Opinion: Powering Alaska’s future by building more energy, not less

Alaskans know energy. Our power systems are a far cry from the expansive “grids” of the Lower 48. We are hands-on in this state —intimately familiar with the resources we rely on, whether it’s a diesel power plant in a small town, a hydro dam in Southeast, a coal plant in the Interior or solar panels on our cabin roofs.

As former legislators, we spent decades shaping programs and policies to encourage the development of reliable power for Alaska communities. But the work isn’t done. The energy landscape is changing fast: local natural gas supplies are dwindling, our transmission infrastructure is outdated and insufficient, and demand for electric power is projected to increase. Now more than ever, we must look ahead and invest wisely to diversify and strengthen the state’s energy future.

In recent years, the Railbelt electricity system has been stable, powered mostly by Cook Inlet gas, coal and fuel oil in the north, and a handful of renewable projects such as Bradley Lake hydropower. But that stability is now at risk as Cook Inlet production declines and utilities face the prospect of having to import fuel to make up the shortfall. At the same time, demand for electricity is set to rise, driven by electrification, population movement and the needs of industries like mineral development. The Railbelt alone could see power needs nearly double by 2050. Meeting this dual challenge — rising demand and tightening supply — will require Alaska to draw on its full mix of energy resources: hydropower, solar, wind, geothermal, natural gas, as well as emerging technologies such as advanced storage and small modular nuclear.

Some hope that a gas pipeline from the North Slope will solve all of Alaska’s energy challenges. If it happens, it will help. But Alaska’s long-term energy security can’t rest on a single project or resource. We need a resilient system that uses what we already have wisely, builds new generation from diverse sources, and modernizes our transmission networks to deliver the most affordable power wherever it’s needed.

Even with many of the federal clean energy incentives rolled back, Alaska still has plenty of reasons — and plenty of tools — to keep building. Transmission upgrades along the Railbelt remain critical, no matter what happens in Washington, D.C., while declining gas supplies from Cook Inlet make new generation essential to reduce reliance on expensive gas imports. In rural Alaska, community-led projects that combine renewables and storage with diesel generation, like those in Kotzebue and Nome, are already cutting diesel use and keeping money in local economies.

We need to focus on practical solutions and keep moving them forward. Alaska can diversify and modernize its energy system to meet our communities’ needs using the rich resources of our state. By blending in a mix of advanced energy with our most efficient legacy electric generation plants, we can move away from power that is subject to dramatic commodity price swings, reducing costs and uncertainty for all electric power users.

Energy sources needn’t be political — they just need to work for Alaska.

Lesil McGuire, Gene Therriault, Beth Kerttula, Charisse Millett and Harry Crawford are former Alaska lawmakers with a combined 70 years of service in the Alaska Legislature representing constituents in Juneau, Southcentral and Interior Alaska. They are bipartisan senior advisers to New Energy Alaska, a coalition working to bring the benefits of advanced energy to Alaska.