March 2, 2008
The Honorable Fred Shields
Mayor of Haines, Alaska, and
Members of the Haines Borough Assembly
P.O. Box 1209,
Haines AK 99827
RE: Peak Oil & Energy Transition draft report from the Haines Energy Task Force (HEFT)
Dear Mayor Shields and Haines Borough Assembly members:
We have just finished reading a copy of the Peak Oil & Energy Transition draft report. This is a disappointing document in many respects—questionable issue, clear bias, defective logic, lack of comprehension of basic economics, no interest in community growth, and no clear analysis and consideration of alternative solutions.
It’s obvious that the only research tool for the task force was the Internet. No one interviewed the local fuel company, electrical utility, telephone company, firewood supplier, shipping companies or grocery stores. The report should have contained an energy inventory, transportation inventory, discussion of existing plans for future needs, discussion of options, analysis and useful conclusions.
Instead, the HEFT folks used their platform (and our money) to rant about peak oil and their myopic vision of alternative energy. The product that emerged is not useful as a planning tool.
We are especially alarmed at the willingness of this group to overstep their energy focus and propose to dictate health, food, land, education, arts, gardening and berry picking policy, especially when we read their specific recommendations.
We ask that you NOT honor HEFT’s request to establish an “Energy and Community Sustainability Commission.” This proposed body would duplicate work that should already be under progress in the Haines Borough Planning Commission and the Northern Southeast Alaska Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).
As residents who vote, own a home, a business, and pay taxes in Haines, we are respectfully requesting that you tell the Haines Energy Task Force thank you for the effort they put into this document, then tell them GOODBYE.
For a more detailed discussion of our concerns, please read my news article on-line at http://www.rogermaynard.net/2008/03/02/peak-oil-manifesto-haines-alaska/. (Copy attached)
Thank you for your service, and for listening to our opinions.
Sincerely,
Roger L Maynard