Shaping Alaska’s Future: Legislative Advocacy 2025

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Legislative session starts in just a week and a half, on January 21st. Are you ready to join us for another big year of advocacy? Here’s what you need to know:

With the election outcomes we saw this year, we’re anticipating that voting rights will be a big part of the conversation this legislative session. As voting by mail becomes increasingly popular, you might be surprised to know that Alaska law still contain serious barriers for those trying to cast mail-in ballots. First, there’s the witness signature requirement. In the 2022 all-mail special election, thousands of ballots were thrown out because voters didn’t include a witness signature. It would be one thing if this rule was making our elections more secure, but in fact, these witness signatures are never checked for authenticity, and state lawyers have been unable to name a single case of this law being used to detect fraud. To make matters worse, if you forget a witness signature, or make any other mistake on your ballot, there is no way for it to be fixed after you mail it in—your ballot will simply be thrown out and your vote will not be counted.

We’re working to fix this in the coming legislative session. Our proposed changes include removing the witness signature requirement and creating a process for “curing” ballots so that a voter’s vote can still be counted if they make an honest mistake on their ballot. We are also working to create a recurring vote by mail list, so that people who vote by mail year after year do not need to fill out a new application every election cycle. These changes would remove unnecessary barriers preventing all Alaskans from making their voices heard. If you believe that all Alaskans should have a voice and a seat at the decision-making table, sign our petition supporting voting reforms!

Sign the Petition for Voting Rights

Last year was an exciting year for clean energy legislation – we had some big wins like passing the Community Solar Bill and establishing a Green Bank. And we know that this session will be another chance to solidify our renewable energy future and Alaska’s chance to be a leader for a Just Transition. But we will need your support to get there. Governor Dunleavy released his proposed budget last month, in which he took steps to continue to expand extraction in our state. He proposed funding to advance the Alaska LNG pipeline project toward construction and support permitting of the disastrous West Su Access Road. This road would literally pave the way for a new coal mine in the Mat-Su Borough, endangering air quality, our climate, and local health. 

The proposed budget also includes some investment in renewables, but not a sufficient amount for this critical moment. As gas contracts along the railbelt expire and the climate crisis intensifies, we need to fully fund the Renewable Energy Fund, and continue to build on its success. 

In preparation for our legislative advocacy, we hosted Senator Wielechowski and IBEW Business Leader Doug Tansy at our Clean Power Happy Hour this week to discuss clean energy, good jobs, and the upcoming legislative session. Both panelists talked about the importance of state and federal investment in upgrading our transmission system and adding more storage to the grid. Doug Tansy noted how crucial it is that new clean energy jobs provide real opportunities for Alaskans to stay here and raise their families. He specifically emphasized the intersection of other policy areas like affordable housing and robust education funding for workers to be able to thrive here. 


Senator Wielechowski further highlighted the need for any general obligation bond to serve the state equitably and include the most impactful renewable energy projects that are shovel ready. He went on to give some background on the Renewable Energy Fund and a Renewable Portfolio Standard. The Alaska Center will be strongly advocating for greater investment in renewables through direct funding and policies like an Renewable Portfolio Standard, which would require the utilities to bring more renewables online or pay noncompliance penalties. Will you  join us?

Sign the Petition to Support a Renewable Portfolio Standard This Session!

This is shaping up to be an exciting legislative session. Stay tuned for many more opportunities to get involved this spring!

Best,
The Alaska Center

Bipartisan Majorities: A Win for Alaska’s Future

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Hey all,

If your inboxes are anything like ours, you probably have many messages about dark days, grief, and moving forward. The federal election results portend a big step backward for climate, democracy, and other issues our organization holds dear–but we will continue working diligently every day to fight for a thriving, just, and sustainable future. 

However, this is not a message to process the federal fights to come. This email is a very brief note of hope and an achievement Alaskans can be proud of.

Our electoral goal this year was to maintain a bipartisan coalition in the Senate that’s aligned with our values and gain one back in the House. There’s a goal accomplished: Bipartisan Majorities were announced Wednesday, in both chambers!

