History

ACE incorporated by volunteer steering committee led by Charles Konigsberg and including Helen Nienhueser. Initial grant award led to hire of first staff - Jim Kross. ACE awarded contract to produce the first survey of outdoor recreational facilities in the Greater Anchorage Area Borough.

Major split among board and Director whether ACE should be a research/project or grassroots organization.  Grassroots prevailed, Jim Kross left and formed Environmental Services Ltd.  Center was "staffed" by 10-12 half day volunteers.  Grant from Sierra Club Foundation funded publication of Northern Light, a monthly paid advertising insert in the Anchorage Daily News.

ACE became a membership organization.  Five volunteer coordinators (Sharon Cissna, Lanie Fleischer, Odette Foster, Helen Neinhueser, and Peg Tileston) were responsible for 1 day of office coverage a week.

Peter Scholes became 1st full time paid staff under CITA  program. Co-sponsored Governor's State of the Environment address.

Center very active in organizing and planning for national conservation and wilderness areas. Became the coordinating focus for Alaska grassroots organizing for D-2.

ACE founded Anchorage Recycling Center in Spenard warehouse.

Board expanded to include people that had not been volunteers at Center. Major focus of most of the work was on alternative energy. Staff had grown to six.

Trailside Discovery Camp founded.

Cliff Eames hired as first Issues Director.  Cliff establishes ACE leadership in state lands issues and backcountry management.

Land use issues major focus for Center and began work on hazardous waste issues.  Sold Recycling Center to Anchorage Refuse, Inc.

ACE serves as organizing hub in response to Exxon Valdez oil spill.

Valley Alaska Center for the Environment founded as ACE Program, Greenstar founded in partnership with Anchorage Chamber of Commerce and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.

Successfully opposed Mat-Su Valley logging, Celebrated 10 years of Trailside Discovery Camp program. Established GreenStar program.

Stopped illegal Copper River Highway, participated in mental health lands settlement.

Alaska Rainforest Campaign program launched.

11,000 people sign ACE petition to protect Coastal Trail from airport expansion.

ACE signs Settlement Agreement with Municipality of Anchorage regarding Section 36 near Bear Valley, requiring wildlife corridors and open space preservation. ACE (with Trustees for Alaska and Greenpeace) negotiates a settlement with Unocal over Clean Water Act violations to provide start-up funding for Cook Inlet Keeper, an organization dedicated to protecting the Cook Inlet watershed and the life it sustains.

Billboard Ban initiative drive launched, Recycling Summit held, Potter Marsh watershed program initiated, Sutton-Glennallen intertie stopped.

Billboard Ban initiative passed with 72% of statewide vote, 3rd Door-to-door canvas increases ACE membership to over 9000, sponsored Kenai Brown Bear Festival.

ACE invalidates illegal Girdwood Gold Course lease in court based on lease giveaway to private entity at below fair market value.

ACE campaigns successfully for strong cruise ship pollution regulations. Urges Governor to file for additional damages from Exxon related to “re-opener clause” of Exxon Valdez Oil Spill settlement.

After six months of one-stop drop off recycling events in Eagle River, ACE and partner groups successfully establish recycling drop point at landfill to serve Eagle River residents.

Chugach Days Festival launched in Cooper Landing, successfully building support for a wild forest among Kenai residents and businesses. ACE joins seven other groups in filing petition to list AT1 Orcas in Prince William Sound as depleted.

Pioneer Resources relinquishes all Mat-Su Valley leases of "coal-bed methane" after a two-year battle over landowner rights and environmental impacts of CBM development. Anchorage Assembly passes "Pesticide Right-to-Know" legislation requiring good neighbor notification prior to pesticide applications. ACE-led lawsuit strikes down law limiting public access to court system.

ACE campaigns successfully for road and transit bonds in Anchorage, in partnership with Anchorage Tomorrow coalition.  Also supports successful Convention Center proposal.