With gas crunch looming, Alaska's utilities won’t get big wind before tax credits expire. Here’s why. One utility leader points to private developers and the Trump tax bill. But advocates say utilities share some of the blame.
Anchorage electricity prices could go up again. Blame the warm winter. Anchorage utility executives say that a mild winter translated into lower electricity sales — and a hole in their budget.
Alaska utility execs to lawmakers: Let’s revive Susitna hydroelectric megaproject The request by leaders of the state’s urban utilities faces opposition from some advocates, who say wind power is a more politically and economically realistic bet than the multi-billion-dollar Susitna development.
Rolling blackouts could loom for urban Alaska as natural gas crunch intensifies Homer Electric Association, which serves much of the Kenai Peninsula, recently announced that it secured an “interruptible” gas agreement for the next year — meaning that it could experience a shortfall of the fuel during a cold snap.
Regulators, advocates warn of utility inaction as Alaska gas shortfall looms “The window for making decisions is closing,” said one top regulator. “If things just sort of slide and there’s no leadership, and we’re in the same position 12 months from now, we are looking at a dire, dire, situation. And people should get angry.”
Interesting stuff: Dunleavy attends Trump fundraiser, solar for Alaska airports, and a company wants $50 million in state loans for natural gas drilling Also: A renewable energy advocacy group says a recent ruling by state regulators is an "abdication" of their responsibility, and a contested election for leadership of Alaska's largest statewide Native organization.