This is a huge victory for Alaska. We’ve had a one-chamber bipartisan majority in one chamber since 2016, but this will be the first time since then that we have bipartisan majorities in both chambers. We hope this will mean fewer fights and more progress (shared values, good bills, political strength to do veto overrides when necessary, and more! Think of the possibilities of a functioning government!). 

It’s been a hard week. But there are many, many reasons to hope. We wanted to make sure to share this one with you this Friday.

Best,

The Alaska Center

Legislative Highlights: Celebrating Wins and Community Action in Alaska

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Is it just us, or does spring feel extra busy this year? In a week with multiple elections closing, we hope you are celebrating Suzanne LaFrance’s significant lead in the Mayoral runoff and plan on joining us Friday for the Chugach Electric Annual Meeting! – we also watched closely as the 2024 Alaska state legislative session came to a close. 

During the final few days of the session, we saw many of our clean energy and climate priorities across the finish line. We’ll have more to come on what this means for our next steps, but for now, we’re excited to share this brief recap. 

PASSED! Community Solar (SAVE Act)
The Alaska Center has worked closely with Alaska Public Interest Research Group outwardly and behind the scenes over the past year to move a community solar bill forward. The goal of the legislation is to allow more people to access clean energy, by subscribing to solar arrays or other clean energy generation that is centrally located rather than placed on individual properties.  We informed the public about community energy, testified ourselves, and encouraged supporters to call or write in to provide testimony, and met with legislators to answer specific questions and concerns about community energy programs. The bill went through many iterations and ultimately became known as the SAVE Act (Saving Alaskans money with Voluntary community Energy). 

In late April, the SAVE Act passed the Senate unanimously, with Senators from various parties and districts speaking in favor of the legislation on the floor. We celebrated but knew we had to keep working to get the word out about the bill and clarify any concerns raised on the House side. Finally, this week, the bill passed the House and will head to Governor Dunleavy’s desk for his signature. 

We are so excited to see community energy programs launch in Alaska and view this as one step toward a more equitable energy future. 

PASSED! Green Bank 
Late Wednesday night, before gaveling out for the year, the legislature passed a bill with language to create a Green Bank. A Green Bank is a financial entity that leverages private financing and invests in renewable energy technology like heat pumps, electric vehicle charging stations, and more critical new infrastructure that a traditional financial institution is less likely to finance. The bill states that the entity “serves a public purpose benefitting the people of the state” by financing sustainable energy development. 

Alaska’s Green Bank will be housed under the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, a community-oriented agency, that will strive to invest in renewables in a way that best serves the people of Alaska. We look forward to finding opportunities to collaborate with the Green Bank to ensure a transparent and just process. 

STILL WORK TO BE DONE! Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)
Although multiple versions of renewable or clean energy standards were introduced this session, they ultimately did not move forward. Utility providers themselves were heavily involved in the conversation, as both Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA) and Chugach Electric Association (CEA) took up the issue in their own Board meetings. CEA passed a formal resolution in support of a general RPS, but raised issues with the specifics of the legislative proposals. Utility providers generally expressed concerns about the grid’s transmission capacity and limitations, the exact percentages included in proposals, and the enforcement mechanisms associated with standards. 

Grid transmission capacity ultimately became a major focus of the session (more on that below).  In terms of enforcement, we spoke with partners about alternatives to fines or penalties, which utilities said risked raising rates for consumers. One option is to provide significant incentives for meeting goals. Either way, we believe it will only be possible to actually meet these goals if there is some related consequence for achieving them or failing to do so. 

The Alaska Center will continue to advocate for a state standard to be set to ensure we are on track to reduce our overall carbon output. 

PASSED! Railbelt Transmission 
We wrote to you last month to update you on the shift to transmission that took place in the energy space this year. With various bills and conflicting views on the most efficient way forward, this was a complex legislative issue. We weighed in by providing testimony and written analysis throughout the process, as well as meeting directly with legislators about the various transmission issues being addressed. 

First, $30 million was included in the budget as the first phase of a state match for GRIP (Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships) funding. This federal grant of $206 million requires a state match, and will be used to upgrade elements of our transmission system, which is key to our ability to send renewable energy from wherever it is generated to wherever the power is needed at that moment. 

