Alaska’s Clean Energy Future: What’s at Stake Under Trump

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During the Biden Administration we saw a wave of unprecedented funding for our nation’s infrastructure. Both the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), two pieces of legislation aimed at investing in American infrastructure, included substantial investments for green technology and clean energy projects. While many states have already begun to benefit from these federal dollars, we now risk a rollback that could reverse progress on our energy independence in Alaska. 

Before entering office, President Trump and his transition team promised voters that his administration would make sweeping cuts to our national budget starting on Day One of his presidency. 

On his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order on American energy. The executive order directs all government agencies to pause the “disbursement of funds” appropriated through the BIL and IRA. It goes on to direct the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to review plans for future spending against provisions laid out in the order. These actions put unspent funds at risk of reallocation or new restrictions. 

A good portion of BIL and IRA funding has already been obligated, and therefore is more likely to be distributed as planned. This has done little to ease fears for funding recipients still in the early stages of project implementation, however, who worry that unspent dollars could end up being the subject of future litigation – leading to project delays and added expenses. 

Monday’s executive order is likely just the beginning of directives aimed at federal infrastructure funding. The President has made it clear that Congress should not have the final word on federal spending. A president withholding appropriated funds (known as impoundment) is illegal, but Trump has promised to challenge the limits of this process in order to exercise complete control over the national budget. 

President Trump has not been hesitant to test the limits of impoundment in the past. During his previous term in office, the Government Accountability Office determined that President Trump illegally withheld 91 million dollars appropriated for the development of cutting edge energy technologies under the Department of Energy (DOE). 

Programs funded through the BIL and IRA have been very popular in blue and red states alike, particularly as Americans contend with rising energy costs and utilities struggle to meet increasing consumer demand. It’s unclear how precisely this upcoming budget battle will play out. What is clear is that President Trump is putting millions of dollars of investments in Alaska at risk.

In Alaska, planning is already underway for the rollout of Solar for All funding directed to benefit both household and community solar installations across the state funded by IRA legislation. The DOE and Environmental Protection Agency have also awarded funds to Alaska that would increase communities’ energy resilience during extreme weather, and boost the energy sovereignty of Alaska Native communities. Together, these programs would grow economic opportunities within the state and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
As Alaskans are well aware, our building season is short, and even minor delays can have huge repercussions for project success. While the fate of new infrastructure projects born from the IRA and BIL remain uncertain, The Alaska Center is committed to ensuring federal funds for green energy stay in Alaska over the next four years. Join us in advocating to protect these funds while we also seek new clean energy investments from our state and local leaders.

With determination for Alaska’s future,
The Alaska Center

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

Turning the Tide in 2025 Starts Now

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The clock is winding down on 2024, and our End-of-Year campaign, Turning the Tide, is in full swing. This is your opportunity to join the rising swell and be part of the change Alaska needs. Whether you’ve read our appeal letter, opened an email, or answered a phone call from one of our team members, we hope our message is clear: your support is essential.

Donate today and help us Turn the Tide
for a brighter, more sustainable future!


The phrase “turning the tide” symbolizes a significant shift of a current trend or situation. It’s rooted in the imagery of ocean tides, representing forces of nature that are powerful, persistent, and difficult to change. When the tide turns, it suggests a transformation that alters the course of events, indicating opportunity, progress, or a critical turning point.

In Alaska, Turning the Tide represents overcoming challenges, rallying together, and sparking transformative change. It’s the moment when persistent effort leads to meaningful progress—a signal of hope and a brighter future. Together we can turn the tide to:

  • Restore dwindling salmon runs to sustain the deeply nourishing ways of life that are at the heart of Alaska’s communities.
  • Build a clean energy economy to reverse outmigration and secure opportunities for families and future generations right here at home.
  • Ensure that all Alaskans’ voices, especially ones of rural communities, are heard at the ballot box, protecting the foundation of our democracy.

This is your chance to be part of that transformation. Your donation is the force that can shift the tide, overcoming obstacles and driving impactful change. Together, we can turn challenges into opportunities, making a lasting difference for Alaska and its people.

Donate today to be part of this transformation
and help build a stronger, brighter 2025!


With just 18 days left in 2024, we’re reflecting on the incredible impact we’ve made together. Your support has been vital in driving our mission forward, and we’re deeply grateful. As we look ahead to 2025, let’s keep this momentum going. Join us in making an even greater difference in the year to come.

