Kodiak – Earlier today, Alaska Governor Bill Walker announced the appointment of V. Fate Putman to the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (CFEC). Putman will fill the seat being vacated by Benjamin Brown. Putman will serve the remainder of Brown’s term, which expires in early March of 2019.
Juneau – The Alaska State Legislature has passed legislation sponsored by Representative Adam Wool (D-Fairbanks) to help lower energy costs for commercial property owners across Alaska. House Bill 80 allows cities and boroughs to create a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing mechanism for loans for alternative energy and energy efficiency improvements.
Juneau – For the past three years, Alaskans who rely on dipnetting sockeye salmon from the Kenai River have been blocked from fishing after July 31st, which denies them a fair chance at catching their limit of fish. The sockeye salmon runs have been arriving later in the season, which results in a substantial part of the Kenai River run entering the river after the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has closed the dipnet fishery. At the same time, commercial fishermen have been allowed to take advantage of continued strong returns well into August.
