Author: alaskaadmin

Fewer people have signed up for the Kluane to Chilkat International Bike Relay this year than in recent years, but it still may be one for the record books. 

Race coordinator Monika Kozlerová said nearly 90 riders have signed up to solo the nearly 150-mile race on Saturday. And, registrations for 8-person teams are so low Kozlerová said it may be the fewest that the race has ever seen. 

“A lot of people just feel very brave and have been telling me, we’ve been doing this as 8-person teams, then four, then two. And we feel we should do it solo now,” she said. 

Speaking by phone from a race-packet pickup point on Tuesday, Kozlerová attributed the proliferation of solo racers, in part, to the Yukon Cycling Association and head coach Hudson Lucier who was the fastest solo racer in the KCIBR last year with a final time of 6:43:53. His average speed was 22 miles-per-hour. 

“They’ve been very competitive in preparing the team. There were races every weekend in May,”  Kozlerová said. “It was a pretty big group of people.” 

For this year’s race, racers can look forward to a sunny forecast, though it’s not yet clear what the wind conditions may be.  But, racers will again have to contend with the unpaved section of the Haines Highway currently under construction near Mile 25.  

Kozlerová said no construction will be taking place during the race on Saturday, but urged caution and a general slow-down by riders given the gravel and dirt roadway.

Last year, a number of cyclists and teams chose not to finish the whole race, instead stopping at a point near the border and turning around. 

Race officials issued guidance, asking that people choose to turn around at one of the last checkpoints in Canada rather than waiting until they get to the border crossing where the road is narrow. 

Some told race organizers that the strained relationship between the U.S. and Canada made them feel as though it wasn’t safe to travel in the U.S.  Five teams formally handed in their timing sticks before the last checkpoint in the Yukon Territory. 

Kozlerová said she didn’t think many people would choose to do that again, mostly because she hasn’t heard from as many people as she did last year as they were choosing whether to complete the whole race. 

“I think most have made their peace with the situation,” she said. 

The Kluane to Chilkat International Bike Relay takes place on Saturday, ending at the Southeast Alaska State Fairgrounds where the annual Haines Fishermen’s Community free salmon barbecue begins at 4 p.m. 

The post Record number of solo racers to compete in bike relay this year appeared first on Chilkat Valley News.

The 14 members of Alaska’s Senate coalition majority met behind closed doors twice on Wednesday to decide the fate of a multibillion-dollar tax break for the proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline.

The state House voted 34-5 on Friday to approve the break, which also has the approval of Gov. Mike Dunleavy and pipeline developer Glenfarne, but the tax break won’t become law unless it also has the approval of the Senate.

For several days, the Senate’s majority has been stymied by an internal rule that requires 11 of the majority’s 14 members to agree on a bill before it is presented to the full Senate.

As of Wednesday afternoon, there were not 11 majority votes for the bill, which would replace a 2% property tax on the project with a tax on gas pumped through the line.

Under current law, the pipeline would generate $47 billion for the state and boroughs along the route through 2062, according to figures from the Alaska Department of Revenue. 

The House-passed bill would drop that figure to about $31 billion. The $16 billion difference is the result of the switch from a property tax to a gas tax. The state would still collect production taxes, royalties and other fees.

Lawmakers are also interested in lowering natural gas costs for Alaska residents. If built as planned, the pipeline would provide in-state gas to the Railbelt at a rate cheaper than imports.

In a newsletter, Sen. Loki Tobin, D-Anchorage, became the latest lawmaker to voice opposition to the House’s version of the bill.

“A 90% tax cut for Glenfarne raises concerns that our state and local governments may not have enough funds to support essential services such as sanitation, schools, and roads, which directly impact our communities and families,” she wrote in part, referring to the property tax cut.

Glenfarne has said the bill is critical in order to obtain financing for the Alaska LNG project, which would build an 807-mile pipeline from the North Slope to Cook Inlet and major processing plants at either end of the line.

Senators are considering amendments to the House bill that could ease the bill’s passage in the Senate, but Glenfarne has warned the Senate Finance Committee against making big changes.

“We’re encouraged by the House progress and strong outcome and are optimistic the Senate will pass a bill that works for Alaska by helping enable this project,” said Tim Fitzpatrick, a spokesperson for Glenfarne.

Alaska natural gas pipeline dreams stretch over half a century

 

On Wednesday, the Senate majority canceled a scheduled meeting of the full Senate and two scheduled meetings of the Senate Finance Committee, which is considering changes to the bill.

The next meeting of the full Senate is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday.

Lawmakers are in a 30-day special session that ends at 11:59 p.m. Friday. If they don’t pass the tax-break bill by that deadline, the bill will die. 

Dunleavy could call legislators into another special session, and while the governor’s office declined to say whether he is prepared to do so, the six members of the Senate’s all-Republican minority caucus said they have seen a draft special-session proclamation.

In separate interviews, all six said they support the House version of the bill, with only minor technical fixes needed.

Sen. Robb Myers, R-North Pole, said that while the pipeline isn’t guaranteed to happen if the bill passes, it’s guaranteed to not happen if the bill doesn’t pass.

Sen. George Rauscher, R-Sutton, offered a similar position.

“Glenfarne has to have numbers that work, or they can’t build it. We can ask for anything we want — we can demand all the taxes — but in the end, if it isn’t built, we don’t get anything,” he said.

Senate Minority Leader Mike Cronk, R-Tok, called the majority’s 11-vote rule “pathetic.”

“We should all have the ability to cast a yes or no vote on this,” he said, noting that collectively, the minority’s six members represent more than 180,000 Alaskans.

Cronk said he believes the Senate will ultimately vote on the issue.

“I’m hoping we all get our chance to say yes or no. That’s what Alaskans expect. It shouldn’t be dictated by 11 people,” he said.

Cronk and Sen. Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, observed that the Senate Majority already broke its 11-vote rule during the regular session by calling up a pension bill, a medical licensing bill and a bill pertaining to gambling.

Despite Wednesday’s lack of action, Sen. Robert Yundt, R-Wasilla, remained optimistic, saying he believes the Senate will ultimately bring the pipeline issue to a vote.

“A majority of the state depends on natural gas. We’re either going to be using our own or importing, and when all is said and done, I think we’re going to be using our own,” he said.

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