Center Associate Director Advises Juneau on Energy Savings Options - April, 2008
On April 16, an avalanche took out transmission lines to the Snettisham hydroelectric project near Juneau, Alaska; literally overnight transforming the energy landscape of this community of over 30,000 residents. Power rates jumped from 11 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for residential use to more than 50 cents per kWh. While local utility, Alaska Electric Light & Power, digs out from under the wall of snow and begins the task of repairing the damage, Juneau has begun to look for energy efficiency savings that can make a difference in a hurray. Dr. Alan Meier, EEC Associate Director, author of two books (Supplying Energy through Greater Efficiency and Saving Electricity in a Hurry), and professor teaching two courses at UC Davis (Energy Efficiency: the Other Side of the Meter, this spring quarter, and Economics of Energy Efficiency and Climate Change Mitigation) was invited by Juneau Mayor, Bruce Botelho, to give advice to the community about conserving energy. For more on this story, click here.