Alaska RC&D Project Draws National Attention

Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Mark Rey, Special Assistant to the Chief Gerald Willis, Alaska NRCS State Conservationist Bob Jones, and other State and local officials were in Craig recently for the ground-breaking of the Craig Wood Waste Project that aims to convert sawmill wood waste into energy to heat a local school and swimming pool. When complete, the project is expected to save more than of $60,000 per year in heating costs.

Project construction is estimated to cost $1.4 million and should be completed by the beginning of the 2007-8 school year.  The project is being funded through a combination of grants and loans from NRCS, the Alaska Energy Authority, the Denali Commission, the U.S. Forest Service, and the City of Craig.

Southeast Conference Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Coordinator Paul Coffey helped escort Governor Frank Murkowski and Senators Lisa Murkowski and Ted Stevens on a tour of the Craig Wood Waste Project earlier this month.  The project was initiated as an RC&D project through the combined efforts of Karen Petersen of the University of Alaska Cooperative Extension Service, Larry Wilkinson, a semi-retired Consulting Chemical Engineer, and Paul Coffey, Coordinator for the Southeast Conference RC&D.

Learn more about NRCS in Alaska

The Southeast Council RC&D became aware of the Fuels for Schools pilot project in Darby, Montana  — a joint effort among five State Forestry agencies, the U.S. Forest Service, and the communities of Darby and Victor, Montana.  The project goals are to reduce reliance on fossil fuels while reducing the amount of wood waste in the forest that contributes to the intensity of forest fires. (from the NRCS Alaska Employee News)
Your contact is Cassandra Stalzer NRCS public affairs specialist, at 907-761-7749.