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Senate Majority Bipartisan Coalition Website
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State Senator District E
Senate Majority Leader
Senator Cathy Giessel Newsletter
UPDATES
Issues affecting
your family, community and jobs.
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Dear friends and neighbors,
Photo: Despite the snow outside, my cactus are reliably blooming in response to decreased light and cooler temperatures.
History to Note:
On November 2, 1972, Alaskan voters approved establishment of the Alaska Permanent Fund. The vote was 75,588 to 38,518. My parents, husband and I were proud to vote Yes in 1972 on this visionary plan for Alaska.
Items in this Newsletter:
· Chugach State Park Citizen Advisory Board Openings
· Geologic Hydrogen Challenges and Opportunities
· Rightsizing ASD Community Conversations
· Alaska Trends Magazine November Issue
· Current Topics, Stuff I Found Interesting, Economy, Education, Politics, Healthcare
· Resource Values, Permanent Fund
· DOE Nuclear Comic Book
· Adjusting to Fall Time Change - some health recommendations
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Senate Continues Bipartisan Coalition and Announces Leadership Positions
Senator Gary Stevens to Serve Fourth Term as Senate President
ANCHORAGE, AK – Today, Senate President Gary Stevens announced the continuation of the Alaska State Senate Bipartisan Coalition for the 34th Alaska State Legislature. The coalition was originally established in November of 2022 with eight Republicans and nine Democrats. As many races have outstanding ballots and still need to go through the ranked-choice voting tabulation, the coalition will announce full membership and committee chairs once the election is certified.
“Over the past two years, the bipartisan coalition cultivated strong relationships and worked across party lines to craft budgets that care for the needs of Alaskans, passed legislation making Alaska’s economy stronger, and showed partisan politics is not necessary for success in Juneau,” said Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak. “I am proud of the work we have accomplished and eagerly await what is in store for the future. Our leadership team is once again strong, with diverse members from across the state, and we aim to ensure that all Alaskans are represented to the fullest extent.”
The Senate Bipartisan Coalition leadership structure for the upcoming legislature is as follows:
· Senate President – Sen Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak
· Majority Leader – Sen. Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage
· Rules Chair – Sen. Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage
· Finance Chair (Operating) – Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel
· Finance Chair (Capital) – Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka
· Finance Chair (Bills) – Sen. Donny Olson, D-Golovin
· Majority Whip – Sen. Kelly Merrick, R- Eagle River
· Legislative Budget & Audit Chair – Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage
“Alaskans can look forward to a productive Senate majority, getting the important things done. We are focused on doing our best for Alaska families, businesses, and communities,” said Senate Majority Leader Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage.
“Our coalition is dedicated to creating a stronger workforce, enhancing our public education system, and investing in reliable infrastructure for Alaska,” said Sen. Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage. “By removing partisan differences, we’re focused on what truly matters to Alaskans with solutions that support strong communities and lasting economic growth. This is about making tangible improvements that benefit all corners of our state – urban and rural."
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House Majority Coalition Announces
Key Leadership Positions
Bipartisan Leadership Shares Policy Priorities
ANCHORAGE - The Alaska House Majority Coalition is announcing key leadership positions following results from the general election, with Representative Bryce Edgmon (I-Dillingham) as Speaker, Representative Louise Stutes (R-Kodiak) as Rules Chair, and Representative Chuck Kopp (R-Anchorage) as Majority Leader.
“Alaskans have spoken clearly and we will work together, representing residents of all regions, to stabilize public education funding, develop affordable energy, and fix Alaska’s workforce crisis,” said Rep. Bryce Edgmon.
“I’m excited to be part of a coalition where we can work across party lines for the good of all Alaskans. I look forward to a very productive session,” said Rep. Louise Stutes.
“We’ve heard loud and clear Alaskans want us to fill police vacancies, provide outstanding public schools, and grow our economy,” said Rep. Chuck Kopp.
House Coalition legislative priorities include:
1. Balanced budgets that honor the Percent of Market Value (POMV) spending cap.
2. Stable public education funding to reduce class sizes and improve outcomes.
3. Retirement reform to fill critical public safety, resource permitting, and other positions.
4. Energy development to drive investment, create jobs, and lower costs.
Additional legislators supportive of these principles are welcome to join the majority. Some elections remain too close to call and full committee membership will be announced after all ballots have been counted.
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Chugach State Park Citizen Advisory
Board Openings
The Chugach State Park Citizen Advisory Board will have 3 openings at the end of December. If you would like to sit on the board, you can apply here. Board terms are 3 years. More information about the Chugach State Park Citizens Advisory Board can be found here.
