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Imagine enduring Alaska's winter without power.

For the 20 or so Kenai Peninsula residents who attended the joint House and Senate Special Committees on Energy hearing Friday, that fear topped their list of concerns.

"We have no contingencies at this point in time," said Rep. Charisse Millett, who chaired the meeting. And brownouts or rolling blackouts are a real possibility, she added.

Last winter the peninsula came close to running out of gas, especially during peak usage, she said.

"It is a real concern, not just for Kenai," Millett said.

"We need to have a viable solution for preventing a brownout or a blackout," she said. "I just think we need someone to take the lead."

Millett said the state of Alaska is looking to be that "someone."

After holding these hearings throughout the state, legislators have come to the consensus that they need to sit down and facilitate solutions to Alaska's energy concerns, Millett said. She said the Legislature will be working over the next several weeks to come up with a plan for the upcoming winter to ensure the aforementioned circumstances can be prevented.

The state will be teaming up with the various municipalities and utilities throughout the state to draft those contingency plans, Millett added.

Other concerns from the public at Friday's hearing included the rising cost of energy and a Cook Inlet gas pipeline.

Millett said many residents expressed frustration over the state's lack of progress on an in-state gas line. The framework for the project has been completed, though, someone needs to step up and provide the financing for it, she said.

Based on testimony heard at the meeting, peninsula residents are looking for that leadership, Millett said.

It's clear Alaskans have reached the breaking point and want to see action in response to rising energy costs and lack of deliverability, and rightly so, Millett said. She said the problem can't be solved by one branch of government or by one group, but will take many entities working together.

Several government officials spoke at the event, including Senate energy chair Sen. Lesil McGuire, House energy co-chair Rep. Bryce Edgmon and House Speaker Mike Chenault.

"We had a good mix of legislators down here," Millett said. "All in all, it was a very successful meeting."

The Legislature's potential override of former Gov. Sarah Palin's veto to accept $28.6 million in federal stimulus funds for the state energy program was also discussed Friday. The special legislative session will be held today where the House and Senate will vote on the veto override.

The money can be used for anything energy efficiency-related, except for research and development and it can't be used to purchase land. If the state refuses the funds, the money will be placed back into the federal treasury.

Alaska remains the last state yet to accept all of the stimulus funds offered.

Should the Legislature override Palin's veto, Gov. Sean Parnell would have until Sept. 30 to request the money. It would be his decision where that money is then spent.

It takes 45 votes to override a veto.

Mike Nesper can be reached at mike.nesper@peninsulaclarion.com.