Fairbanks, AK - The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly will hear public testimony tonight on an ordinance that would create a public natural gas distribution utility. The utility is championed by Borough Mayor Luke Hopkins. It has garnered support from five of the Assembly’s nine members.
Assemblyman Guy Sattley is sponsoring an amendment to the ordinance regarding can be employed by or serve on the board of the utility. The Fairbanks City Council passed a nearly identical amendment and then voted to transfer their utility power to the Borough as part of the plan on Monday night. North Pole’s City Council made a similar move earlier this month.
Critics of the plan are concerned about the cost and the effect on private enterprise, should the utility move forward.
KUAC will air the meeting live beginning at 7 pm AKT.