Thousands of Alaskans living in remote and rural areas rely on stand-alone utilities to fill their communities’ energy needs. Ensuring energy security at these isolated power plants can be a daunting challenge when coupled with rural regions’ harsh weather conditions and relatively small local labor pools. A community’s basic services often hinge on having knowledgeable local management, government support, timely energy system maintenance and trained-up local operators and staff.
People in Power, a new partnership between the Arctic Energy Office, Denali Commission and Renewable Energy Alaska Project, sprung up in 2022 to provide training that builds capacity and increases resilience in rural Alaska. To kick off PIP, ANEEE Director Chris McConnell and REAP Utility Coordinator Jacob Powell researched efficiency metrics, compiled training resources and conducted outreach to assess energy training needs across the state. They analyzed four key job categories—management, operations and maintenance, governance and clerical—in 40 communities, and then identified 20 communities with the most pressing training needs.
“DOE and the Denali Commission recognize that developing best practices for the operation, maintenance, management and governance of Alaska’s stand-alone utilities has to be a collaborative process. PIP is foregrounding the voices, preferences and workforce needs of the people best positioned to improve energy security.”
– ANEEE Director Chris McConnell
PIP is now coordinating in-person visits to those communities for the late summer and fall. Read more about the program on the Arctic Energy Office website and stay tuned for updates once PIP trainings are in full swing.