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Geologic Hydrogen Workshop
October 29-31, 2024
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Sponsored by and speakers from: U.S. Arctic Research Commission, UAF Geophysical Institute, U.S. Geological Survey, Oxford University, Sandia National Lab, Geological Survey of Canada, Geological Survey of Finland, University of Texas Austin, Colorado School of Mines, U.S. Dept of Energy Arctic Energy Office, Alaska Center for Energy and Power at UAF.
A thought about subjects like geologic hydrogen: From Arthur C. Clark (sci fi writer, who wrote screenplay for 2001 A Space Odessey)
"The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible."
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
To think that hydrogen might for naturally underground in deposits that we could mine for energy does seem pretty unrealistic. But I've been hearing more and more about hydrogen as a fuel source for the last 2 years, and this year, about geologic forming deposits of hydrogen. So when I was invited to attend this workshop, I immediately said yes.
The sessions were lots of geology and geochemistry. I had no idea that underground organisms played a role. I learned about mafic and ultramafic rock with iron levels in which the hydrogen formed when exposed to water. The resulting hydrogen gas can be used for fuel, much like methane (natural gas). Hawaii is mixing up to 20% hydrogen into their natural gas to expand the supply.
The formations of hydrogen (H2) can be induced through drilling into the mafic/ultramafic rocks and injecting water, then extracting the H2 gas. Interesting challenge - the rock formations "swell" 40% in size! Something to be aware of in terms of possible resulting earthquake activity.
The recorded sessions from this workshop will be available soon. I'll include the links in a subsequent newsletter.
The topic of hydrogen fuel will be a topic during the Legislative session, as we work on the energy topic.
If you're interested in this subject (or your children are interested, since this is a potential fuel of their future), this video is a great introduction to the topic.
April 2024: Challenges and Opportunities with Geologic Hydrogen
The Arctic Energy Office holds a Alaska Hydrogen Working Group meeting every month on Zoom. The November monthly meeting recording can be viewed at this link. The November meeting discussed take-aways from the Geologic Hydrogen Workshop. You can sign up to receive notices of the AEO monthly meetings by emailing Patty Eagan pmeagan@alaska.edu.
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Rightsizing ASD Community Conversations
Join ASD for an update on next steps with their Rightsizing ASD project. They have developed a phased plan to close, consolidate and repurpose schools, as well as adjust boundaries over the next three years. This plan will be discussed with the School Board at a work session on Monday, Nov. 4, with a final vote scheduled for Dec. 17.
Several factors influenced this recommendation, including declining student enrollment and overall Anchorage population, the growing demand for more specialized support services, and aging school buildings in need of costly repairs. The District’s efforts are designed to rightsize ASD’s buildings without reducing educational offerings.
"We recognize the possibility of school closures can be very emotional and challenging. These are not easy decisions, but they are necessary if we want to continue providing students with the quality education they deserve. We promise that every decision in this process is being made with students’ needs in mind." -Dr. Jharrett Bryant, ASD Superintendent
The list of recommended schools is available here.
Your feedback from community and staff surveys played a key role in shaping the District’s plan. For example, many of you told us how important it is to maintain special programs. The District’s recommendation reflects efforts to continue offering this type of educational service, where possible.
We encourage you to stay involved in this process. Please join us for upcoming Community Conversations to discuss the recommendations and ask questions.
Nov. 12, 6-8 p.m. at Chugiak High School
· Nov. 14, 6-8 p.m. at Dimond High School
· Nov. 16, Noon-2 p.m. at Bartlett High School
· Nov. 18, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Zoom
· Nov. 18, 6-8 p.m. Zoom
Information on Rightsizing ASD is available on this dedicated webpage.
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Current Topics
Alaska begins lengthy lawsuit against e-cigarette company JUULs. Alaska's News Source
A jury trial began on Monday for a lawsuit the State of Alaska filed against JUUL Labs, Inc. and the Altria Group, Inc. for what the state is calling those company’s roles in causing an increased use of e-cigarettes by youth.
1 big thing: Early risers vs. everyone else. Axios
The polling is mixed on what Americans want. But we agree on one thing: We're tired of the switch.
62% of U.S. adults said in an Economist/YouGov poll that they want the clocks to stay the same year-round. Of those, 50% wanted permanent DST (later sunrises and sunsets all year). 31% wanted permanent standard time, which we're in right now. The rest had no preference or weren't sure.
