We are excited to share stories of clean energy resilience and adaptation from across Alaska. In partnership with Resource Rural and Alaska Public Interest Research Group (AKPIRG), we are uplifting powerful stories that highlight energy innovation in rural Alaskan communities.
Alaska is on the front lines of our climate crisis. Rural communities are facing thawing permafrost, extreme weather, and reductions in traditional food sources. Cuts to public funding threaten rural energy security and increase the cost of power for communities already dealing with heightened costs of living. For many rural communities, energy independence is not just about sustainability, it’s about survival. Local clean energy solutions reduce reliance on expensive and unpredictable energy supplies, strengthen community resilience, and help keep costs stable for families and essential services.
The stories shared here showcase how Alaskans are leading the way — adapting to climate change, strengthening their communities, and investing in clean energy solutions that align with their needs and values.
Heat Recovery in Alaska: A Spotlight on Yakutat
Yakutat, home of the Yakutat Tlingit Tribe, sits on Alaska’s scenic southern coastline. With 700 residents, the remote nature of the community means a reliance on imported diesel fuel.
In 2022, the aging heating system in the school and public safety building was at imminent risk of failure. The Yakutat Tlingit Tribe and ANTHC, in partnership with local and federal partners, found a solution to the crisis in the form of a new heat recovery system that now extends to Yakutat’s only healthcare facility. This system traps and recycles excess heat that would otherwise be lost, ultimately saving the community money and keeping critical public buildings open.
Collaboration can help unlock energy resilience and affordability throughout the nation.
Many thanks to everyone who helped make this story possible:
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Akela Space (video production)
Alaska Public Interest Research Group (AKPIRG)
Resource Rural
Rural Energy Resilience: Kotlik’s Shift to Renewables
In Alaska’s remote communities, dependence on diesel fuel for electricity is not only expensive but also poses serious environmental and public health risks. The Village of Kotlik is taking bold steps to change that.
Led by Richard Oaks Bender — Yupik name Pilaarilria, meaning “he will do as he says” and “he will get it started” — and the Kongnikilnomuit Yuita Corporation, Kotlik is shifting toward the renewable energy sources of battery storage, solar and wind. This transition, supported by several federal funding programs, is part of a larger movement toward local, place-based energy solutions that reduce costs, improve air quality, and protect Alaska’s fragile environment from diesel spills and pollution.
The move toward energy sovereignty allows Indigenous communities like Kotlik to take control of their energy future. Bender hopes Kotlik’s progress will inspire other rural communities to pursue energy independence, improve public health, and build long-term climate resilience across Alaska.
Many thanks to everyone who helped make this story possible:
Richard Oakes Bender, Pilaarilria – Kongnikilnomuit Yuita Corporation
Akela Space (video production)
Alaska Public Interest Research Group (AKPIRG)
Resource Rural