Energy and power: symbiotic synergy.

• Author: Harrington, Susan
• Position: FROM THE EDITOR

One of the special sections this month is "Energy & Power" and the other is "Environmental Services," and the two are somewhat synergetic. A good portion of state government has been dependent on the success of the upstream energy sector and for the most part, the environmental services sector depends on the ongoing success and activities of the upstream energy sector for work and for funding. Just about everybody depends on downstream energy and power to function, including communities, government agencies, businesses, schools, organizations, and residents alike.

The high cost of energy is a limiting factor, thus the constant search for renewable, alternative, and more efficient means of generating and using power. The biggest deterrent to doing that is the high upfront cost and, in some cases, expensive and specialized maintenance and operations, which offset some of the gains of using "free energy" such as the sun, wind, and water.

Alaska was well on its way to the goal of using renewable energy to produce 50 percent of its electricity by 2025 as long as the state and federal governments were paying for the projects; the absence of government subsidies has caused a hiatus in the construction and deployment of many renewable power sources in Alaska. Ironically, the worldwide glut leading to $40 oil and $2 natural gas is causing a steep decline in the amount of funds available to bankroll implementation of renewable energy...