[NOTE: See last section of this newsletter for some health steps you can take to adjust to the time change.]
2024 Election
Editorial: Stepping back from the precipice of hyper-partisanship. ADN
Opinion: "What's a RINO, dad?". ADN
Retirement Challenges
Opinion: Alaska's state government stands up — against its own employees. ADN
(Here is the letter (& pg 2) that ARMB sent to employees
Economy
Palmer slaughterhouse dodges closure with purchase by Soldotna rancher. Alaska Business
Education
Alaska school districts could take financial hit as education department considers tighter limits on local funding. ADN
The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development is considering a regulation change that would tighten restrictions on how local governments fund schools.
(My comment: Wow. I wonder if DEED considered how the “local control” part of our Alaska Constitution applies here. How does a state government department have jurisdiction on how local governments fund their schools?)
Bear Valley parents pack school board meeting to protest Anchorage school closure proposal. Alaska Public Media
The Anchorage School Board heard from dozens of parents at their Monday meeting, most of whom had students at Bear Valley. Many said they felt that the criteria used to identify schools was unfair and the process was not transparent. Bonnie Gurney is a real estate appraiser and parent of a Bear Valley student who also testified at the meeting. Gurney said the district’s assessment that Bear Valley lacked growth potential was inaccurate.
Energy
Seward, Anchorage to get $47.6 million in federal grants for port-related energy. Alaska Business
The new cruise terminal being built in Seward will let ships plug into shore power, thanks to a large federal grant. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded $45.7 million to the Port of Seward to support zero-emission port technology and infrastructure.
Chugach Electric files response to RCA order after lengthy commission review. Petroleum News
On Oct. 24 Chugach Electric Association made a new tariff filing with the Regulatory Commission of Alaska. The filing, which requires RCA approval, proposes an electricity rate rise of 4.56% for Chugach Electric's retail customers and 10.12% for electricity supplied to Seward Electric System. The filing comes in response to an RCA order issued on Sept. 25, requiring Chugach Electric to file new tariff sheets by Nov. 14.
UAF workshop will look at Alaska's geologic hydrogen. Alaska Native News
“We have the right kind of geology to suggest it could be here,” Myers said. “The areas where we’re likely to find it are not the oil and gas basins; it’s in areas often associated with critical minerals, strategic minerals and precious minerals.”
“And that hydrogen gas may be present in close proximity to where you need energy for a mine or a village,” he added.
Granite Creek assembles the catalyst-rich projects, scientific expertise to become a first mover in the geologic hydrogen space. Mining News North
A belt of rocks spanning the Southeast Alaska Panhandle hosts at least a dozen prospects and deposits enriched with nickel, copper, and platinum group metals (PGM) needed for the energy transition. Could these projects also host hidden stores of geological hydrogen that could offer a clean-burning fuel for the 21st century? Granite Creek Copper Ltd. believes they could and has acquired two Southeast Alaska PGM projects with "white hydrogen" potential. An element that only emits water vapor when burned, hydrogen is seen by many as a game-changing clean energy fuel of the 21st century. However, hydrogen has the paradoxical distinction of being the most abundant element in the universe, yet very rare in its pure form here on Earth.
"Hope is not a plan": Potential for gas shortages still concerning to Southcentral officials. Alaska's News Source
Recent electric load shedding events have shown customers in the Southcentral region the potential to lose utility access. While officials with Chugach Electric told Alaska‘s News Source Wednesday they have no information on the cause or investigation into the load shedding, other utilities in the area were able to speak about the impact this year’s cold weather months could be impacted.
Costs to fall for some Chugach Electric customers, rise for others after regulators decide rate case. ADN
Chugach Electric customers will soon see changes to their electric rates. Some customers will pay less, and others will pay more.
Politics
Opinion: Gov. Dunleavy's vehicle rental bill veto displays his administration's dysfunction. ADN
In every committee hearing for this bill, from the Senate Transportation Committee to Senate Finance to House Transportation, Alaska’s Department of Revenue always supported the bill. The governor’s revenue commissioner, Adam Crum, testified in support. So did the governor’s deputy revenue commissioner and the governor’s deputy director of the Tax Division. In every single committee and at every step of the process, the Department of Revenue argued strongly for this bill. So did Turo corporate and traditional car rental companies like Avis and Enterprise.
