September 11, 2013
Wednesday AM

Editor- Sitnews,

Having returned to K-town from a vacation drive through British Columbia, observations are in order. We first departed Prince Rupert driving to Prince George. The first several miles, 20 or so, were through fields of "Tansy" road side coming and going. No concern by our contact with various Canadians asked about the drought of dead cows, moose, or other wild life as a result of this plant being allowed to run wild. Just the normal common shrug of the shoulders followed by the required heed to the bountiful industrial active that warrants the clapping of hands for "Job well Done".

During our travels from Prince Rupert to Williams lake and return we witnessed at the very least, 150 logging trucks passing by in either direction. One has a hard time passing them!! For the most part the trucks were "Super Bees" or double trailer with log bunks on the main frame as well. Huge loads and coming from all directions. Along the way, all the lumber mills are running full tilt. including Mills closed in the past (Terrace).

We witnessed the amazing growth in size of the Pinnacle Pellet manufacturing mills along the way. When we first noticed them several years ago, they each comprised in size about what the Madison Lumber area encompasses . Now they are the size of our past pulp mill when it was up and running at full tilt. Each with a rail car siding holding 12-20 cars. http://www.pinnaclepellet.com/

Speaking of trains, one coming out of Prince Rupert was at the very least 120-50 cars in length. Each car was double stacked with 40 foot containers. (Click Here)

Rail cars full of finished lumber (See Madison Hardware yard for examples) were numerous. Coal cars in trains that must have exceeded 100 cars each were frequent, grain trains were too in evidence. http://investnorthwestbc.ca/major-projects-and-investment-opportunities/map-view/prince-rupert/ridley-terminals-expansion

The proposed oil refinery in Kitimat has approaching a building cost of $25 Billion dollars, that is with a capital 'B'. (Click Here)

The Kitimat LNG plant (Click Here) is rumored to be near 8 Billion dollars although I could not confirm that number. Lastly, the aluminum plant in Kitimat is doubling its milling capacity. http://www.bechtel.com/kitimat-modernization All in all, B.C. Canada is throbbing as we languish. (Click Here)

To finish the observations in British Columbia, the highway 16 is a wonderful smooth driving highway with minimum construction underway, however that which is, proving the expansion for future commercial traffic a well thought out process.

So, in reading the Daily News, the biggie here is the priority of annual legislative funding where the issue of hydro development of Cape Fox Mahoney has been waylaid to a relegated back seat. Not surprising and no more so that Mayor Williams observation that Cape Fox has "Nowhere to go with the power as SEAPA controls what happens where it happens, and when it can or will not happen". SEAPA which controls that which the two communities bonded for and in some distant past, owned, may still own would a disaster strike the generation assets, would be my guess. appears to discourage competitive and should be, welcome additional hydro generation to the gird.

I recently was on a letter writing tear to inform the local citizenry of the potential of connecting electrical transmission lines from Tyee (SEAPA controlled) up the Bradfield Cannel to a Canadian connection via a all ready dedicated Right of Way to be chosen by the State where economical power transmission could be developed that would allow Cape Fox as one potential, to transmit and sell any power generated and not utilized by Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Kake and the POW island. Yes, unused or surplus power generated by Swan Lake and Tee could be sold during low use hours to customers in the lower 48 states. In turn the grid would have access to economical power flowing from lower 48 generation points on high demand. It would be a win for all.To top it off, the potential for private capital to construct the right of way and transmission line from Tyee to the Canadian connection exist.

It is my opinion that the State of Alaska has placed its electrical development eggs with SERAPE and is not interested in allowing, encouraging or exploring the development of economically power for Southern Southeast Alaska. They were instrumental in establishing SEAPA and it's restrictive policies of non-member or private access to the SEAPA grid. Yet, SEAPA has nearly maxed out their availability of power sources hence Ketchikan is adding Whitman Lake and raising Swan dam in desperation if you would, to needed minimum growth demand, withstanding any potential or sought out new economical endeavors. Proof of the pudding? The self announced statement regarding the local government acceptance of private offering of pellet boilers in various schools and public buildings to offset the cost of oil. where electric heat is by far the more economical and clean method of heating. Wrangell, Metlakatla , Petersburg have jumped on the electrical heat band wagon to the determent of

Ketchikan's ability of absorbing what was once, a huge excess of Tyee hydro power.

Too, the potential of development in the Thomas Bay area adjacent to Petersburg holds possibility of economical development with a huge identified hydro capacity. That too would utilize the transmission line to Canada and lower 48 state markets.

Now, I am too old and only one person of several who has visited this missed opportunity, The vanguard of this vision was no other than Lou Williams, Mayor William's father, led the charge back tens of years ago. He could see the potential and had the vision and ability to look outside the box for solutions, Lacking to a high degree in the current field of local government leaders, sad to say.

Those are the thoughts and comments that have resulted in visiting progress in Canada, and reviewing stagnation of economical growth for our local area in spite of having economical specialist at the local governmental level and professed Chamber of Commerce leadership desires that foster little or no results I use as example "Crickets" from a recent contingent of ketchikanites traveling to Prince Rupert to witness what has been written here, Tragic.

Regards,

A.M.Johnson
No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.
Ketchikan, Alaska

Representations of fact and opinions in letters are solely those of the author.
The opinions of the author do not represent the opinions of Sitnews.