Alaska Renewables is pursuing five clean, local wind energy projects in the Railbelt despite President Trump’s threats to refuse permits for wind turbines. The Shovel Creek and Little Mount Susitna Wind Projects alone could produce up to 300 MW of power – cutting Railbelt demand for natural gas by 12%.

The Alaska Division of Oil and Gas (AK-DOG) will open a new geothermal lease auction on the Augustine Volcano on April 3. This clean, local energy source is located only 70 miles from Homer and 175 miles from Anchorage. AK-DOG policy and program specialist Sean Clifton says developers are interested in the untapped geothermal potential contained in Alaska’s many volcanoes.

A new report from the Alaska Public Interest Research Group reveals that more than $1 billion in federal funding for clean energy, weatherization, and erosion control projects in Alaska is now at risk. The uncertainty follows a January executive order by President Trump that froze federal funding. Impacted projects include $20 million for solar installations in Huslia, $7 million for a hydroelectric dam in Chignik, and $55 million for solar and battery storage in Northwest communities. The freeze has stalled planning, hiring, and construction ahead of Alaska’s vital summer work season.

The Nushagak Cooperative has submitted a two-year study on the proposed Nuyakuk Falls hydroelectric project to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The project would divert 30% of the river’s flow to produce 58,200 megawatt-hours annually, cutting diesel reliance. Located in Wood-Tikchik State Park, this report marks a major milestone, with a final feasibility decision expected in April 2025.

Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP) scientists are researching the potential for consumers to use EVs in remote Alaska. Kotzebue residents evaluated their EV options and selected the all-electric Taiga snowmachine and Polaris four-wheeler for volunteer participants to test-drive in the study’s next phase. Researchers are also working with the Galena and Kotzebue school districts to develop an EV repair training program delivered for free to students.

Homer Electric Association (HEA) has secured $5 million to design a system that converts methane from the town’s landfill into electricity. This project is part of the utility's broader effort to develop clean, local sources of energy generation and storage. Methane and wind based generation projects have the potential to lower energy costs and increase energy security for Homer and the Kenai peninsula.

Chugach Electric Association and Matanuska Electric Association (MEA) have commissioned a new $65 million Battery Energy Storage System to strengthen the Railbelt power grid, boost reliability, and support the diversification of power generation. This cutting-edge system will stabilize the grid in response to demand and supply fluctuations, reducing reliance on gas-powered turbines and cutting emissions. By increasing efficiency and enabling more effective integration of renewable energy, the system is another significant step toward making Alaska’s power grid more resilient and accelerating the state’s shift to clean energy.

A recent report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory shows that as natural gas supplies from Cook Inlet decline, renewables offer Alaskans the surest, most cost-effective energy solution. However, bringing enough renewables online is a complex endeavor, not least because of our state’s unique geography and climate. This excellent article by Hal Bernton highlights the progress made thus far, the potential pathways ahead of us, and the challenges that may hinder our progress.

Alaska’s vast clean energy potential includes not just wind, solar, and tidal power, but also naturally occurring hydrogen. A local geologist with a distinguished career in the oil and gas industry is leading efforts to identify underground hydrogen reservoirs and tap into this resource. If successful, Alaska’s hydrogen reserves could become a major source of carbon-free energy, complementing other renewable initiatives and helping deliver reliable, affordable local energy to Alaskans.

Former oil industry veterans are spearheading new efforts to expand Alaska’s clean energy sector, focusing on wind, geothermal, tidal and hydrogen opportunities. These leaders see renewable energy as a way to diversify Alaska’s economy, create jobs, and secure the state’s future as an energy leader. Amid declining local gas supplies, Cook Inlet is becoming a focal area for these initiatives. While challenges within the economic and political landscape remain, recent successes, like wind and tidal energy projects, highlight the state’s growing capacity to lead in energy innovation.