In S eptember, 2006, the City of Sitka released its energy plan covering the next 28 years.  After thoroughly analyzing this plan, researching auxiliary studies and documents, and talking with key individuals involved in the development of the plan, the staff at SCS developed their own strategy for helping guarantee that Sitkans have access to abundant, sustainable, and environmentally friendly energy supplies.  15 months into this work, we can now look back and chart some of our successes.  

In the summer of 2007 SCS collaborated with the City of Sitka’s Electrical Department to host an energy conservation intern who developed 6 brochures on how Sitkan’s can reduce their energy consumption and reduce their overall carbon emissions.

Click here to link to the brochures  

 Senator Murkowski introduced Senate Bill S3651 on September 30th which includes Native Futures (Enterprise Zones) lands selections near Sitka in Snitson Cove, Big Bay, Rodman Bay and False Island.

Link to complete Map of Native Futures Land Selections

 Don Young’s Sealaska bill to privatize popular recreation and subsistence sites near Sitka  

Are areas such as Poison Cove, Kalinin Bay, Big Bay and Crab Bay threatened by corporate development? On September 18, 2007, Don Young introduced H.R. 3560, a bill that authorizes Sealaska to select lands adjacent to these areas for the purpose of developing “enterprise sites.”  
To read more, click here.

To TAKE ACTION on this issue click here.

Click here to hear Raven Radio's story on the City Of Sitka Assembly resolution and Sealaska's response

Click here to view Sitka Sentinel’s news article on Sealaska Lands Bill

Click here to listen to Raven Radio story on negotiations between the Sitka Tribe of Alaska and the City of Sitka regarding Sealaska selections

Sitka City Assembly approved Sitka’s 1^st Visitor Industry Plan in July 2007. Sitkans have overwhelmingly expressed the need for planning of the tourism industry in Sitka.   Download the Plan here.

During 2005 and 2006, University of Alaska Anchorage researchers from the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) conducted field interviews to better understand the size and structure of the nature-based tourism industry in Southeast Alaska, including Sitka.  According to their research, nature-based tourism alone contributed more than $80 million in revenue to the Sitka economy. Professor Steve Colt and researcher Darcy Dugan recently presented the results of their study, “Economics of Nature Based Tourism in Southeast Alaska” in Sitka. Click here to read more and download the ISER presentation. 

The City of Sitka recently passed a resolution that outlines the steps the City is going to take over the next 28 years to provide for Sitka's electrical energy needs.  Planning at that scale shows exceptional foresight on the part of the City of Sitka in planning for our community's future.  However, one proposal is to build a road through  the pristine forest  next to the Salmon Lake cabin at the back of Silver Bay...

In early December, 2005 the Federal Subsistence Board  announced it will no longer be reviewing the classification of Sitka as a community that should be further studied for possible change in subsistence priority use. A final rule was published in December 2006 and Sitka will maintain its' rural status for another 10 years.