Healthcare
Providence Alaska Medical Center tests virtual care model, announces hospice partner. Alaska Business
Providence Alaska Medical Center (PAMC) recently launched a new way of caring for patients that combines bedside nursing with a virtual or remote nurse and a dedicated patient care technician or certified nursing assistant. Known as co-caring or virtual nursing, the bedside nurse manages direct patient-care duties while the virtual nurse coordinates other support tasks.
(My comment: interesting. Does this mean the cost of care is less? Or will it be a separate item on the long bill for hospital care.
The story says it relieves the workload of the bedside nurse (the real on the floor nurse) but I’m hearing that the hospital is just adding more patients to the real nurse’s workload. The “virtual nurse” may be in another state, wearing their pajamas while doing this virtual “work”. I flinch at Providence Hospital claim to be “non-profit” when the large Anchorage campus is part of a massive national network of Providence Hospitals, with Anchorage being the profit center for the network.)
1 big thing: Sitting your life away. Axios
The expert consensus is that the more you sit, the more you need to exercise.
Alaskans charged $5.78 billion for hospital stays last year, state report says. Alaska Beacon
Alaskans were charged about $5.78 billion for hospital stays in 2023, according to an annual report published by the state Department of Health. Total charges increased from $5.31 billion in 2022 and $4.94 billion in 2021, according to the report.
Teen ER visits for caffeine overdose spike. Axios
Caffeine intake has been rising among kids. A C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health found nearly one-quarter of parents say the stimulant is part of their teenager's daily diet.
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Alaska Oil Resource Values
Alaska North Slope crude oil price (11/5/24): $74.71
FY24 budget (beginning 7/1) is fully funded at a
forecast of $73/barrel of oil.
Price on 9/30/23: $87.99
Price on 9/30/22: $86.91
Price on 6/29/22: $116.84
Price on 3/08/22: $125.44
Price on 12/22/21: $75.55
ANS production (11/5/24): 470,987 bpd
Successful gas storage at CINGSA; storage expansion work on target. Petroleum News
Summer operations at the Cook Inlet Natural Gas Storage Alaska facility on the Kenai Peninsula ran smoothly, despite the fact that a major expansion project was being conducted at the facility, Matt Federle, CINGSA director of storage operations, told the Regulatory Commission of Alaska on Oct. 24. And the upgrade project, designed to add 2 billion cubic feet of storage capacity, is on target for completion by the end of the year, he said.
CINGSA plays a vital role in storing excess produced gas during the summer, when Southcentral gas demand is relatively low, and then releasing gas during the winter when demand is high. Without the storage facility it would be impossible for gas deliverability rates to be high enough to meet winter demand for power generation and the heating of buildings.
Nuclear 101: What is a High-Temperature Gas Reactor. Energy.gov
U.S. awards contracts to process HALEU fuel for high-tech reactors. Reuters
Deconversion turns gaseous uranium into oxide or metal forms to be made into fuel for reactors. HALEU is uranium enriched to between 5% and 20%, which backers say has the potential to make new high-tech reactors more efficient. Uranium fuel used in today's reactors is enriched to about 5%.
Data center demand reinforces states' interest in nuclear. Pluribus News
Utility companies in recent weeks have announced deals with tech giants Amazon, Google and Microsoft for nuclear power, which offers the technology firms a relatively clean source of electricity as they ramp up the construction of data centers to allow the growth of artificial intelligence and cloud-computing applications.
The trend is expected to spur states to revisit nuclear power policies next year, as they look to the nuclear power sector and data centers to create jobs and to bolster tax revenue.
Precious Metal Prices
November 6, 2024
Gold - $2669.25
Silver - $31.34
Platinum - $998.56
Palladium - $1061.70
Rhodium - $4500.00
Alaska Permanent Fund
website
Fund value November 4, 2024 - $80,982,700,000
PFD payout from ERA, Fiscal years 1980-2024: $43.9 Billion
$100 Billion total earnings over lifetime of the Permanent Fund
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What does dodgeball have to do with nuclear power?
You can find out in a new comic book released by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that’s geared toward young readers — just in time for Nuclear Science Week!
The Spark Squad Nuclear comic book follows middle schoolers Jasmine, Aria and Thomas on their quest to collect enough “joules” to qualify for the regional power fair.
Download a high-resolution PDF of the comic book, watch an animated nuclear energy explainer video, and explore STEM lesson plans HERE.
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Advice on Adjusting to the Fall Time Change
I often read health information put out by Dr. Andrew Huberman. He is an associate professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
He had a email newsletter piece on Adjusting to Fall Time Change. It has a lot of good advice that I thought you might enjoy.
