Fairbanks North Star Borough

Construction of a big natural gas storage tank in Fairbanks is nearing completion. And officials with the utility that’s been trying to persuade people in the Fairbanks area to convert to gas for home heating say the tank will help them attract those customers.

EPA scientists say the death rate in the Fairbanks North Star Borough has fallen because citizens are working to clean the air. That was announced among other progress at an Air Quality presentation in North Pole this week. A community meeting featured panelists from the EPA, the state and the borough, who took questions from the audience. 

Wildfire smoke is impacting air quality in many areas of the state, with some of the worst conditions in the Interior, including at North Pole. The community is known for severe wintertime fine particulate pollution from wood and coal stove and boiler emissions, but as KUAC’s Dan Bross reports, this week’s wildfire smoke has been far worse.

The Salcha Fair is back! After two years of hiatus, planning is under way for a different kind of fair that’ll be held in mid-August.

The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly considers an ordinance tonight (Thurs) which would authorize a loan to the Interior Gas Utility. The IGU was created by borough voters as a legally independent entity to expand availability of natural gas, to improve air quality, and lower energy costs, but its spending a lot of money on gas infrastructure, and there’s concern the consumer gas price won’t be low enough to drive a switch from more polluting coal, oil and wood fuels. KUAC’s Dan Bross reports.

The state has released a new plan to reduce Fairbanks wintertime fine particulate pollution. The updated plan is federally required because, areas of Fairbanks and North Pole continue to fall below Clean Air Act standards, when cold air inversions trap emissions form wood, coal and oil burning. KUAC’s Dan Bross reports.

It is budget season for the Fairbanks North Star Borough – the Assembly meets this Thursday to vote on a spending plan. But citizens are expected to weigh in as well. Borough Mayor Bryce Ward has posted a tool online where citizens can show how they would spend taxpayer dollars.

The state will no longer share federal trail money with Alaska communities. The Recreational Trails Program provides about one point 5 million dollars to Alaska annually, money which has been split between state park and community projects, but as KUAC’s Dan Bross reports, the funding is being re-focused.