Thank you,

Alison Lum
Development Director
The Alaska Center

Be Informed + Learn About the Judges on Your Ballot

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Hey all! Something a little different this week—our friends at Alaskans for Fair Courts are guest-authoring our blog to share important information about judicial retention elections. With election season in full swing, we wanted to give you the chance to hear from the experts on this crucial part of the ballot. Check it out below!

Greetings from Alaskans for Fair Courts! We feel honored to have this opportunity to chat with you because we know how dedicated and involved each of you are in various community-oriented efforts in our great state!

I want to talk about judicial retention. Why? If you want to protect your values and your Constitutional rights, it is in your best interests to fill out the entire ballot as an informed voter.  Here’s why.

Nineteen judges “standing for retention” are on the ballots this year – fifteen of whom will be on the ballot in the Third Judicial District, home to 2/3 of the state’s population, which includes Anchorage.  

Why does this matter to you? Alaska’s state judges are the bulwark against attacks on the Alaska Constitution and/or the rule of law. They handle 95% of all cases, affecting a myriad of issues that affect all Alaskans, sometimes involving core constitutional rights that you value.  

What is judicial retention? Unlike many other states, Alaska’s judges do not run campaigns to become a judge. Alaska’s Constitutional framers kept money and partisan politics out of judicial selection and retention. Wise folks!

Toward this end Alaska’s Constitution creates an independent, nonpartisan commission – the Alaska Judicial Council – to evaluate judicial applicants and seek the “best available timber.”  The Council is comprised of: three non-attorney members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the legislature; three attorneys appointed by the Alaska Bar Association after polling its members; and the Chief Justice, who serves as an ex officio member who chairs the Council but votes only in those rare instances where there is a tie vote. The framers also concluded that judges should serve limited terms rather than lifetime appointments, requiring judges to “stand for retention” every so many years. Retention offers you an important role –  to make the final decision about whether a judge should remain on the court.

This superior retention system – which is widely admired across the country – has produced judges who are dedicated to protecting the law while serving the community with integrity, professionalism, knowledge of the law, and respect for those who are in their courtrooms. We are lucky to have some of the best judges in the country. 

Here’s why you can be so confident in our state judges. When a judge comes up for retention, the Judicial Council conducts a rigorous investigation of that judge, gathering information from thousands of people who have interacted with the judge, including jurors, court clerks, law enforcement, attorneys and social workers. The public has an opportunity to testify at public hearings. The Council compiles this information, grades the judges against judicial performance standards that reflect “best practice,” and votes whether to recommend the judge be retained. The Council’s findings, research, scores and recommendations are all on the Alaska Judicial Council website.

Unfortunately, since 2000, the “yes” votes in the 3rd Judicial District have declined by 7% – a downward trajectory that has now dipped below 60% for the first time in the State’s history. If a judge does not receive 50% of the votes during retention that judge loses their position on the court.

A number of factors have contributed to this trend:

  • Voters not understanding how judges are selected and why they appear on the ballot
  • Voters not finishing the ballot because they don’t know where to find information about the judges
  • Eroding confidence in the judiciary exacerbated by national hyper-partisanship trends 
  • Individuals/organizations wanting to remove a judge because of an unpopular opinion or because a judge did not rule in their favor
  • Efforts by individuals and groups within Alaska, and others from Outside, trying to destabilize our courts and replace our judges with ideologues
  • Funding coming in from Outside extremist groups seeking to politicize Alaska’s state courts

If you don’t know the judges on your ballot, or don’t have the time to learn more about them, the Alaska Judicial Council has evaluated each judge rigorously and done the work for you! Check out their recommendations here! 

For 64 years Alaskans have benefited from judges who were selected and retained by this process. Alaskans would not be well-served by a system that removes even one judge because of an unpopular decision, ideological differences, or because someone lost a case.  

Please – When You Vote, Finish Your Entire Ballot!

Donna Goldsmith, Co-Chair Alaskans for Fair Courts
Check out the Find My Judges page at: https://akfaircourts.com

AYEA Kicks off a Summer of Arts in Action!

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Alaska Youth for Environmental Action (AYEA) is gearing up to host our annual fall Youth Organizer Summit in September, and with applications open for just 2 more days, this Summit is already shaping up to be our biggest and best yet since we resumed in-person gatherings post-pandemic! We already have applications pouring in from across the state! Here at AYEA, we’re very excited about this fall’s Summit because it marks the beginning of AYEA’s next 2-year statewide campaign cycle. AYEA is youth-led, meaning teens choose and lead all of AYEA’s projects and campaigns. The teens that gather this fall will decide on an issue that is important to them and their peers and then build and execute a statewide campaign that seeks to address it!

