Energy

Anchorage's water utility would cut its Eklutna hydro payments roughly in half

Anchorage's water utility would pay the Eklutna hydro owners about half as much under new deals, then could own water rights at the lake in 2055.

by Walter AlaskaNews22h ago2 min read

State energy board moves to accept up to $150 million for a second Railbelt power line

Alaska's energy board moved to take up to $150 million in Defense Production Act money for a second Southcentral-Interior line. The other $268 million? TBD.

by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago3 min readFrom Nov 5

Follows: State energy board votes on nearly $5 million solar loan for Red Dog Mine

Alaska takes a new look at the 705-foot Susitna dam as Cook Inlet gas runs short

AEA's board voted to take a new look at the shelved 705-foot Susitna dam, eyeing a 2033 tax-credit deadline as Cook Inlet gas runs short. No money to build yet.

by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago3 min readFrom Nov 5

NANA company in line for $2.3 million grant to design hydro for three villages

NANA's public benefit company is in line for $2.3 million in federal money to design a hydro project and power line for Ambler, Shungnak and Kobuk.

by Maggie AlaskaNews5d ago2 min read

Bethel tells water customers to get their lines and tanks ready for freeze-up

Bethel told water customers to turn on their heat trace or glycol and keep hookups reachable. If a service line freezes anyway, the owner has to fix it.

by Bill AlaskaNews1w ago3 min read

State energy agency says it never talked to firm that listed its power cable as a partner

A firm pitching an undersea AI data center in Cook Inlet called the state's planned power cable a "Strategic Partner." The state says they never talked.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago3 min read

Follows: Kenai asks to join the federal review of a proposed undersea data center in Cook Inlet

Army has no date for a Fort Wainwright microreactor as experts flag permafrost

The Army still has no date for a microreactor at Fort Wainwright. Its Arctic workshop says testing how to set one on permafrost is a high near-term priority.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago3 min read

Alaska energy authority faces a $410 million gap for two Railbelt grid projects

Alaska's energy authority wants $142.3 million from lawmakers for a Cook Inlet power cable and still needs $268 million for a Healy line. That's $410 million.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Follows: A second power link to Kenai would run under Cook Inlet

Comment closes on giving the energy authority state land at Bradley Lake at no cost

The state proposes giving land around Bradley Lake hydro to the Alaska Energy Authority at no cost. Comment closed Tuesday. It's tied to expansion financing.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago3 min read

AIDEA board approves up to $10 million stake in Augustine volcano geothermal project

AIDEA's board OK'd up to $10 million for a stake in a company that wants to tap the heat under Augustine, an active volcano in Cook Inlet. The terms come later.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

GVEA video shows Interior members how to audit their own home energy use

A car plugged in all night can cost $50 to $150 a month, GVEA says in a new video walking Interior members through a do-it-yourself home energy audit.

by Bill AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Nome utility board lacks quorum at City Hall, reschedules for Friday

Nome's utility board met at City Hall instead of the power plant Tuesday but didn't have enough members to do business. It'll try again Friday.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read

Juneau staff seek $3.5 million toward new Glacier Highway water main before road rebuild

Juneau utility staff want $3.5 million to start replacing an old water main under Glacier Highway, so it's in the ground before the state rebuilds the road.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Follows: Juneau Assembly to consider $10 million loan for Glacier Highway water main

Rural Alaska water utilities face Dec. 31 deadline for sanitation funding scores

Rural Alaska water utilities must submit paperwork by Dec. 31 for a score deciding sanitation project funding.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Kawerak seeks comments on draft Bering Strait regional energy plan

Kawerak wants comments on a draft energy plan for a region where heating oil averaged $6.57 a gallon in a state survey and homes spend about $6,400 a year.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readFrom Oct 27

Alaska Power seeks federal OK for a gate on Gustavus hydro road at center of access dispute

Alaska Power wants federal approval for a road plan with one gate on the Gustavus hydro road, where the town has insisted on unfettered public access.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Windstorm cut power to at least 11,800 Chugach Electric members in Anchorage

Friday's windstorm drove trees into power lines, cutting power to at least 11,800 Chugach Electric members. A few hundred were still out early Saturday.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Follows: Windstorm gusts hit 70 mph south of Eagle River, cutting power to over 13,500 MEA members

Anchorage water utility pulls a well after PFAS tests exceed a proposed standard

AWWU pulled an Anchorage Bowl well after tests found "forever chemicals" above a proposed standard. Most city water comes from Eklutna, where tests found none.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read

Cordova budget leaves water crew a worker short as it plans a Heney line rebuild

Cordova's water crew hiked in again and again to find at least five breaks in the Heney line. Next year's budget leaves it a worker short for a bigger fix.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read

Alaska Energy Authority board votes Nov. 5 on a new look at the shelved Susitna dam

Alaska's energy authority votes Nov. 5 on a new look at the shelved Susitna dam, saying "time is of the essence" to catch tax credits worth up to half its cost.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read

