U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz will join a host of state and federal officials in Bethel on Monday to talk rural energy needs.
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski is holding a field hearing of the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, which she chairs. The hearing will focus on alternative energy projects throughout Alaska – as well as the continuing challenge of high rural energy costs.
Murkowski will be joined by the committee’s ranking Democrat, Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, as well as Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY), Steve Daines (R-MT), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Angus King (R-ME).
Gov. Bill Walker and Bethel Rep. Bob Herron are also scheduled to testify.
Murkowski and Cantwell introduced an energy modernization bill in the Senate last month, which includes provisions encouraging alternative energy systems like those being pioneered in some Alaska villages.
The hearing will begin at 3:30 p.m. at Bethel’s Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center.
Rachel Waldholz covers energy and the environment for Alaska's Energy Desk, a collaboration between Alaska Public Media, KTOO in Juneau and KUCB in Unalaska. Before coming to Anchorage, she spent two years reporting for Raven Radio in Sitka. Rachel studied documentary production at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, and her short film, A Confused War won several awards. Her work has appeared on Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Marketplace, among other outlets.
rwaldholz (at) alaskapublic (dot) org | 907.550.8432 | About Rachel
