Alaska is upholding our end. Congress must protect federal energy commitments.
The Port of Seward, with a docked cruise ship, is seen on June 19, 2024, from Race Point on Mount Marathon. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/alaska Beacon)
Alaska has a long history of leadership in renewable energy. The state's Renewable Energy Fund, for example, has helped build more than 100 operating projects across Alaska — enabling rural communities to reduce their reliance on costly diesel, and slowing the Railbelt's consumption of Cook Inlet's dwindling natural gas supplies.
Renewable energy investments build real projects in Alaska, generating savings for ratepayers and building our energy security. That's why, as former Republican and Democratic Alaska legislators, we went to bat for policies and investments that helped develop our state's vast renewable resources.
State investment in renewable energy is now bringing in major federal dollars thanks to legislation approved by Congress in 2021 and 2022. The current version of the state budget for the coming year includes close to $100 million in funding for renewables — primarily from federal sources.
Federal investments will support a range of energy projects across the state. There are funds to help electrify port infrastructure in Seward, upgrade rural power systems, weatherize homes to reduce Alaskans' home heating bills, and begin long-needed transmission improvements. These and more projects are described in a recent report, Securing Our Energy Future: Perspectives from Alaskans on the Importance of Federal Clean Energy Incentives.
U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski have been working to ensure previously awarded energy funds are delivered as promised. But there is a fight ahead. The future of federal clean energy incentives is at risk in the coming federal budget process. Our congressional delegation understands the benefits of these federal clean energy incentives for Alaska — and they need to know Alaskans are behind them.
Please join us in urging our delegation — Sen. Sullivan, Sen. Murkowski, and Rep. Begich — to safeguard these powerful tools so Alaska's commitment to renewable energy gets the federal partnership we deserve.
Lesil McGuire, Alan Austerman, Beth Kerttula, Charisse Millett and Harry Crawford are former Alaska lawmakers with a combined 70 years of service in the Alaska Legislature representing constituents in Juneau, Southcentral and Interior Alaska.
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