Alaska is in line for the third-largest share of federal grid money among states

Alaska is in line for $32.8 million more in federal grid money, third most of any state. Earlier rounds went to snow-sagged lines and sinking permafrost.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Forest Service to replace 39-year-old Sitka oil boiler with electric heat and a heat pump

The Forest Service hired a Ketchikan firm for about $285,000 to swap a 39-year-old Sitka oil boiler for electric heat and a heat pump. Sitka runs on hydro.

by Melinda Communities.News2w ago2 min read

Murkowski tells AFN fuel prices are wrong and ties them to the Iran war

Murkowski told AFN high fuel prices are wrong and blamed the Iran war. She said she's voted for six months to end it. The Senate record says closer to five.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Rose, Holdmann say Southcentral gas imports look unavoidable and urge state policy

The founders of REAP and UAF's energy center say Southcentral probably can't avoid importing gas, and want a new governor to "knock heads" among utilities.

by Bill AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Solomon tribe helps buy Nome's utility a bucket truck with federal grid money

The Village of Solomon put $125,000 toward a bucket truck for Nome's utility. It's the first tribe in its Bering Strait consortium to start spending its share.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

UAF honors Cordova Electric CEO Clay Koplin for microgrid work in Cordova

UAF honored Cordova Electric CEO Clay Koplin for microgrid work in a town with no outside power line, a few months before he takes over Matanuska Electric.

by Melinda Communities.News3w ago1 min read

Energy official says Alaska tribal projects draw about half of $125 million federal selection

The U.S. Energy Department picked 20 Alaska tribal projects for about half of a $125 million funding round, covering power plants from Noatak to Port Graham.

by Maggie AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Juneau Assembly to consider $10 million loan for Glacier Highway water main

Juneau's Assembly will weigh a $10 million state loan to replace a leaky 45-year-old water main, ideally before the state repaves the highway on top of it.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

AIDEA commits $25 million to nuclear startup NuCube as it seeks to go public

AIDEA is putting $25 million into NuCube, a 10-person, pre-revenue nuclear startup, buying discounted shares as the company tries to go public.

by Melinda Communities.News2w ago3 min read

AVEC says it must raise revenue 10% as delivered fuel costs climb 35% to 40%

AVEC says it needs 10% more revenue after diesel for its 58 villages arrived 35% to 40% pricier. In fly-in villages, fuel alone tops $1 a kilowatt-hour.

by Maggie AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Kivalina, Wales and Eek lead off $100 million push to replace village fuel tanks

AVEC says contractors headed to Kivalina, Wales and Eek this summer to start new fuel tank farms, first of 10 villages in a $100 million grant ending July 2028.

by Maggie AlaskaNews3w ago4 min read

Proposed Ahtna land swap would put Cantwell's shooting range on borough land

Denali Borough may swap land with Ahtna to own the ground under Cantwell's shooting range. Healy still can't find a range spot nobody would hear.

by Maggie AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Alaska Air Group Now Expects 2026 Loss as Fuel Runs $1.8 Billion Over Plan

Alaska Air Group now expects a 2026 loss after jet fuel costs ran $1.8 billion over plan. The Alaska Airlines parent also serves 17 small Alaska communities with its cargo fleet, set to grow in 2027.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Anchorage's water utility could own the rights to most of the city's tap water in 2055

Most of Anchorage's tap water comes from a lake whose water rights belong to the hydro owners. A deal OK'd 12-0 lets the city's water utility own them in 2055.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Follows: Anchorage weighs Eklutna water deals after utilities decline to back its bid for a vote

Petersburg voters approve up to $3.3 million to finish a backup diesel generator

Petersburg voters OK'd up to $3.3 million, 709 to 366, for a backup diesel generator the borough says it needs before standby power falls short.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min readFrom Oct 6

Anchorage Assembly to consider $700,000 to start designing trash-burning power plant

Anchorage wants to turn trash into electricity. The next step is a $700,000 design contract. A city plan puts the whole plant at about $750 million.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago3 min read

Sitka Planning Commission takes testimony on requiring permits for data centers

Sitka's zoning code covers tanneries and log storage but says nothing about data centers. A city proposal would require a permit for one in five districts.

by Melinda Communities.News3w ago3 min read

A second power link to Kenai would run under Cook Inlet

Alaska wants a second power line between Kenai and Anchorage, under Cook Inlet's tides and ice. First it needs builders, and $142.5 million more.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Commission recommends naming Anchorage Assembly Chambers for Dick Traini, 3-2

Anchorage's naming commission voted 3-2 to recommend naming the Assembly Chambers for Dick Traini, despite a city rule to wait 36 months after a death.

by Walter AlaskaNews4w ago3 min read

Draft study backs regional co-ops for rural Alaska tank farms, comments due Friday

A draft study says rural Alaska tank farms should team up in regional co-ops to save money. Comments are due Friday, so speak now or hold your diesel.

by Maggie AlaskaNews4w ago3 min read