This also means that it’s time to tool-up with some new campaign skills! To build excitement and skills in preparation for AYEA’s next moves, we’re excited to host a series of Arts-in-Action workshops this summer for teens in Fairbanks, Kodiak, and Anchorage! Know a teen in one of those communities? They can register here! 

Community organizers have long used art to tell stories and make bold statements that inspire community action – and AYEA is no exception! Scroll down to see some inspiring art and messages that AYEA teens have created over the years! From raising awareness about plastic bag bans and statewide youth climate strikes to direct action with art at the state capitol building to demand education funding (not once, but twice!), AYEA teens know the power of a bold statement or eye-catching art piece to share their message!

At our summer workshops, teens will learn arts-in-action techniques like screen printing, block printing, and banner painting that they can use in their communities. They’ll also get to create and share their own messages about whatever issues are important to them! Any teens who attend the fall Summit with these new tools under their belts will be poised to help their fellow organizers develop art and messaging to launch their new campaign. 

We even kicked off the summer with some art at Trailside Discovery Camp’s Youth Leaders in Action week, where AYEA teens joined Trailside youth to learn about the impacts of climate change on Alaska’s ecosystems, and actions we can take to address it. Along with the help of an AYEA teen, Trailside youth tried out some fun block printing skills and worked on creating their own messages for action.


AYEA Arts in Action workshops are coming up next month in the following places. Help us share with teens you know!

Fairbanks Workshop – July 7
Kodiak Workshop – July 20th
Anchorage Workshop – July 31


A big Thank You to the Martha Levensaler Fund and the Alaska Conservation Foundation for supporting this project! We can’t wait to share the inspiring work that is created! 

Hot Takes in a Cold Place: Something Smells Fishy in Southcentral Alaska

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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

Hot Takes in a Cold Place: 2024 Session is here, baby!

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Dear friends,

It’s that time of the year again – almost time for the illustrious Alaska legislative session to kick off!

Legislators are going back to Juneau by ferry and plane and settling back in for another 90 (or likely 120) days. In those days they’ll have to pass a budget (which means deciding on the ever-present PFD question), and everything else is up in the air–and there’s quite a lot of “everything else”. All the bills from last session that didn’t pass are still alive, with their previous committee referrals/etc, plus any new bills that come out this session (including today’s second tranche of pre-filed bills).

Luckily, like in previous sessions, we’ll be tracking what’s going on as it pertains to creating a thriving, just, and sustainable Alaska (read: we care a lot about energy and climate legislation, protecting our waters, and creating the most engaged electorate in the nation).

This session is starting with a buzz in the air about energy: as Rep. Fields said in a recent op-ed, “2024 presents unprecedented opportunities for energy development in Alaska.” We agree. Between the clearly-state Senate Majority Caucus focus on energy, steeply declining Cook Inlet gas shortage (and the potential for astronomically-priced Outside LNG import contracts), federal investment opportunities from the Biden administration – there is a clear focus on where Alaskans get energy and how to make that more affordable. We’ll be pushing for some great energy bills (or the ideas within them) to pass this session, including:

  • Senator Wielechowski’s Community Energy Bill, which would enable Alaskans to own a share of a solar installation not located on their property, thus making solar more affordable and accessible to Alaskans including renters, folks who can’t afford a full installation, and more.
  • Senator Gale-Tobin and Representative Sumner’s Renewable Portfolio Standard bill, which would set required milestones for renewable energy development along the railbelt to help meet the needs of the current gas crisis
  • Governor Dunleavy’s Energy Independence Fund, which would create a Green Bank vehicle underneath Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, spurring more investment in renewable energy
  • A funding match to the federally-awarded GRIP Funding, which would provide for Transmission upgrades along the railbelt that make it possible to add large-scale renewables and balance our energy better. This is a match–meaning Alaska needs to put $206.5 million in to get $206.5 from the feds.

We’ll also be focusing on some crucial democracy issues, because how Alaskans can use our voices affects everything. You might have been tracking the proposed ballot measure (rife with campaign ethics violations) to repeal Ranked-Choice Voting and Open Primaries–we can expect to see this play out in the session again. You can bet we’ll work to make sure that goes nowhere this session, as well as any other changes that make it harder for Alaskans to vote. In fact, after years of the legislature considering great voting reforms, we’d love to see some pass, including:

  • Striking the witness signature requirement 
  • Creating a ballot curing process, which would allow Alaskans to fix any error on their ballot that would make their vote not get counted
  • Allowing for permanent absentee voting, meaning you could choose to vote absentee forever, rather than filing to vote absentee for every single election
  • Establishing same-day registration and early registration
  • And a whole lot more. 

