Shaina Kilcoyne

Shaina Kilcoyne is the current Climate & Energy Transition Program Director for the Alaska Venture Fund (AVF) where she works to foster partnerships across disciplines, and leverage shared goals and resources to strive for major clean energy advancements across the state.

Before joining AVF, Shaina served as the Energy & Sustainability Manager for the Municipality of Anchorage, where she co-led the Anchorage Climate Action Plan and implementation–bringing solar and electric vehicles into the municipality and launching a proven clean energy financing program. Shaina also spent nearly twelve years as the Deputy Director here at REAP and an additional six years with the Army National Guard as a heavy equipment operator within an engineering unit.

Through her experience serving in the military, Shaina learned to respect the significance of a secure and sustainable energy economy.

“My military experience and decade and a half of experience in the energy industry have prepared me to bring constructive leadership to our utility, such as a long-term vision for a diverse energy mix, new electrification strategies, and opportunities for ratepayers to save money on their energy use,” says Shaina. “As a board member, I would work to improve member engagement and decision-making transparency, using executive sessions only when necessary. As energy users we all have a right to participate in the process.”

“As the biggest utility in the state, Chugach Electric can be a state leader on reliable, affordable, local energy. With local gas supplies dwindling and historic federal incentives for transmission and renewable energy, we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to diversify our energy economy, create good paying jobs, and ensure stable and affordable energy for decades to come.“

Susanne Fleek-Green

Susanne Fleek-Green is the Superintendent of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. Susanne has worked on energy issues for 25 years, pushing for changes to help families and businesses adopt energy efficiency technologies and renewable sources to help reduce their power costs. She has worked at the local, federal and state level in Alaska to help build sustainable communities and a diversified economy for future generations.

“The Southcentral Alaska communities and economy depends on reliable, and affordable energy,” says Susanne. “Declining natural gas supplies could undermine both and we need to more quickly transition to clean energy sources. That’s why I am running for the Chugach board.“

Susanne’s priorities for Chugach Electric include:

• Improved energy transmission and storage across the Railbelt;
• Accelerated transition to renewable energy sources to provide affordable power for decades;
• Investment in the safety and health of the Chugach workforce;
• Open and transparent decision-making; and
• Increased engagement with Chugach’s diverse membership.

Jim Nordlund

Jim Nordlund recently retired from his position as the Executive Director of NeighborWorks Alaska. Before that, he was the Alaska State Director for USDA Rural Development, a private building contractor, Director of Public Assistance for Alaska, and a member of the Alaska State House of Representatives.

Jim served on the Chugach Electric Association Board from 2006-2015, and he currently serves as the Chair of REAP’s Board of Directors.

“Over 80% of our power is generated by burning Cook Inlet natural gas. The dominant producer has indicated that lower cost gas will soon be depleted. The importation of LNG from outside Alaska is a very real prospect,” says Jim. “At the same time, improvements and lower costs have propelled renewable generation worldwide. Chugach needs to assertively implement more renewable production to avoid substantially higher costs of LNG imports.”

If elected, Jim would:

• Remember that members want reliable and low-cost power. It is important to keep the lights on and rates affordable for low-income people and for businesses to compete;
• Aggressively pursue feasible renewable energy while recognizing that some gas generation will still be necessary;
• Efficiently integrate ML&P customers, staff, and systems into Chugach;
• Attract and retain competent staff with quality working conditions. There is no reliable power without reliable employees;
• Continue coordination of Railbelt utilities; and
• Support and encourage Chugach as a member-owned cooperative association.