The final transmission legislation got rid of duplicative charges to reduce the overall costs of sending energy up and down the railbelt, updated requirements for commissioners to serve on the Regulatory Commission of Alaska, and addressed the taxation of new power projects. It also created a new organization under the Alaska Energy Authority called a railbelt transmission organization (RTO) but left planning in the hands of the existing Railbelt Reliability Council. Instead, this RTO will focus on cost recovery of transmission operations. 

An efficient and upgraded transmission system is a critical part of our clean energy infrastructure, and we look forward to thinking about the next steps in the coming year. 

STILL WORK TO BE DONE! Voting Rights 
Voting rights were a hot topic this session and both the House and the Senate attempted to pass substantial updates to our current systems and policies. HB 4 (the repeal of open primaries and ranked choice voting (RCV)) had a hearing on day one of the session, and HB 129 (purging voter rolls), moved quickly out of the House and into the Senate for consideration. The Senate then turned HB 129 from a bad voting rights bill into a good voting rights bill by adding a provision to remove the witness signature requirement on mail-in ballots, adding a system to fix mistakes on ballots, and allowing Alaskans to register to vote on election day. 

Unfortunately, the House would not support these provisions and this bill did not make it over the finish line. What does this mean for voting rights? It means that many of our leaders and community members want to see voting rights expanded, and that next year we will work even harder to pass positive voting reforms. The repeal of ranked-choice voting and open primaries will likely be on the ballot this November, so we will continue to update you on how you can take action to protect our democracy. 

PASSED! Juneteenth Bill
Finally, at 11:05pm the House voted to pass SB 22 – establishing Juneteenth Day as a legal holiday. Juneteenth is a crucial recognition of our shared history, emphasizing the central role of Black leaders. Specifically in Alaska, many of those leaders were brought up to build both the physical and the political infrastructure of this state, moving Alaska toward statehood. By officially recognizing Juneteenth, we honor the labor and sacrifice Black communities contribute and we join the rest of the nation in one day of celebration and liberation. Thanks to our leaders and community members for helping this get across the finish line! If you are in Anchorage, stop by and say hi at our booth at the Anchorage Juneteenth Celebrations on June 15 and 16!  

We are grateful to the many elected officials who worked hard this session to move forward highly technical, politically charged, and crucial bills for our climate and our communities. We are looking forward to a summer full of advocacy to prepare for what the next session has in store for us! Stay tuned!

Powering forward together,
The Alaska Center

Beyond Bill Numbers: Clean Energy Update

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It’s the year of energy legislation in Alaska – and we’ve seen lots of big ideas introduced in Juneau. As bills make their way through committees and amendments, none of them come out looking exactly the same as the version that was introduced. To that end, we want to highlight the clean energy issues that have popped up in various bills, and update you on our focus: getting clean energy online now.  

THE GOOD NEWS 

We have seen multiple efforts to create new standards along the railbelt for renewable/clean energy generation. The Chugach Electric Association passed a resolution supporting a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) in general, but has not publicly taken a position on any specific bill. While the details of these proposals look different, the basic effect is that utilities along the railbelt (like Chugach Electric Association, Homer Electric Association, and others) would be required to get some amount of their energy from renewable or clean energy sources by a certain deadline. Many states have standards like this, and it is imperative that we develop similar standards in Alaska to achieve our vision of a Just Transition. Critically, these standards mean nothing unless backed by either an enforcement mechanism or a significant incentive for utilities to meet these goals – we have seen nonbinding aspirations like 50% renewable by 2025 fail to materialize without these things. 

Legislation has also been introduced that would make renewable energy more accessible to many Alaskans through a program called Community Solar. This would allow Alaskans who cannot directly install solar panels on their property to subscribe to a solar array elsewhere, opting into renewable energy even if they rent, have a suboptimal property for generation, or do not have the upfront capital to install solar panels. It would also allow Alaskans to develop solar arrays or run of the river hydro projects, and sell the energy generated directly to the local utility provider. This tool for getting more renewables online and in use has been rolled out in 43 states – which gives us the opportunity to learn from the experiences of others as we get things started here. 

