Energizing Change: Reflections on Chugach Electric Board Elections and Future Goals
Early this spring, we endorsed two pro-renewable, pro-union incumbent candidates for the Chugach Electric Association Board: Mark Wiggin and Sam Cason. We worked hard alongside volunteers and partners to knock nearly 3,000 of our neighbors’ doors, call over 15,000 community members, and send over 4,500 texts to friends, family, and other voters about the candidates.
This year’s total turnout was 14%. While this is slightly lower than last year’s record-breaking turnout, it is still significantly higher than the historic average of about 10% participation. As we spoke with folks in person and on the phones, we heard our hopes confirmed: many of our community members are aware that they have a right to vote in utility elections. We are thrilled to see this greater awareness, and hope the trend continues.
One of our endorsed candidates, Mark Wiggin, won his seat for another four years, while opponent Dan Rogers beat out our other endorsed candidate, former Board Chair Sam Cason. At the first Board meeting after the election, Mark Wiggin was voted in as the new Chair of the Board in a 5-2 vote.
We are eager to see Chair Wiggin continue his leadership on this Board, and for the entirety of Chugach Electric Association to move forward with its work to get more renewable energy online. After we have rested and recharged, it is time to support the Directors in charting the course that is best for our communities and achieves the triple bottom line of reliability, affordability, and sustainability. Member-owners of the utility are always permitted to attend and comment at the public meetings of the Board, which you can find listed on the Chugach website.
Some of the Board’s current focus areas include: the new 500-kilowatt community solar project that will start taking subscriptions later this year; a potential wind power development which could provide 20% of Chugach’s total power needs; updating its facilities to include solar panels on site; and the One Campus plan which will bring all former Municipal Light & Power employees onto the same working campus as the pre-existing Chugach Electric teams.
Additionally, the Board is hearing from experts on emerging technologies, like tidal power. At the most recent Board meeting, Ocean Renewable Power Company presented about the potential in Alaska, which is home to the vast majority of tidal energy in the United States.
If you are interested in getting more involved with your electric utility, but aren’t sure where to start, contact Alex Petkanas at [email protected] to figure out the best way for you to plug in. Board elections are over – now it’s time to get to work!
With Renewable Enthusiasm,
The Alaska Center
Murky Waters Ahead, Troubled Waters Behind: What’s Happening with the Eklutna River?
I can’t say how many times I’ve seen a headline recently asking what is going on with the Eklutna River (Well, actually I can. Twice. Check out Emily Goodykoontz’ and Alex DeMarban’s article or Nat Herz’ podcast. I highly recommend checking out these pieces for a lay of the land understanding of what’s occurred.)
But, my question, and one many people are asking now is: what just happened? And what’s next?
On April 15, the Matanuska Electric Association Board of Directors approved a resolution to send the Final Fish and Wildlife Program to the Governor.
On April 24, the Chugach Electric Association Board of Directors did the same.
The Final Fish and Wildlife Program does not right a historical wrong, and does not give salmon a chance to return to the lake. Instead, it relies on the previously proposed AWWU portal (now called the Eklutna River Release Facility) to restore just 11 miles of the river. The best that it does is offer extremely limited “reopeners” – opportunities for the Project Owners to revisit the project 10 years after the implementation of the proposed Final Program – this would, at the latest, take place in 2042. These reopeners are only helpful if a new technology comes along to allow for cheap fish passage (the project owners have maintained that they won’t pay for it), or inflows to the lake increase dramatically.
We’re entering the final phases of approval of the plan. Although the plan was sent to the Governor, the ball is now in a couple of resource agency’s court: US Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service now have 60 days to submit comments on the final program. After that, the owners of the project will have 30 days to submit responses to these comments.
As it stands, all of this information will be sent to Curtis Thayer, Executive Director of the Alaska Energy Authority. Curtis will then compile a report and submit it to the governor. The governor has to make his decision by October 2nd.
The Alaska Center will continue to call on our utility cooperative to exercise their power to right a historic wrong and restore a free-flowing river from the ocean to the lake that can support salmon – the heartbeat of Alaska.
Four out of five Alaskans who submitted comments on the draft program supported river restoration and/or fish passage. We thank you for lifting your voices throughout these last months. Stay tuned and stay with us!
Stream regards,
The Alaska Center
2024 Chugach Electric Association Endorsements
At The Alaska Center, we work to elect Alaskans who stand up for our clean air and water, healthy communities, and a strong democracy at every level of public leadership: from the federal government down to local board elections. One of these local elections this spring is so small that many people don’t know they have the right to vote – but this Board holds a key role in transitioning us to a sustainable and independent energy future.