View Morning Sunlight
Circadian rhythms are the 24-hour cycles that regulate sleep, wakefulness, eating, and other activities. To adjust your circadian rhythms to the end of daylight saving time, get plenty of natural morning sunlight in your eyes. This light acts as an anchor for your internal clock, helping ensure the body's cells and organs function optimally and at the right times. (If you're interested in learning more about the biological mechanism behind this, watch here.)
· Get outside within 30-60 minutes of waking up to expose your eyes to sunlight.
· If you wake before sunrise, turn on bright artificial lights until the sun rises. Once it rises, get outside if possible.
· Try to get morning sunlight before the "circadian dead zone," which occurs between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. for most people but depends on your typical wake-up time.
· While sunlight exposure during this period has many benefits (e.g., mood, vitamin D and hormone levels), it won't effectively shift your internal clock.
· This typically requires about 10-15 minutes of sunlight on a sunny day, while cloudy days may require 20 minutes or more.
· Even on overcast days, natural sunlight is usually brighter than artificial lighting.
· If natural sunlight isn't an option for any reason, consider using very bright artificial lights or a light therapy lamp (ideally 10,000 lux or brighter).
· Avoid wearing sunglasses for your morning sunlight viewing, but glasses and contact lenses are fine.
· Always avoid staring directly at the sun or any intensely bright light sources at any time of day, as this can be painful and damage your eyes.
View Afternoon Sunlight
Make an effort to get outside again in the late afternoon when the sun is low in the sky or when it's setting. Exposure to the late-afternoon sun helps adjust your eyes' sensitivity and can buffer against the disruptive effects of artificial lights from screens and TVs in the evening.
· While morning sunlight is critical for setting your circadian clock, afternoon sunlight serves as a secondary cue, signaling the body to prepare for night.
Limit Nighttime Light
Dim or turn off artificial lights in your environment after the sun goes down. Remember, the sunset will now happen an hour earlier, given the time change.
· In the morning, we require a lot of bright light to set our circadian clock. Unfortunately, exposure to low levels of light (just 1,000–1,500 lux!) can disrupt circadian rhythms at night, especially short-wavelength light, such as blue light.
· After sunset and in the hours before bedtime, opt for dim, low-positioned lights, such as table lamps, instead of overhead lights. This low ambient light supports natural melatonin production and makes it easier to fall asleep.
· To help avoid short-wavelength light (blue and green light) after sunset, consider shifting screen settings to a red tint, using red "party" lights instead of LED or fluorescent lights, or wearing red-lens glasses. (Note: ROKA is a Huberman Lab sponsor.)
To maintain healthy sleep patterns, keep your bedroom dark and minimize light exposure during sleep hours.
Strive for Consistent Sleep/Wake Times
Aim to go to sleep and wake up at roughly the same time each day, ideally within a 45-minute to one-hour window, even on weekends. This consistency reinforces your circadian rhythm and makes it easier to fall asleep and wake up feeling refreshed.
· Check out our Improve Your Sleep and Toolkit for Sleep newsletters for more on enhancing sleep.
Leverage Temperature, Meals & Exercise
While light is the primary method for adjusting our circadian clock, temperature, exercise, and meal timing also play important roles.
· If you're struggling to adjust to daylight saving time, temperature can be a powerful tool to shift your circadian clock.
· Taking a warm bath or shower before bedtime is a science-supported method to improve your ability to fall asleep and sleep deeply. Initially, the warm water raises core body temperature, but the subsequent cooling that occurs afterward helps facilitate falling asleep.
· Keep your bedroom cool (about 67°F or 19.4°C), or consider using a temperature-controlled mattress cover. (Note: Eight Sleep is a Huberman Lab sponsor.)
· To adapt quickly to the end of daylight saving time, wait to eat until your usual mealtime at the new time, even if you feel hungry beforehand.
· Exercise significantly enhances sleep quality and duration. Sticking to your regular exercise schedule will also help your body adjust effectively.
Nobody's perfect, but if you strive to incorporate these strategies, your transition off daylight saving time will be smoother, and you'll enjoy better sleep and daytime energy.
1 big thing: Early risers vs. everyone else. Axios
The polling is mixed on what Americans want. But we agree on one thing: We're tired of the switch.
1 big thing: Paying sleep debt. Axios
By the numbers: 1 in 3 American adults don't get enough sleep — defined as 7 or more hours a night — according to a CDC study.
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Click here to see list of accomplishments from the 33rd Alaska State Legislature Senate Majority.
Click here to view my webpage. It has links to all previous newsletters.
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