Before we pay much more for the biomass, how about calling a couple of geothermal installers for estimates on heating Haines Borough buildings? Geothermal has a good track record for efficiency worldwide and many installations in Southeast, Yukon Territory and the rest of Alaska.

With the old ballfield next to the borough office and library, one could trench in piping. At the Public Safety Building, Sheldon Museum, Senior Center, maintenance and sewer buildings and the bathroom at the Port Chilkoot Dock, punch in some wells.

For the school and pool, piping in the track should do, maybe a well or two. Solar panels on the library would help with electricity. It’s time to design buildings to utilize the relatively free energy of solar heating and electricity and geothermal.

By having a major project at hand, many others may buy in, thus reducing costs, i.e. Chilkoot Indian Association, Klukwan, the Southeast Alaska State Fairgrounds, Aspen Hotel, Haines Brewing Co., Eagles Nest, etc.

With biomass, every load of wood costs money. With solar and geothermal, you start saving once installed. The $1.2 million grant from the biomass should compare other ideas. Hire me for $75 an hour and I’ll pay the phone bills.

Bill Jurgeleit