Rural energy conference kicks off

According to the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, a three-day rural energy conference is being held in Fairbanks this week, and it kicked off with remarks Tuesday from Willie Hensley. Hensley warned a crowd of about 400 at Fairbanks's Westmark Hotel that Alaska in general, and especially energy-starved rural areas, is about to face hard times. He praised the large-scale efforts to bring energy and economic development to Alaska, including its remote communities, but said, "The big question is 'is that sustainable?'." He said that if Alaskans want to keep increasing their quality of life as available aid and funding for big projects declines, innovation and resourcefulness will be required. Read more about Hensley's remarks and the energy conference itself, here.