Holdmann and Rose say Alaska needs state direction as utilities weigh three LNG import plans

Gwen Holdmann and Chris Rose said Wednesday that Alaska needs a state energy direction that Railbelt utilities have not set on their own, as the utilities weigh three competing proposals to import liquefied natural gas.

Holdmann, founder and chief scientist of the Alaska Center for Energy and Power at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, said utilities are spending "lots and lots of time and dollars" on those three proposals. Rose founded the Renewable Energy Alaska Project in 2004 and led it until 2025, a legislative citation says. They spoke at a REAP webinar on energy consultant Peter Asmus' new book, "Alaska's Microgrid Innovators."

The Railbelt transmission system serves nearly 75% of Alaska's population. Cook Inlet natural gas supplies most of its heat and power and is forecast to fall short of demand as soon as 2027, a 2025 legislative document says. "The rail belt right now is still about 80% reliant on natural gas for making electricity, almost 100% for heat. And that's really a problem now that natural gas is in short supply," Rose said.

Alaska News reported June 2 that the state's biggest utility may start importing gas.

Holdmann said importing gas "seems pretty unavoidable" in the near and midterm. She said a new governor and Legislature have "an opportunity here to knock heads around a little bit" so the utilities come to consensus instead of each going its own direction.

Rose said Alaska has no energy department, the Alaska Energy Authority lacks "policymaking horsepower" and the Regulatory Commission of Alaska "does not have a vision to execute." He said he worries a long-term import contract could keep the Railbelt from "looking hard at some of the renewable opportunities" it has.