From Fairbanks Daily News Miner 5-12-09
Gov. Sarah Palin has said she won’t take $28.6 million for energy
conservation work because the law would require a “statewide energy code”
for buildings in Alaska. 
She has also said the money is an attempt to “bribe” the state or local
governments to adopt energy efficiency standards for buildings. 
“Essentially to me it’s a bribe. It’s here, ‘Take these dollars, but you
gotta grow your government. You’re going to have to police this new
program, even enforcement of building codes if you take these dollars,"
Palin said in March. 
At about that same time, Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell said the building code is
one example of how Washington is "trying to overtake Alaska with its
agenda and we are standing against that interference." 
"In Alaska, our freedom is not for sale," Parnell said. 
But it appears the state does not have to adopt a statewide energy code
to qualify for the $28.6 million. 
For example, Missouri is one of several states without a statewide
building or energy code for residential or commercial structures. 
The Department of Energy accepted the proposal from Missouri, which does
not call for a statewide energy code or even a mandatory local code. 
Instead, Missouri proposes to "create model energy efficiency standards
that, if local units of government choose to implement, should reduce
costs for Missourians." 
It is likely that the existing building standards in Alaska's major
communities would be enough to meet the federal mandate if the governor
agreed to accept the federal money. 
The other 49 governors have accepted the money, with some saying they
would ask local authorities to "consider" energy code changes. 
There is more in my column today
http://www.newsminer.com/news/dermotcole/ 
To see the letters from the governors who have accepted the money, go to
http://www.energy.gov/InYourState.htm 
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