Bills to create a Green Bank have been introduced in both the House and Senate in Alaska, which would create an energy independence fund to leverage private financing and invest in renewable energy technology. This could fund things like heat pumps, electric vehicle charging stations, and more critical infrastructure that a traditional financial institution is less likely to finance. More information about Green Banks can be found here. 

And finally, we’ve heard calls to match the federal government’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) funding awarded to Alaska. The U.S. Department of Energy has allocated $206,500,000 to the Alaska Energy Authority for railbelt resiliency, which will allow our state to modernize transmission infrastructure and make our grid more efficient and affordable across the railbelt. This funding requires the state to make a dollar-for-dollar match. We strongly urge the legislature to allocate a state match to federal GRIP funding in order to secure these critical infrastructure upgrades.

THE BAD NEWS 

At the same time, we’ve seen some troubling things put forth that threaten Alaska’s energy future. While you may have heard about the shocking inclusion of coal as “clean energy,” here’s what else we find concerning about proposed energy legislation this session. 

Rather than focusing on transitioning to alternative energy sources, some legislators are making efforts to expand oil and gas production within our state. One bill suggests creating a working group made up of resource developers and related legislators, whose sole purpose would be “to determine methods to increase oil and gas exploration and production in the state.” Others suggest pouring more public money into subsidizing the oil and gas industry directly, or reducing taxes for gas exploration and production. Whatever the method, we oppose formalizing the favoritism of an extractive industry over renewable energy development. 

Finally, we’ve heard concern that new renewable energy cannot be brought online until grid transmission upgrades have been made. We disagree. Though our railbelt transmission system is in need of physical and policy upgrades, we must move forward on every step of the transition process now in order to reach our decarbonization goals by 2040. 

THE TAKEAWAY

As we close in on the first half of the 2024 legislative session, you can call your legislators and let them know that you support investment in renewable energy for Alaska. While bill numbers may come and go, our message is simple: we must use every tool we have to transition to renewable energy sources now. In order to avoid the most devastating impacts of climate change and secure a liveable future for ourselves and generations to come, we cannot afford to wait.

Thank you for standing with us in pursuit of clean energy. Let’s make 2024 a turning point for renewable energy in Alaska!

Warmly,
The Alaska Center

Spring Into Action: Protecting Democracy in Alaska’s Elections

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Dear Friend,

It’s spring (or at least false spring) here in Alaska, and that means local and state-wide elections are right around the corner. Whether you’re refreshing your browser, waiting for national primary results, or attending cozy coffee shop chats put on by your favorite mayor or state leg candidate, voting is on the mind of many of us – including our state legislators.  

We’re one month through the session, and our Representatives have been busy bees when it comes to voting legislation – HB 4 (the repeal of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV)) had a hearing on day one of the session, and HB 129 (purging voter rolls), has already moved out of the House and into The Senate State Affairs Committee. Purging might sound like something you’d do to your closet during spring cleaning, but it’s anything but tidy when it comes to voting rights. “Purging” or “cleaning up” the voting rolls involves deleting voters from the rolls when they have moved, passed away, or become ineligible to vote. Maintaining the accuracy of the roles is important, but when done irresponsibly – like removing large swaths of voters, for instance –  it can be used as a tool for voter suppression and disenfranchisement. Imagine voters discovering they’re no longer listed as eligible voters when they arrive at the polling place on Election Day. This particular bill seems benign on its face – but a lot can change over the course of a session. Purging voting rolls paired with the repeal of Automatic Voter Registration, for instance, would be a recipe for disaster for voters. That’s why we are watching this bill closely.  

If you’ve ever been torn between two candidates and wished you could vote for both, then RCV is your political cup of tea. But the real tea is the work happening to repeal it. With RCV, voters can rank their candidates in order of preference, ensuring their voice is still heard even if their top pick doesn’t win. RCV has been shown to elect more BIPOC, women, and moderate candidates (that’s why we support it) and, therefore, has struck the ire of those with polarizing political ideologies. As we mentioned, HB 4 (the current vehicle for RCV repeal) has already had a hearing this session and has passed out of committee despite the overwhelming public testimony in opposition last year. This Senate has been protecting our right to vote like a mama bear protecting her cubs, so we don’t anticipate an RCV repeal passing this session. But if you have been watching the news, you may know that it’s possible a repeal could be on the ballot this November. Whether through legislation or ballot measure, a repeal of RCV would be bad for voters and bad for Alaska. Many of you showed up and testified last session, we will likely need that support again soon. We will keep you posted. 