And, of course, we’ll always be watching for any threats to our clean air and water. There will likely be many, like in previous sessions. Threats like Alaska taking over 404-Primacy might come up again–and we’ll let you know when and if they do, and how you can stand up against these threats to our state. As much as we want to pass the good this session, seizing on critical opportunities of time and place, it’s crucial that we are prepared to stop the worst threats.

We look forward to working with you this session to stand up for our clean air and water, healthy communities, and a strong democracy. Stay tuned for more updates–and, always, get involved! We hope to make it easy for you to stand up for the values that you care about–so don’t be a stranger, and reach out.

All the best,

Jenny-Marie Stryker

Political Director

The Alaska Center

Action plan draws climate rally

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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]A large crowd showed up in force at Thursday night’s Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly to speak on the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, a roadmap of recommended goals and actions to address climate change challenges in the borough.

Outside the borough administrative center, more than two dozen people rallied to support the Fairbanks Climate Action Coalition and the Alaska Center as they pushed support for the original version of the plan.

Shouts of “Listen to the public, restore the climate plan” and “the climate is warming” filled the air, with occasional passers-by dismissing the claims or objecting to any climate change.

Aurora Bowers, communications organizer for the climate action coalition, told rally members that they “are in it for the long haul.”
 
Alyssa Quintyne with the Alaska Center said the plan takes all residents to address the matter.

“The threat to the climate is real,” Quintyne said. “I know this community is committed and strong. We will continue to work for what this community deserves, and that is climate action.”

Tristan Glowa, with the coalition, told rally attendees that the borough leadership must take lead and not shirk its duties to address challenges caused by the climate change.

The CAAP has been in the works since 2019 and has undergone a lengthy process from stakeholder engagement and efforts from two committees and engineering firm RESPEC.

The plan underwent significant changes following edits by a new climate action committee appointed by Assembly Presiding Officer Aaron Lojewski after he took the assembly helm. Lojewski tasked the new committee with ensuring the plan’s goals and recommended actions to align with borough powers.

The plan the committee advanced to the assembly includes one 37-page chapter full of recommended actions and goals and an extensive set of references and appendices.

Recommended actions and goals include continued monitoring of borough-owned buildings to lower energy costs, weatherization of older facilities and more energy efficient new construction as well as a push to diversify the borough’s vehicle fleet when making new purchases.

It also encourages the development of renewable energy sources, a more robust transit plan and strategically capitalizing on existing natural gas infrastructure.

However, the edited version has been called gutted by local residents and environmental groups, as it buries four original chapters in the appendices.

The borough climate action committee recommended the edited plan at its May 8 meeting. When moving the plan forward, most committee members stated the the revisions made reflects what the borough can accomplish and are practical.

Aaron Gibson, chair of the now-winded down climate action committee, told the News-Miner Thursday night that the revised plan “is something we have given our full attention to.”

“There was a lot of items on it that the committee was in agreement on,” Gibson said. “The focus was to take goals that the borough can achieve with reasonable actions.”

The borough assembly had not reached a conclusion on adopting the plan as of deadline Thursday night.

 

Originally published on June 9, 2023 by the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][/cs_element_section][/cs_content]

As Assembly plans climate plan discussion; groups rally to expand it

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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]The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly will decide on whether to approve a climate action and adaptation plan (CAAP) Thursday night.

The Assembly commissioned the plan just two years ago when it formed the Climate Action Committee and hired RESPEC to conduct outreach, information and goals to address climate change concerns within the borough.

The committee approved the plan on May 8 and pushed it on to the assembly with a recommendation to adopt it. The Assembly then advanced the amended draft plan and its adoption resolution to a public hearing Thursday, with only Assemblymember Mindy O’Neall voting against it.

The Assembly meeting starts at 6 p.m., with public hearing and Assembly decisions for special orders such as the CAAP adoption starting after 7 p.m.

The amended plan includes one 37-page chapter full of recommended actions and goals and an extensive set of references and appendices.

Recommended actions and goals include continued monitoring of borough-owned buildings to lower energy costs, weatherization of older facilities and more energy efficient new construction and a push to diversify the borough’s vehicle fleet when making new purchases.

It also encourages the development of renewable energy sources, a more robust transit plan and strategically capitalizing on existing natural gas infrastructure.

