations could be an asset for communities visited by all sorts of vessels including our own fishing fleets and cruise ships.
See more about the Ellen at https://www.bbc.com/news/business-50233206.
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Leah Mason is a member of the Sitka Citizens Climate Lobby.
Women’s History
Month Celebrated
During March, Sitka Public Library will celebrate Women’s History Month with Who Am I, a program for patrons of all ages willing to enjoy good children’s and juvenile literature.
Patrons are invited to select a wrapped book with a hint about a famous woman in history. Most of the books have been selected out of the Amelia Bloomer List, a project of the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association.
For more information call Maite at 747-4022.
Story Time Set
For Preschoolers
The next Preschool Story Time at Sitka Public Library will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 12. “Tap the Magic Tree” by Christie Matheson will be one of the readings. The program includes rhymes, songs and a craft project. Everybody is welcome.
This is the last Winter Story Time. Spring Story Time starts March 26.
For more information call the library at 747 4020
Library’s Teen
Board to Meet
Sitka Public Library’s Teen Advisory Board will meet 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 13. Teens age 13 and up are invited to join the board. Members will share ideas about library programs, the teen area and lab, and also about books.
Free books, snacks and pizza are included. For more information, call Maite at 747 4020
Babies & Books
Get Yoga Class
Sitka Babies and Books March event will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 28, at Sitka Public Library. This month’s program will be a free Yoga class hosted by Sue Conrad for children ages birth to 5, accompanied by a parent or caregiver.
Registration is preferred and comfortable clothes are advised. Participants may take a yoga mat if desired.
For more information or to reserve a place call the library at 747 4020.