Democracy is not a spectator sport – it’s an interactive experience where every voice matters. Whether embracing new voting systems like RCV, ensuring ballot integrity through curing, or fighting for equal access to the polls, we must remember that democracy is a journey, not a destination. Democracy isn’t just about casting a vote – it’s about shaping the future. So keep paying attention and taking action! And, of course, please vote like your rights depend on it! 

With commitment to our shared future,

The Alaska Center

Breaking Down the Alphabet Soup: Big Win for Renewable Energy!

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Navigating the clean energy world can feel like staring at a bowl of alphabet soup. “Did you hear GVEA & CEA voted for an RPS that would fall under RCA and RRC jurisdiction?” For those of us who didn’t totally follow that, we’ll break down what happened during the first few weeks of the legislative session, and what that means for clean energy in Alaska – without using any acronyms. 

During the week of January 22, the two largest electric utility providers in Alaska passed resolutions in support of a Renewable Portfolio Standard.

A Renewable Portfolio Standard would establish a timeline for utility providers along the railbelt to transition to more renewable energy sources. We believe that this transition is not only critical for addressing our rapidly changing climate, but also for securing stable and reliable opportunities for Alaskans as the clean energy sector jobs continue to expand and oil and gas jobs decrease. 

In Fairbanks, the Golden Valley Electric Association unanimously adopted a statement that indicates general support for the goals of a Renewable Portfolio Standard, but outlines specific concerns about the current version of the bill in the state legislature. The following evening in Anchorage, the Chugach Electric Association passed a resolution supporting the establishment of a Renewable Portfolio Standard for the state. 

We are thrilled to see these utility providers recognize the importance of a Renewable Portfolio Standard, and now we’re asking the legislature to take the next step.

The current Renewable Portfolio Standard bills in the state legislature are Senate Bill 101 and House Bill 121, which propose a transition to 80% renewable energy by 2040. In order to work out the details and address concerns raised by utilities, legislative committees must hold public hearings on these bills and allow the legislative process to function. Call your legislators and let them know you would like to see a hearing scheduled! 

Also before the end of January, the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 152, which would establish a Community Solar program. This program would allow Alaskans to purchase shares in solar gardens that are not on their own properties, opening solar power up to many more consumers and creating more job opportunities in our state. It would create standards for all utilities along the railbelt that are subject to the oversight of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska. 

Great news: this is widely popular! Several of you called or wrote in to testify in support of Community Solar, and many more of you signed a petition online supporting the bill. No action was taken on the issue following the hearing, as legislators had additional questions for utility providers who were unable to be present due to weather conditions. 

Don’t let the alphabet soup get in the way of advocating for your community. All of these acronyms add up to big potential for our state, and you don’t have to be an energy expert to take action now. Sign up here to get involved with our advocacy, and stay tuned for how you can continue to support these major policy issues throughout the legislative session!

Together for a renewable future,

The Alaska Center

That’s All Folks!

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The first round of the 33rd Alaska State Legislature is neatly wrapped up, and our lawmakers and their staff are integrating back into the civilian world for the summer. The drama, bruised sentiments, blather, tweets, accusatory statements, pointed fingers, shouts, and slammed doors of the winter session grow less poignant by the day. Alaska Spring has a way of interceding in human affairs. The anger a lawmaker may carry about a bill not getting its due treatment in committee is sure to be unsettled by the ancient cry of a sandhill crane, the smell of cottonwood buds on the wind, or the moose calf ambling across the highway ahead. (Watch out!)

