Alaska Governor Sean Parnell Sends Letter to DOE Secretary Chu Accepting State Energy Program Funds
Governor Sean Parnell said that he respects the Alaska State Legislature’s authority to override vetoed state energy stimulus funds. Today, Governor Parnell sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, providing required assurances to accept the $28.6 million in funds for Alaska.The Alaska State Legislature voted 45-14 to override Governor Sarah Palin’s veto of the funds.
“I respect the Legislature’s right to override the veto,” Governor Parnell said. “Given today’s action, we have applied for the funds in the least restrictive manner possible. I strongly believe that local communities should retain the option to set their own building energy codes.
“These funds can be spent for a broad range of energy-efficiency and renewable-energy purposes. I am committed to making effective use of these dollars to reduce energy costs for public facilities and to support ongoing energy-efficiency programs.”
Governor Parnell Letter to Sec. Chu –
H.B. 199, in which the Alaska Legislature overrode former Governor Palin’s veto, can be found here.
