Legislators in Alaska are considering various options to address the impending energy shortfall, including foreign imports, reduced royalties, and new pipelines. A top priority should be a suite of renewable energy bills, such as SB101 and HB121, which propose increasing the percentage of electricity generated from renewable sources by Railbelt utilities and initiatives like community solar and annual net metering.

The state must rapidly shift toward renewable energy solutions to address climate change impacts and ensure a sustainable future through already-proposed initiatives like a green bank and a renewable portfolio standard for Railbelt utilities.

Amid a natural gas supply crisis, there are currently unprecedented opportunities for sustainable energy development in Alaska in 2024. Renewable energy projects and infrastructure improvements can bring long-term economic growth and environmental benefits for the state.

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.