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Cook Inletkeeper
Energy Efficiency
BACKGROUND
As part of Cook Inletkeeper's
Energy Plan for the future we realize that increased
efficiencies in our individual energy use is an integral piece.
As citizens of Alaska, the United States, and the world we can
help contribute to the solution by cutting back our individual
energy footprint through conservation and increased
efficiencies.
INLETKEEPER STRATEGIES
Cook Inletkeeper’s Energy
Campaign envisions a
cleaner and more accountable energy industry in Cook Inlet which
minimizes impacts to habitat, wildlife, water quality and human
health, and which recognizes corporate and government
responsibilities to local communities and resources.
Inletkeeper works to ensure Cook Inlet’s energy industry meets
or exceeds state and national labor and environmental standards,
and reflects the unique conditions of Cook Inlet. Inletkeeper’s
goals are to:
1) eliminate toxic discharges
from the fossil fuel industry and reduce the emission of
greenhouse gases;
2) stop or alter oil and gas
lease sales and proposals for expanded fossil-fuel development
to protect sensitive wetlands, water quality and important
fisheries;
3) secure tug escorts and/or
assists for single hull tankers and barges, and ensure the best
possible performance for fossil fuel facility operators;
4) promote sustainable jobs and
renewable energy through tidal power and other alternatives.
Inletkeeper’s targeted energy
strategies include aggressive legal, scientific and technical
advocacy, effective citizen education and organizing, persuasive
media outreach, and thoughtful pro-worker, pro-community
messages.
FUTURE WORK
Because
these environmental issues are occurring in the middle of
Alaska’s most populated region – where hundreds of thousands of
Alaskans work and recreate each year - Cook Inlet offers the
best opportunity to highlight problems - and recommend solutions
- for some of the thorniest issues surrounding hydrocarbon
development, global climate change, and fish and wildlife
conservation. While Cook Inletkeeper will continue to focus on
the direct effects of oil and gas activities on fish, people and
wildlife (i.e. toxic discharges, seismic noise, pipeline spills,
etc), it will increasingly combine its oil and gas advocacy work
with its salmon habitat protection work toward addressing the
most immediate impacts and root causes of climate change in
Alaska.
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