Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference explores future of statewide energy systems

The Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference opened May 19, 2026 in Anchorage. Nearly 1,000 energy industry leaders, investors, innovators and policymakers attended from at least 35 U.S. states and 10 countries.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy opened the conference with a keynote discussion with Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson and National Laboratory of the Rockies Director Jud Virden. The panel discussed how Alaska is positioning itself as a hub for both traditional and next-generation energy.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior joined Dunleavy on stage for a lunch keynote to discuss the role Alaska plays in the shifting global geopolitical landscape.

"There's just such a huge opportunity here," Sec. Burgum said. "I think that the future of Alaska is incredibly bright, and I want to thank Governor Dunleavy because he's been steadfast, both in fighting back against the Biden administration and now taking the opportunity with these tailwinds to get as much done as he can in terms of building out the infrastructure that's going to allow the U.S. to prosper, improve affordability and improve our relationships with our important allies across the Pacific."

Rural energy challenges

Rural Alaska communities rely heavily on diesel fuel for electricity generation. Remote villages face soaring fuel costs averaging $6.63 per gallon for unleaded gasoline in Winter 2026 across 99 surveyed communities. Diesel prices run similarly high due to barge transport costs and small delivery volumes.

Alaska Village Electric Cooperative serves 53 villages. Annual fuel needs average around 1,200 gallons per rural Alaskan for heat, transport and electricity. Fuel can account for roughly 20 percent of total household consumption costs in rural areas served by utilities like AVEC.

Hybrid energy systems offer potential relief. Solar and battery projects can save diesel fuel. Biomass heating, hydropower upgrades and dam raise extension projects can make more power available.

Interstate agreements

The State of Alaska and the National Laboratory of the Rockies signed a memorandum of understanding during the conference. The agreement seeks to coordinate resources in support of national security objectives. These include domestic mineral supply chain development and energy reliability for remote and strategic communities.

Dunleavy also signed a renewed Alaska-Yukon Intergovernmental Relations Accord with Premier Currie Dixon. Alaska and the Yukon agreed to establish new working groups to support bilateral cooperation. These include an Alaska-Yukon Arctic Dialogue and a Northern Transportation Engineering Initiative. They also agreed to deepen cooperation on Yukon River salmon, promote trade and investment, continue wildland fire response cooperation and identify opportunities for collaboration in health and education.