Energy

Encourage and facilitate public/private partnerships that connect utilities, technology providers, and other energy companies with local, state, Tribal and federal agencies to advocate for renewable energy development that reduces cost and creates community resiliency. Continue to pursue opportunities for increased efficiency in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity, as well as in energy consumption for buildings, vehicles, marine transportation, and aviation. Educate and communicate the value and importance of priority regional energy projects, especially small, community-based projects. Facilitate technical expertise, support local workforce development, and educate consumers regarding energy use. Explore opportunities for research and development in the region, such as opportunities to implement technologies and other improvements that lower energy costs by simultaneously increasing utilization of electric infrastructure and reducing the use of imported fuels., and support the development of innovative business models to make these technologies successful in rural communities.

Work with utilities, local, state, federal and Tribal governments, and energy stakeholders to expand usage of renewable resources in the region. Collaborate to develop marketing and education campaigns, and to implement innovative rates and programs that encourage beneficial electrification. Work with communities to support consumer adoption of technologies that can be added to the electric system in a manner that reduces consumer cost and increases grid value. Support workforce development, training, and technical assistance to ensure maximum environmental and economic benefit. The primary opportunities for beneficial electrification in Southeast Alaska include heat pumps and electric vehicles, electric transportation systems and chargers. Heat pumps offer significant benefits by efficiently providing both heating and cooling while reducing reliance on heating oil. Their ability to extract heat from the outside air, even in cold temperatures, makes heat pumps a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution for Southeast Alaska. As technology continues to improve, electric public transportation such as public buses are proving to also be viable community transportation method. Other opportunities for beneficial electrification include short-run ferries and dock electrification. Robust analysis of these opportunities are needed to determine social, economic and environmental impacts to guide future investments.

Educate building owners and managers on the performance, use and benefits of heat pump technology. Work with residential users to improve understanding of how a heat pump system may work in their homes, how it may integrate with an existing heating system, and how it may lower home heating costs. Ensure awareness of financial assistance programs, program eligibility requirements, and opportunities to use funding from multiple sources to maximize savings. Educate existing heat pump users about routine maintenance and general system operations in order to optimize system performance and maximize useful life.

Collaborate with communities, utilities, policy makers, regulators and other stakeholders to establish reforms that benefit customers, streamline processes, reduce barriers, and foster innovation and investment in the energy sector.

Continue to support Southeast communities reliant on diesel fuel and facing high energy costs. Work to secure continued access to renewable energy funding for rural communities and to preserve the PCE Endowment program. PCE is a critical lifeline that provides access to affordable electric power for rural Alaska communities that have not benefited from large public investment in power generation. Continue to seek opportunities to optimize and modernize the PCE program to maximize benefits to rural communities, and encourage new investment in renewables that help reduce the cost that consumers pay for energy.

Engage with communities to prioritize use of local resources to address energy needs. Biomass serves as a renewable source of thermal energy through use of organic materials such as wood, agricultural residues, and organic waste. Biomass utilization reduces reliance on fossil fuels and can reduce heating costs while serving as an a job creator. Biomass is a sustainable energy source in Southeast Alaska and should continue to be evaluated for uses beyond thermal energy, e.g., as potential feedstock in the production of synthetic fuels such as electrofuels and biofuels.