Barrow slated for $35 million project

Steve Sutherlin

An amendment adopted April 23 to the Senate energy bill includes language authored by Sen. Ted Stevens for the creation of a Barrow arctic research center for climate change research and scientific activities. The $35 million project is intended to replace the decades-old Naval Arctic Research Laboratory in Barrow.

The amendment establishes a national climate change strategy to stabilize greenhouse gas levels without harming the economy, doubles the investment in energy technology research and development, identifies response actions, and expands climate change research, according to a statement by Stevens.

“Regardless of cause there has been a dramatic warming trend in the Arctic areas of Alaska,” Stevens said. “Pack ice, which insulates our coastal villages from winter storms, has shrunk. Increased storm activity has caused significant beach erosion that may displace entire communities along the coastline of Alaska.”