Regarding the Compass piece by Bob Harris ("Alternative energy can't fulfill Valley's demand," Sept. 14), most may not remember when the Valley primarily heated with coal because it didn't happen. My family has lived here for 30 years: Wood was always the primary energy source. Logical choice since it was abundant, accessible and inexpensive. I remember and still see clouds hovering in the air on cold, clear days. The secondary source was not only coal but also oil and electric.

Harris' assumption that it is not feasible to have clean alternative energy sources such as wind is unrealistic. Other states already use alternative sources and if Matanuska Electric Association would apply the same amount of money to new energy as it does to proposing to build, maintain and supply a coal burning plant, perhaps we could. Idealistic can also mean realistic and the best solution for the Valley energy needs.

Both MEA and Usibelli Coal are spending thousands of dollars to educate MEA consumers. I can't help question why. If coal is as great as they say, why aren't other companies jumping on this wagon, and why the need to educate? Their campaign reminds me of used-car salesmen telling you repeatedly how great a car is. After awhile you wonder why and just want them to prove it.

Mr. Harris, I'm awake, listening and waiting for proof.

---- Kathie Wolf

Wasilla

State's wood-chipping sales are a resource giveaway

"Most producing countries tax oil at 70 percent to 90 percent of the net profits," says Ray Metcalfe, former Alaska state legislator. "Here, we tax it at 7 percent."

Industrial scale wood-chipping, however, is an outright Alaska giveaway -- the state just awarded a bid to NPI for prime birch at about $4.13 a cord! Per Rick Jandreau, Alaska Division of Forestry:

"These sales were never thought of as a large money maker for the state but as an opportunity to support jobs in the Valley and to actively manage forestland for timber, wildlife, and ... other users."

That's Department of Natural Resources drool. For a port-fee pittance and a few temporary jobs, the state and borough are subsidizing the wood-chipping industry to clear-cut Mat-Su's most accessible recreational forests -- and paying to haul off the loot. The state offers road-building "credits," "port improvements" and a $300 million rail spur through Willow -- a project without "economic justification" according to the official "Rail Corridor Study."

The state obviously expects no profitable return from considerable investments of public lands, resources and money in Port MacKenzie and the Willow rail spur. Neither does Mat-Su Borough, according to port director Marc Van Dongen:

"If we didn't have a dime in revenue coming into the port, it would be worth doing what we're doing there just to create jobs."

Especially his own job, I presume.

---- Rudy Wittshirk

Willow

Older, skilled workers are being passed over for jobs

"Dick Cattanach is worried about who is going to build Alaska in the coming years." ("Labor pool wants you," Sept. 9)

There are plenty of us older workers who are being passed up for younger workers, usually unskilled, who are being paid lower wages and working under the licenses of more skilled workers, or contractors who get away with allowing unlicensed laborers do what licensed experienced skilled tradesmen and women should be doing.

He is wrong in this view that there are skilled tradesmen and women ready to retire at 45 or older. I have been passed up on almost every job I've applied for, and I was here to build and weld on the Alaska pipeline and I have 39 years experience in the plumbing, pipefitting, and pipewelding trades.

---- Milton Gilmore

Palmer