Energy

The same water-chemical contract came back $855,400 higher, with no explanation

Anchorage Assembly votes Tuesday on two water chemical contracts worth up to $4.34 million to supply fluoride and coagulant to treatment plants serving 225,000 people.

by Walter AlaskaNews10h ago2 min readAI

NuCube, Alaska Fund launch NuAlaska nuclear initiative

NuCube Energy and Alaska Fund launched NuAlaska to develop nuclear microreactors for remote Alaska communities where fuel costs and weather make power expensive.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min readAI

Chignik residents have until Sept. 10 to weigh in on surrendering their hydro license

Chignik residents have until Sept. 10 to comment on surrendering the federal license for their idle hydroelectric project and replacing it with state-jurisdiction infrastructure.

by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 1d ago2 min readAI

A UAF fix for the battery-and-generator clash in village grids

When villages add batteries to diesel plants, the two can 'fight' and destabilize the grid — a UAF researcher is testing a fix to cut rural diesel use.

by Melinda Communities.News3d ago2 min readAI

Cook Inlet's oil and gas discharge rules expired in 2021, and EPA is finally rewriting them

The rules for what oil and gas exploration can discharge into federal Cook Inlet waters expired in 2021 and have run on an extension. EPA is rewriting them.

by Walter AlaskaNews6d ago1 min readAI

A glacier-dammed lake is emptying into the Salmon River near Hyder

A glacier-dammed lake above Hyder is draining out the bottom of the Salmon Glacier, swelling the Salmon River and threatening the Premier road — like it has almost every summer since 1961.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI

The Air Force wants to put AI data centers on Alaska military land — and the three sites tell three very different stories

Three Alaska military bases are auditioning to host the AI boom — JBER can't power it, Eielson is leaking PFAS at it, and Clear has 4,769 acres, a DDT drum dump, and all the groundwater you can drink.

by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago3 min readAI

A decade after a plan promised lower energy costs, Bering Strait villages are still studying the problem

A decade after a regional plan promised lower energy costs, Bering Strait villages are still studying the problem — as Kawerak seeks contractors to assess the diesel infrastructure keeping 20 communities running.

by Alaska News1w ago2 min readAI

Eleven Sitka islands lose power for a day as crews swap a channel cable

Eleven islands off Sitka go dark for eight hours on July 31 while crews swap out an aging underwater cable. Charge everything Thursday night.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min readAI

Kodiak has until Oct. 2 to weigh in on Terror Lake relicensing

Kodiak residents have until Oct. 2 to tell FERC what to study as Terror Lake Hydro seeks relicensing — a review touching power costs and the river.

by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 1w ago2 min readAI

ENSTAR says it locked in a price for Alaska LNG

ENSTAR locked in $16 per thousand cubic feet for North Slope pipeline gas, undercutting LNG imports at $20 to $23 but raising costs 48% above current Cook Inlet supply before adding $4.50 to $6 in distribution and storage charges.

by Bill AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI

Murkowski and Sullivan split on a motion to discharge an Iran War Powers Resolution

Iran War Powers Resolution: Murkowski yes, Sullivan no. The 2020 version went the same way. Pattern noted.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI

Alaska's gas-line bill clears the Senate — and the governor immediately moves to undo it

Special session concludes without passage of a gasline bill, and now the question is if this is an end to negotiations or if they'll continue tomorrow. The Governor thinks they're close.

by Cale Green1mo ago3 min readAI

Alaska News Roundup: Gas pipeline tax fight, Point Thomson trade-off, and McNeil River access debate

This episode covers the week's major Alaska stories: a gas pipeline tax bill that added oil tax increases, the Point Thomson condensate trade-off for pipeline gas, Mount Edgecumbe enrollment crisis, and McNeil River bear sanctuary access proposals.

by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago3 min readAI

Dunleavy to Call Special Session on Gas Line Property Tax Within Hour of Adjournment

Dunleavy calls special session within one hour of adjournment to cut property taxes on Alaska's gas pipeline project. • Current law imposes roughly one billion dollars in annual taxes, making the project uncompetitive. • Federal support depends on Alaska restructuring its tax system to make the project viable. • Municipalities must accept lower taxes to help finance the project.

by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI

Alaska Positioned as Prime Location for AI Data Center Growth

by Melinda Communities.News2mo ago2 min readAI

Cordova's co-op wants a data center to soak up unsold hydropower

Cordova has more hydropower than buyers, and a weak fish season is pushing rates up. The co-op's fix: a data center in a warehouse storage bay.

by Melinda Communities.News3w ago1 min readAI

State Signs Deal to Develop Geothermal Energy at Mount Augustine Volcano

Alaska signed an agreement with South Korean firm POSCO International to develop geothermal energy and green methanol production at Mount Augustine volcano in Cook Inlet, part of a six-project development deal.

by Bill AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI

DNR offers 50-year North Slope lease for gas-powered data center

Alaska DNR offered a 50-year lease to STAK Energy for a massive data center on the North Slope that would use natural gas to power 1 to 3 gigawatts of computing, with public comments due June 15.

by Alaska News2mo ago2 min readAI

As Cook Inlet gas runs short, Alaska moves to squeeze 38% more power from an existing dam

With Cook Inlet gas set to run short by 2027, Alaska wants to squeeze 38% more power from the existing Bradley Lake dam — raising the reservoir 16 feet and piping in glacier melt, no new plant required.

by Melinda Communities.Newsadded 2w ago2 min readAI

Stack Energy Plans Multi-Gigawatt Data Center Near Prudhoe Bay

Stack Energy plans $20 billion data center south of Prudhoe Bay with 10,000 construction jobs starting 2026. • Off-grid facility uses local natural gas, targets operations by late 2028. • Waste heat could power large-scale Alaska greenhouses. • Company pays state taxes and partners with Alaska Native groups on workforce training.

by Bill AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago3 min readAI

Alaska has the most earthquakes. The program that watches them expired in 2023.