Chugach Electric Association is the largest power provider in Alaska, servicing over 144,000 customers in the Anchorage area. Most of that power currently comes from natural gas – which is rapidly becoming less available in Alaska. As the Board holds elections for two open seats this spring, we must elect leaders who can set realistic goals to achieve energy independence in Alaska quickly.
Director Sam Cason and Director Mark Wiggin will do just that. Both of these candidates have been serving on the Board and have filed for reelection this year. The Alaska Center is proud to endorse both candidates, and support them in their efforts to continue their hard work of setting and implementing policy goals for Chugach Electric Association. These candidates are proven community leaders who support harnessing renewable energy here at home, rather than paying exorbitant fees to rely on importing liquefied natural gas long term. We believe that re-electing Directors Cason and Wiggin will keep us on the right path for a fiscally and environmentally sustainable future in Alaska.
“Reliable and cost-effective electric power is an essential part of maintaining a stable community and robust economy.” said Director Mark Wiggin on why he’s running for re-election. Director Sam Cason, when asked why he was running again, stated: “I view this as a generational opportunity to move towards a sustainable and prosperous future for our system, our economy, and our kids.”
Do you get an electricity bill from Chugach Electric Association every month? If so, that means you’re a member and you can vote in Annual Elections to make your voice heard!
Mark your calendars: Voting opens on April 17. Members will receive an email with information on electronic voting. If you do not receive your ballot or have other questions, call (907) 762-4489 to make sure your information is up to date. Electronic voting closes May 17th, but members can also vote in person on May 17th at the Chugach Electric Association Annual Meeting.
Your vote in this election is crucial in shaping our energy future in Alaska. Vote Cason and Wiggin to ensure that the Chugach Electric Association Board keeps Alaska’s best interests at heart.
Hot Takes in a Cold Place: Something Smells Fishy in Southcentral Alaska
Have you ever attended a public comment meeting that didn’t want the public to comment?
I have.
Six, actually.
All in one week!
The owners of the Eklutna Hydroelectric Project held information–erm, “public comment”–meetings last week in Palmer, Anchorage, and Eagle River.
They were certainly “informational,” to say the least. Charts, numbers, and graphics, oh my. Cherry-picked information to intentionally mislead information could be found throughout, such as:
- Intentionally skimming over the fact that sockeye will be unable to spawn and rear their young in the lake with the current proposed plan
- Claimed to restore 99.6% of habitat (below the dam – failed to mention the miles of potential habitat above the dam).
- Pointed out that 11 out of 12 miles of river will be restored. Which sounds pretty good, if you forget that this is only about 1/3 of historic fish habitat destroyed by the dam.
- Failed to mention that the dam currently supplies just about 2-3% of electricity on the grid. They’d rather mention the percentage that it makes up of their renewables portfolio – why is that, you might ask? Well, potentially because they’ve refused to build their renewables portfolio for so long. But what do I know?
Perhaps the most important thing that the project owners (represented by an out-of-state consulting group…) failed to mention is the century of cultural harm that this dam has inflicted upon the Native Village of Eklutna.
They were, however, eager to mention the negotiation meeting they held with the Native Village of Eklutna in December.
The negotiations meeting… from which NVE’s position was not taken into account in the project proposal.
And I forgot to mention; the Native of Eklutna, on whose land the dam was installed without consultation nor consent, did not get a voice at the meeting. The project owners, quite literally, refused to give the Native Village of Eklutna a seat at the table.
After stripping them of their fish and river for one hundred years, after Eklutna, Inc. has provided land for schools, power plant sites, and utility easements, and at a time in which the country is finally recognizing the need for reparations and tribal sovereignty.
They couldn’t find the time, nor humanity, to give Eklutna people an effective voice in the decision-making about their traditional Eklutna River salmon resources.
Not one chair.
Shameful, rises to mind. A few other words too, but I won’t include those here.
These were not public comment meetings. Sure, they had a table (out of the way of their posters and presentation and scientists) to receive written comments. But the public was not allowed to voice their concerns in a forum for others to hear. When folks did begin to ask questions or provide comments in a public forum, as is typically allowed at a public comment meeting, representatives from MEA and CEA shut them down and directed them to talk with one of their “experts,” in private.
Shameful. Shady. Something smells fishy in Southcentral Alaska. It’s not the Eklutna River. And it doesn’t seem like it will be, anytime soon.
Unless we take action. Join me in telling the project owners what we think about their plan, and their treatment of Eklutna people.
Eklutna, Inc. continues to take the stance that fishing access will be open to all Southcentral anglers once the fish return. Together, we can make this change for the better. For the future.
The most impactful thing you can do right now is submit a unique comment. If you don’t have time, here’s a prefilled comment.
The fish still have a chance. The Native Village of Eklutna still has a chance. Justice still has a chance.
In solidarity for justice and the Eklutna River’s future,
Julian Ramirez, Salmon and Clean Water Organizer
The Alaska Center