> Back | Freya Chay - Changing Legislation in Alaska for Renewable Energy Systems

Posted: Wednesday, March 02, 2011

As a KCHS freshman, Freya Chay's Caring for the Kenai (CFK) idea was to give private property owners an incentive to invest in alternative energy sources by making such investments free from added property value. Starting at the Borough Assembly level she learned it would take state legislation to make that possible. Through Rep. Mike Chenault and Kurt Olson, Chay lobbied to have an amendment added to an energy bill that then passed the Alaska House and Senate. After taking top prize in the 2010 CFK competition she was then able to convince Governor Parnell to sign the legislation into law, which he did last June.

Last fall Chay was selected as one of six students nationally to receive the esteemed Brower Youth Award, including a $3,000 cash prize and trip to San Francisco for the presentation. And on February 16th she was selected to receive the Alaska Spirit of Youth Award in the category of Business and Government and will be honored March 19th at a statewide ceremony at the Anchorage Marriott Hotel. "It's been a pretty exciting year!" Freya told the Kenai Chamber of Commerce at a recent CFK program presentation. "I've met kids that are working in the Amazon with indigenous people, made a friend with a person working on costal issues in Puerto Rico, and other really inspiring youth from around the country and it all started with my Caring for the Kenai project," said Chay.