Alaska Energy Blog

Energy conservation is good. And raises electric rates. What does that mean for net metering reforms?

Anything that affects use affects rates, but the impact of net metering expansion would be insignificant. Rates can't be both fair and aligned with…

Oct 4, 2024 • 

Erin McKittrick

June 2024

Why are the warnings about Cook Inlet gas getting more dire?

Imports will be delayed, supposedly available gas may not be there, and stopgap imports will come at triple current prices. But household energy costs…

Jun 4, 2024 • 

Erin McKittrick

April 2024

Wheeling fees are small today, but reforming them could help renewable development

Two bills in the legislature seek to change how we pay for electricity transmission

Apr 2, 2024 • 

Erin McKittrick

March 2024

Even subsidies and unproven technology aren’t enough to make West Susitna coal power make sense.

The coal with carbon capture plant is an expensive false solution dependent on inaccurate economic analysis, massive state subsidies, and experimental…

Mar 16, 2024 • 

Erin McKittrick

How much Cook Inlet gas can we conserve?

Known near-term renewable projects and heating efficiency can make a substantial difference. Not enough to avoid imports entirely, but enough to give us…

Mar 9, 2024 • 

Erin McKittrick

 and 

Alan Mitchell

February 2024

The newly-introduced “Clean Energy Standard” (HB 368) defines coal as clean

Not coal with carbon capture and storage. Just coal.

Feb 21, 2024 • 

Erin McKittrick

Cook Inlet Gas: The Cold Day Problem

The cold snap at the end of January brought on a flurry of articles and Legislative presentations related to shortfalls of Cook Inlet Natural Gas. The…

Feb 14, 2024 • 

Alan Mitchell

The fines in the proposed Railbelt Renewable Portfolio Standard are so small as to be nearly irrelevant

Even if utilities build no new renewables, the fines will barely impact rates. However the PR impact of paying fines may motivate utilities where…

Feb 1, 2024 • 

Erin McKittrick

January 2024

A newly-filed bill seems designed to stop GVEA from shutting down the Healy 2 coal plant.

Healy 2 is unreliable, expensive and highly polluting. If we close any plant, it ought to be this one.

Jan 19, 2024 • 

Erin McKittrick

Chugach’s proposed community solar tariff charges steep rates for a negligible amount of power

Electric utilities have much better options to increase renewable energy

Jan 12, 2024 • 

Erin McKittrick

Natural gas prices on the Railbelt will rise, but unless the grid transforms, gas heat will still be cheapest.

A combination of increased renewables and substantial load growth could make heat pumps cheaper.

Jan 2, 2024 • 

Erin McKittrick

December 2023

Power plant upgrades and utility coordination have saved around $370 million in the Central Railbelt in the last 10 years.

Was it worth it? And what’s next?

Dec 11, 2023 • 

Erin McKittrick