The amended version has drawn a lot of criticism from local residents, environmental advocacy groups and some Assemblymembers, along with opposition from residents who believe the borough shouldn’t be involved in adopting a climate action plan.

The committee voted to move most of the plan’s chapters to reference material and appendixes and keep the action chapter as the primary source. Most committee members stated that the action plan chapter was the main focus of their revisions.

The Fairbanks Climate Action Coalition and Alaska Center plan to hold a rally to raise awareness Thursday night before the meeting about the “gutted plan” and urge the Assembly to either amend or restore the draft full plan.

Alyssa Quintyne, Alaska Center’s Interior community organizing manager and one of the rally organizers, said the adopted plan essentially relegated two years worth of community feedback and outreach to the back.

“The rally is really to raise a message that we have followed the process to a T, we’ve had people on the previous committee who worked not just with folks in the community but also experts and workers to make a solid plan,” Quintyne said Monday.

The committee’s old members were replaced by new ones by new Assembly Presiding Officer Aaron Lojewski after the Assembly re-organized in October 2022. The new members were tasked with reviewing and re-working the plan to better align with things the borough could accomplish.

The new appointments drew a lot of criticism from some assembly members, dozens of residents and local environmental advocacy groups, along with changes to the plan.

The removed chapters contain information on existing climate conditions and challenges in the borough, greenhouse emission goals, testimony and references of conditions caused by a changing climate and education goals.

The amended plan, with its narrower scope, has still drawn opposition.

At a May 26 special meeting, North Pole resident Sally Duncan said the borough shouldn’t be involved in developing a plan.

“It should not be a goal … the borough does not have the authority to do so,” Duncan said.

North Pole resident North Pole resident Rita Trometter had called it government overreach despite any perceived good intent.

“It has its drawbacks in that it costs excessive amounts of money to implement and to run,” Trometter said. “Grant writers are very costly and our state is very good at placing lots of words on paper with ideas that go nowhere — the borough does not need to follow in their footsteps.”

Quintyne, with the Alaska Center, said the removed chapters essentially reduce the CAAP’s effectiveness and has effectively become a politically local hot topic when it shouldn’t be one.

“It’s a climate action plan to help us prepare for the next storm that happens,” Qunityne said. “Whether you agree with it or not, that’s what they have to do.”

Quintyne added she hopes Assemblymembers will make decisions or amendments to make the plan “more robust” and adaptable to climate change preparations.

“It will directly impact everything from transportation to how buildings are going to be coded and function to the management of snow,” Quintyne said. “You’re either prepared or not, the borough is preparing its staff and residents for another long-term emergency or not.”

She added there are already long-term implications from climate change, such as increased wildfire conditions, thawing permafrost and the December 2021 “Snowpocalypse” weather event that was responsible for a near-record snowfall and freezing rain.

“We’re already being impacted, so this is serious,” Quintyne said. It’s not a ‘both sides’ situation.”

Originally published on June 6, 2023 by the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][/cs_element_section][/cs_content]

STATEMENT: Utility Board Election Turnout Reflects Community Commitment to Clean Energy

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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]Statement: May 25, 2023
Utility Board Election Turnout Reflects Community Commitment to Clean Energy 
This year, Chugach Utility member-owners voted in record-breaking numbers, largely in support of candidates who ran on a campaign of renewable energy solutions to the gas crisis and increased transparency in board decision-making. 15.7% of eligible voters turned out – a 30% increase from last year. The Chugach Electric Board elections are consequential because, as the state’s largest utility, they can drastically change Alaska’s renewable energy landscape. The Alaska Center, with the help of a committee of local volunteers and energy experts, endorsed three candidates on a renewable energy slate: Shaina Kilcoyne, Susanne Fleek-Green, and Jim Nordlund. Of these candidates, Jim Nordlund and Susanne Fleek-Green will join the board of directors to fight for a clean energy future for Chugach members. 
“This year’s Chugach Electric Association utility board elections demonstrate that CEA ratepayers want decisive, urgent action to add more clean energy to the grid. We are elated by the election of two of our endorsed candidates to the Board of Directors. And we hope the entire Board of Directors will honor the message of its member-owners: address the climate crisis, capitalize on unprecedented federal funding opportunities, and expand low-cost renewable power generation options. 
We are equally excited about the tremendous voter turn out in this election. At The Alaska Center we believe that every Alaskan should have a voice in deciding their leadership; be it state, local or utility cooperative. The record-breaking turnout shows a growing wave of people invested in the transparency and direction of the utility cooperatives producing their energy.” Chantal De Alcuaz, Co-Executive Director, The Alaska Center
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