Climate Questions
Dear Editor: Three members of Citizens’ Climate Lobby designed questions for the School Board candidates on Sept. 11. These are specifically concerning climate change and what could possibly be implemented in the Sitka School District.
Question 1: How does climate change influence your decisions?
Andrew Hames: Climate change is unquestionable. What actions are possible to take now? Michelle Putz came to Sea Mart and talked about plastic bags options. It was very informative and there were many possibilities. I was raised with recycling. Waste in retail in the world is great and much of that is of a financial nature. That is unfortunate. A capital project for the school district now is to convert to LED lights. In an electrical audit for Sea Mart, results showed positive savings in using LEDs. When my son watched me bring many papers home to grade, he asked ‘‘Why bring so many papers home to grade.’’ He said it was wasteful, why not put the questions online? Now I ask, do I really need to buy this? I believe in finding cost-effective ways to purchase items, especially in the schools. I appreciate groups like this, that bring ideas to us.
Blossom Twitchell: I am from North Alaska, and the permafrost is melting there. Hunting has changed dramatically; the ice is not as strong. Villages are dropping into the ocean and people need to relocate. I know that work on climate change needs to be done here and Nationwide. I was taught about recycling and did so growing up. With science there is definite proof, we need to change our actions in order to progress. We are used to ease and convenience, but we have only one planet.
Cass Pook: We all need to do things like recycling, bike riding, walking instead of going for a ride. School assignments should be online to save paper. I was able to see a project from NASA using old photos showing changes through the years. There was a good tie into science. Awareness in the schools about climate change was brought in by Doug Osborne. How can we save energy? School buses left on, polluting children. Whole community should have electric vehicles. As budget cuts teachers were asked to turn off coffee pots, microwaves, etc. Kids recycle at school. My sister recycles.
Question 2: How do you feel about the potential for electrifying the school district. (Specifically the electrification of the school buses AND shifting the heating systems from oil to electric?)
Andrew Hames: I would be interested to learn about electrification of buses. Questions of costs and who would be responsible for $ (bus company, school district?) – schools have high electricity bills. I know from the business that LED lights can reduce electric bills. Also, there are questions now in the school district about recycling air from inside or from outside in the schools and how that would affect electric bills.
Cass Pook: Bus company and cost is a big question. Capital improvement, funding is always the issue. Great, but where is the money coming from? Heating change is not realistic; however, the heating is on a timer, which saves money. I’m not sure we can think about it now.
Blossom Twitchell: Interested, definitely. (My son refused to a take job that used fossil fuel.) I realize that this is a project that can’t be done overnight. There are barriers to overcome. I would never say it could never happen, the solution will be in the long-term realm. I realize there are many regulations from the state, but we can have the discussion. LEDs are a good way to start. I’ll be the voice of how that could be done.
Question 3: Are you interested in reading a proposal with different electrification options and funding sources? (Researched and written by Andrew Gallagher, Americorps volunteer working with SCS.)
Blossom Twitchell: Yes, would love to have that document. Much community involvement would be needed. I did a project for the tribe with the help of the Crossett Fund.
Cass Pook: Will read proposal. Funding, I am very frustrated, not sure we can do this because of funding. What priority would we put it in? I would like to work with the committee. Personally like to see Sitka go to electric cars. Holland has electric cars. Amazing things happen if we go in as a community and not depend on state funding.
Andrew Hames: I would definitely like to see the proposal of options, thank you.
To see more of the ‘‘Beneficial Electrification Programs for Southeast Alaska’’ by Andrew Gallagher, go to https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1JtztZyBmd9p7oUslnQjQdAlZGE_Fu2CfxTAlqCvUMgo/edit?ts=5f2eeeb5#slide=id.p.
Toby Campbell, Cora Dow and Judy Kearns Steffen
Citizens’ Climate Lobby members