There is a lot that these folks should be proud of as they fade out of the spotlight and into the summer fray. The legislature passed a significant investment into public education – the largest ever in state history. They passed legislation establishing the month of October as Filipino American History Month; they passed legislation to regulate the use and disposal of the “forever chemical” PFAS found in firefighting foams; they began work on a state Renewable Portfolio Standard to have utilities sell 80% renewable generated electricity by 2040; a Community Solar bill was introduced to allow more Alaskans the benefits of low-cost solar power; an omnibus election bill was heard which would allow greater access to the voting process; the state’s Renewable Energy Grant fund was extended indefinitely, and numerous clean energy projects were funded. Necessary for our salmon habitat, the legislature did not allow a state take-over of wetland development permitting duties, which would have led to decreased oversight.

The design of our Democracy serves to slow-roll, often for the best, so we are not surprised that few bills passed this spring. The process is messy, and the 33rd Alaska State Legislature is a completely imperfect and exhausting bundle of humanity, and we love it. It may not be the most remarkable legislature, but Ranked Choice Voting has produced a huge crop of freshmen and moderates, which benefits the state’s health. Alaska has enormous problems, from suicide rates to climate change, and getting away from partisan divisions is crucial. What the 33rd does next session hopefully will be a step toward the betterment of Alaska. It is time that the Governor, the Senate Bi-Partisan Majority, and the House Mish-Mash-Maybe-Majority put their collective shoulder to the wheel and work on a plan.
Whether the legislature is in session or not, our plan at The Alaska Center is to continue advocating for increased voting rights and voting access, increased renewable energy production, and increased equity and justice – in schools, workplaces, homes, and everywhere else. We will fight to protect salmon from habitat loss, climate change, and bycatch.

We will keep our eyes on the horizon for a special session on some broad-based tax proposal, rumored to be scheduled for September or October. We truly appreciate all of the support and feedback you have provided and the work you have put in this session reaching out to lawmakers on issues important to you. Constituent contact is vital to an elected official, even if they don’t give you the answer you may want to hear or any answer at all.

Never ever, ever give up.

Herein follows a brief note from the author (who is headed out to Bristol Bay for gillnetting soon and will be departing The Alaska Center for future pursuits):

“I appreciate you all, and have learned more over the past eight years at The AK Center than I have space to put in words right here in this email/blog. There is no easy way to define the work of this organization. What I can say is this is a non-profit that seeks to empower youth to fight for things that will help them live lives of abundance.
You can always reach out to me directly at louieflora@hotmail.com.
Be excellent to each other,”

Louie Flora/The Alaska Center

Climate Hope in the Community Solar Garden

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Following a familiar pattern – the regular legislative session went into special session – and then in a surprise move at the last minute, voted on a budget with more minority members than majority, and the House did not go into conference committee. Remember: you can always be surprised! Despite messy gridlock and the constant strain of the PFD there are brightnesses among what became of the regular session, and we are pleased to announce the introduction of our top legislative priority – Community Solar garden legislation – SB 152 – on May 15th. We have been working behind the scenes with friends and allies in the legislature for months to see it born, and we are pleased it is now out in the world.

Take Action on Community Solar

SB 152 will clarify the rules for communities wishing to create a Community Solar garden. Generally, a solar garden is a solar panel array that is larger than a single residential array and can benefit renters and others who do not have the space or the financial means to purchase and install their own solar panels. The bill strives to ensure that more Alaskans, those in underserved communities, and those at the lower end of the income spectrum can participate in clean, affordable Solar.

Through our current Solarize programs, we have seen tremendous support for solar. We have always worked to make solar more accessible, and this bill would be a significant step in the right direction. 79,000 Alaskans live below the Federal poverty level, and over 260,000 Alaskans live in rental housing. Community Solar is the smart economic choice because it will reduce energy costs for Alaskans.
All Alaskans deserve to be a part of a renewable future. Community Solar helps lower-income and historically disadvantaged groups at the frontline of our climate crisis get direct access to the benefits of renewable energy and ensures benefits of renewable energy are shared more broadly. Community Solar is a step in the right direction toward climate justice. It’s the simplest, most equitable, and least expensive way to decarbonize Alaska’s energy system!

