The Alaska Energy Authority's $206 million Department of Energy grant, funded by the bipartisan infrastructure bill, is a crucial step for the state's energy infrastructure and is a testament to state leaders working together to secure sizable investments for Alaska.

AEA has received $206 million to strengthen the Railbelt power grid, representing a fraction of time-limited federal funds currently available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Alaskans must work together to match and secure additional federal funds.

Energy planning often focuses on supply-side aspects and overlooks societal changes in demand. The Railbelt can benefit from rural Alaska’s strategies, such as experimenting with time-of-use rates and incentives for technologies that address evolving consumer preferences and energy markets.

Electricity costs evolve, as demonstrated by challenges faced by hydropower in the Pacific Northwest. Alaska should learn from these shifts and maintain a diversity of energy sources to overcome pending energy instability.