Robert Seitz: Yes, I actually am qualified to discuss climate and energy issues

I read through the 25 comments from my recent commentary “Time to fight the assault on energy,” and the 24 comments on my previous column, “More on climate, politics and energy in Alaska.”

Some commenters question my motive for my columns, thinking that I am being financed by dark money or have a hidden political agenda. Some think I am not qualified to look at the data and come up with conclusions contrary to thousands of climate scientists they vaguely cite. Then there are some who show that they understand what I present and are supportive of my comments and recommendations. I thank them.

My motivation for writing articles about electrical systems, use of renewable energy in Alaska, and issues of climate concerns is to ensure people of Alaska are provided truth facts to guide them to a right and proper understanding and application of energy resources and to what urgency energy progress must be done. When I work on an electrical design I make sure I know what problem is to be solved or what objective is to be met and then make sure that this is kept in mind during the entire design, building and installation processes.

I have been investigating renewable and alternate energy resources since 1980 with consideration for their application for remote communities. Diesel fuel was expensive and at high risk of spill. Gathering wood is very time consuming. I have lived remotely in Alaska where the temperature got to -73oF. I am qualified by training, education and experience to discuss the range of topics I cover.

And, yes I will go against the reports of thousands of climatologist if what they advocate is wrong, is in error. In graduate school I studied physical oceanography, which included wind waves, ocean currents, tides and tidal currents. I also studied meteorology, in which I learned of measurements of air temperature, winds, radiation, rainfall and other features. In my studies of Arctic Engineering, I learned about permafrost, soil temperatures, snow, ice (including sea ice), and other aspects of the Arctic.

Then, with more than 50 years’ experience as an engineer in Alaska, I have successfully engineered systems and overseen their installation, to work with the environments we have in Alaska.

I support wind, solar or other renewable energy sources to be connected to the Railbelt Electrical system when done to solve a particular problem to benefit the system as long as done with a free market approach, with a goal to provide cheap electricity reliably and is not done through any legislated mandates.

There are practical reasons to have renewable energy resources incorporated into the Railbelt system. One application would be microgrids scattered through the system to provide power to isolated sections of the Railbelt system to provide local power when there are system wide outages. Battery energy storage systems have been proven over the last 20 years to provide stabilization for the electrical systems.

At least one commenter thinks that I might not have sufficient ability, capability or access to proper data to make an assessment of temperature data in Alaska. Others wonder if I had access to HAD-CRUT (Hadley Centre/Climatic Research Unit Temperature) raw data. Much of the analysis on the HAD-CRUT and other data have been analyzed by comparing average annual temperatures which provide a very steep increase(to show global warming) for the years with less cold temperatures, but do not disclose that the high temperatures are still within normal range and show no great warming trend. This was the point of my earlier article in which I questioned whether or not Alaska is warming 2 to 4 times faster than the rest of the planet.

My positions have been:

• Inclusion of renewable energy sources to the Railbelt Electrical system requires long term energy storage such as pumped hydro to provide the greatest benefit;
• Any addition or modification of the electrical system must be done according to best and proper engineering practice and must be incorporated to solve a particular problem or provide improvement to the system;
• Legislation to impose RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standard) and other forms of mandated increase of renewable (wind and solar) are not needed, but demonstrated need and free market forces should be trusted;
• Cook Inlet gas production needs to be stepped up immediately and expanded sufficiently to ensure the Railbelt utilities can provide electricity and heat year round to ensure safety and economy for the Railbelt for the foreseeable future. In the meantime our future fuel supply can be determined and secured;
• Alaska is not warming 2 to 4 or even 2 to 3 times faster than the rest of the planet. Temperature data has been in a form that is misleading. The temperatures are not warming, we have just had less cold in recent winters.

I will continue to present additional information and comments on these and related topics and they will all be topics well within my capability and qualification to discuss. We will present truth and evaluate the energy requirements and the condition and needs of Alaska and its people fully and accurately. For those who doubt, keep reading. I hope to final convince you of the actual reality we live in.

Robert Seitz is a professional electrical engineer and lifelong Alaskan.