Current regulations do not allow Alaskans to pursue “Community Solar,” we believe that renewables are a necessary part of a just transition, and this bill will remove some of the barriers that keep too many Alaskans dependent on extractive energies and give them more agency in their utilities. Additionally, Community Solar is poised to become much more common thanks to a new $7 billion fund tied to the Inflation Reduction Act. This federal infusion of funds for a myriad of renewable energy programs and projects will redefine Alaska’s energy mix – and we want Community Solar to be a significant part of this.

At The Alaska Center, we work to bring more awareness to the power people have in the decisions about their utilities. From elections to legislation. We are stoked to celebrate the introduction of Community Solar legislation and the CEA election turnout this week! We hope you are planning to join us tomorrow for our Annual Auction at the Anchorage Museum. (If you haven’t scooped up those tickets yet, we will have a few tickets at the door remaining.) And if you can’t make it…you can always celebrate from afar by bidding on some pretty sweet silent auction items.

It feels fortuitous that our theme this year is “Climate Justice/Climate Hope.” Each of our legislative priorities in this session is key to working for climate justice and forging climate hope and we are seeing the shift in real time. From democracy legislation to clean water protections and renewable energy accessibility, each is needed to achieve our goals of a just transition for our state. And each of you is necessary to make these legislative priorities happen. We are excited to see you tomorrow to reconnect, dance, dine, drink and move forward in our work together!

HB 4 – The Fatal Distraction

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[cs_content][cs_element_section _id=”1″ ][cs_element_layout_row _id=”2″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”3″ ][cs_element_text _id=”4″ ][cs_content_seo]Wedge issues are great at distracting folks from actual problems. Are the highest healthcare costs in the nation bleeding your family dry? Is your kid’s education system sinking into disrepair? The Alaska State Legislature’s House Majority has a solution – hold a bunch of hearings on the repeal of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV). No fiscal plan? No worries – The House Majority is here to the rescue, to rile you with culture wars, to baffle you with BS.
HB 4 to repeal RCV is not a must-have issue for the legislature to gavel out. An increase in education funding is. It is well known in the capitol that HB 4 will not pass the state Senate. It is also known that a petition is being circulated out in Alaska to get a repeal of RCV on the ballot. That combo seems to indicate that these last-minute hearings on HB 4 are designed to maintain publicity and right-wing outrage on the issue as we enter the prime summer signature-gathering months.
Considering that RCV passed and has been successfully tested through an election cycle, has helped seat a moderate state Senate and has a savvy and passionate army of supporters – it will be a massive street fight if the repeal effort gets enough votes to go up on the ballot, one that has a high likelihood of ending with the full retention of the RCV statute.
The vast majority of testifiers on HB 4 are opposed. Many testifiers have asked the sponsor to table the bill, to focus on real issues. While we agree with this sentiment, it is also likely that the House Majority will ride this issue to a floor vote to get politicians on the record with their sentiment toward RCV. HB 4 did garner an additional recommendation to send it to the House Finance Committee, which could indicate that some members of the Majority leadership wish to either slow-roll the bill or prolong the agony.
Good election laws are fundamental to bringing more people to the table to move good and efficient government forward. Unlike HB 4, which merely seeks to divide and politicize and constrict voting, SB 138, which was heard this week in the Senate Finance Committee, would help more Alaskans be a part of the solution to our numerous actual problems.
SB 138 seeks to establish a ballot-curing process, which would allow absentee voters to fix benign mistakes with their ballots. In the 2022 special election primary, we saw high ballot rejection rates for easily correctable issues. It would improve the absentee voting experience by removing the witness signature requirement, a major reason why ballots were rejected last year, and allowing voters to vote absentee for future regularly scheduled elections. It would allow voters to register within 30 days of an election, including Election Day, and it would allow for pre-pay postage for absentee ballots.
As this legislative session concludes, it often feels like a record with an artificially sped-up tempo. You almost expect committee hearings to be conducted in staccato chipmunk voices. Bills on the move usually lurch forward unpredictably. It is a strange time, and a lot can happen quickly. Priorities emerge, and opportunities are exploited. We predict that SB 138 is preparing to hibernate for the interim in the Senate Finance Committee and that the House Majority will push to move HB 4 along despite the crosswinds of public opposition. The time the legislature has left is precious; how they use it has consequences for all of us. An energy-sapping policy like HB 4 impedes and tarnishes the work of the whole.
Yours in politely asking for a more thoughtful approach,
The Alaska Center
PS – The online silent auction is OPEN! Support our work; follow the button below to check out over 200 awesome offerings from local Alaskan businesses and individuals. The silent auction will close Saturday, May 20th at 6:45 pm.
From art to experiences and so much more, there is something for everyone. Even if you can’t make it to the auction and celebration, you can still place a bid to support our work for Climate Justice and Climate Hope, no matter where you are!

