Important energy policies in Alaska

In 2008, the Cold Climate Housing Research Center published the first of two reports outlining recommended state programs, initiatives, and goals to reduce end-use energy demand and keep hundreds of millions of dollars in the state’s economy each year.

That year, the state legislature appropriated the first $360 million of an eventual $640 million for home weatherization and rebate programs. Since then, over 50,000 Alaskan homes have been weatherized, with an average energy bill savings of 30 percent! 

In 2010, the Alaska State Legislature passed two other important bills – SB 220 and HB 306. House Bill 306 established nonbinding goals to produce 50 percent of the state’s electricity from renewable resources by 2025 and reduce energy use 15 percent per capita by 2020. Among other provisions, SB 220 mandated that 25 percent of the state’s public facilities over 10,000 square feet be energy retrofitted by 2020, a goal met by 2015. Efficiency improvements to state facilities since 2010 are now achieving a cumulative annual cost avoidance of approximately $3.4 million.  

As market demand and scientific innovation continues to drive down the price of technologies like wind and solar, governments are increasingly considering a wide range of policies to encourage renewable energy and energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gases emissions.

In Alaska, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) and the legislature are both considering grid reform measures in the Railbelt to mandate a regional approach to reliability standards, interconnection protocols and generation and transmission planning that would lead to greater renewable energy investment. 

learn about railbelt reform

I have a great deal of respect for the people at REAP. They have been tenacious advocates for maximizing the potential for renewable energy in Alaska.

Bill Ritter – Former Governor of Colorado and Director of the Center for the New Energy Economy at Colorado State University

Related Resources

Alaska PolicyFinancingRailbeltRural Alaska