\n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_button _id=”5″ ][cs_content_seo]Start Bidding Now\n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_gap _id=”6″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][cs_element_layout_row _id=”7″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”8″ ][cs_element_button _id=”9″ ][cs_content_seo]Bills To Watch\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_layout_column][cs_element_layout_column _id=”10″ ][cs_element_button _id=”11″ ][cs_content_seo]More Hot Takes In A Cold Place\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][/cs_element_section][/cs_content]

Another Great Race

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[cs_content][cs_element_section _id=”1″ ][cs_element_layout_row _id=”2″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”3″ ][cs_element_button _id=”4″ ][cs_content_seo]TAKE ACTION: Tell the House and Senate Finance Committees to support a Green Bank for Alaska!\n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_gap _id=”5″ ][cs_element_text _id=”6″ ][cs_content_seo]We are familiar with races against time in Alaska: think of the Serum Run of 1925, where brave mushers relayed diphtheria antitoxin to the people of Nome through minus eighty temperatures to save the population from devastation by the spreading epidemic. Think of a salmon season when millions of fish pass through a fishing district at the peak of the run and fisherfolk catch as much as they can hold because soon the peak will pass. Think of all the birds and beasts out there feasting furiously in the months of light to get enough fat for winter or migration. Think of the end of the legislative session when staff and lawmakers endure marathon floor sessions, often all night long, trying to get their priorities addressed before the last gavel falls.
The home stretch is before our lawmakers, the end is nigh (May 17th), and it is motivation enough to move some bills along. The obvious trouble is that 60 legislators and a governor are shepherding bills forward with numerous pinch points and gates along the way. Only eight bills have passed the legislature so far this session. We can expect a few more but not many. Traffic is backed up for miles. 
The Governor’s bills to establish an Energy Independence Fund (aka a Green Bank), HB 154 and SB 125 are in the House and Senate Finance Committees. It is crucial these bills pass the legislature this session for a few reasons. States with established Green Banks are in a more competitive position to receive federal funding for clean energy programs under the $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Funds are to be allocated by September 2024. Since it will take time for the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation to establish the Green Bank after it is signed into law, it makes great sense for the legislature to act now. The next twelve days could determine whether we are eligible and prepared for a massive investment in clean energy and transportation projects that will save Alaskans billions of dollars on electric, home heating, gasoline, diesel, and car maintenance bills. No pressure!
Federal investment tax credits for renewable energy projects were extended for a ten-year period under the Inflation Reduction Act. Another clear reason for the AK Legislature to pass a Green Bank this year is that the clock is ticking on the decade of available tax credits. These are significant, historic tax credits. With a Green Bank to provide low-interest financing and tax credits to incentivize purchases, energy efficiency construction projects, and rooftop and community solar projects will skyrocket in Alaska, providing good-paying jobs. By not moving the Green Bank bills this year, another year in the life of the IRA tax credits will be gone.
The race is on. Tell the House and Senate Finance Committees to prioritize HB 154 and SB 125 this session. Time is money, as they say.  
Urgently yours,
The Alaska Center

\n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_button _id=”7″ ][cs_content_seo]A Green Bank is Good For Alaska!\n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_gap _id=”8″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][cs_element_layout_row _id=”9″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”10″ ][cs_element_button _id=”11″ ][cs_content_seo]Bills To Watch\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_layout_column][cs_element_layout_column _id=”12″ ][cs_element_button _id=”13″ ][cs_content_seo]More Hot Takes In A Cold Place\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][/cs_element_section][/cs_content]