The federal earthquake program has been running on expired authorization since 2023 — awkward for the state that gets a magnitude 7 most years.

by Melinda Communities.Newsadded 3w ago2 min readAI

Alaska LNG project secures financing proposals, targets 2027 construction start

Alaska LNG secured private financing to build 800-mile pipeline from North Slope to Cook Inlet, targeting 2027 construction start and 2029 gas delivery. • Needs tax stabilization law and utility regulator approval to proceed. • Export facility would sell 20 million tonnes of LNG yearly, mostly to Asia. • Project addresses Cook Inlet gas shortage and aims to lower Alaska energy costs.

by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI

Alaska Senate panel hears gas line bill with $900M annual tax break

Alaska Senate reviewed gas pipeline bill cutting annual taxes from $1 billion to $74 million. • Developer could earn $5 billion yearly while consumers face gas prices more than double current rates. • Bill includes $50 million construction fund and requires Fairbanks spur line. • Senators questioned if impact funds adequately address community needs.

by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago3 min readAI

Dunleavy says Alaska gas pipeline depends on property tax overhaul

Governor Mike Dunleavy urged the legislature to pass a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes bill within three weeks, calling it essential to financing what he described as the largest project in Alaska history, an LNG pipeline from the North Slope.

by Alaska News3mo ago5 min readAI

Roundup: Alaska energy conference closes with pipeline financing, record lease sale, and economic freedom debate

Glenfarne secured financing for Alaska LNG pipeline, targeting 2027 construction and 2029 delivery to Cook Inlet, pending tax legislation. • National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska lease sale drew $163 million in bids for 1.3 million acres, though one block faces court challenge. • Dunleavy and economist Wade argued regulatory streamlining and energy access drive economic growth.

by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago4 min readAI

EPA suspends Arctic clean-diesel rules amid Middle East supply crunch

A Middle East fuel crunch reached the North Slope, and EPA suspended clean-diesel rules there through Aug. 2 — putting more soot over Iñupiat communities and Arctic snow.

by Walter AlaskaNews4w ago1 min readAI

Gas pipeline bill adds oil tax increase, industry calls process rushed

The Senate Resources Committee passed a gas pipeline tax bill that includes an oil production tax floor increase from four to six percent, prompting industry criticism despite thirty-two hearings on the measure.

by Alaska News2mo ago2 min readAI

National Lab, University of Alaska Fairbanks sign energy partnership

National Renewable Energy Laboratory and University of Alaska Fairbanks expanded their partnership Wednesday to focus on critical minerals, energy infrastructure, and workforce development for Alaska's energy sector.

by Melinda Communities.News2mo ago2 min readAI

Tidal energy permit application opens in Isanotski Strait near False Pass

Tidal energy permit in Isanotski Strait. Small ask. Alaska has the biggest U.S. tidal resource, and Cook Inlet gas is running down.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI

Alaska energy conference closes with call to protect economic freedom

Dunleavy and business author Wade say Alaska must cut regulations to compete for investment and jobs. • Wade argued over-regulation keeps poor nations poor, citing special economic zones as a model. • Dunleavy said a major energy project awaits legislature approval and could create thousands of jobs. • Wade told energy industry reliable, affordable power is essential to human flourishing.

by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI

Four nuclear startups race to bring microreactors to Alaska by 2029

Four nuclear firms racing to deploy microreactors in Alaska by 2029, starting 2027. • Radiant, Antares, Applied Atomics, NuCube targeting military bases and remote industrial sites. • Alaska cleared regulatory path in 2024. Air Force already signed contracts. • No US private microreactor yet operating or backed by commercial power deals.

by Bill AlaskaNews2mo ago3 min readAI

Point Thomson is the remote gas field Alaska's pipeline dream depends on

You know Prudhoe Bay. You probably don't know Point Thomson — the remote, pricey field Alaska's whole pipeline dream quietly leans on. And it's stirring.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI

Trump invokes Defense Production Act; makes way for new Alaska coal plant

Trump invoked the Defense Production Act and is trying to push $89m to help build a coal plant in Alaska

by Cale Green2mo ago3 min readAI

Matanuska Electric offers free EV chargers to local businesses, but hosts pay install costs

MEA is giving away EV chargers to Mat-Su hosts — but only the box is free; the host pays to install it, and the co-op pockets three years of charging data.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI

Anchorage's mayor told Senate Finance LNG could cost "tens of millions of dollars"

Anchorage's mayor told Senate Finance LNG would cost "tens of millions" — a number that lands somewhere between $23M and $173M. Her plan targets $23M.

by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI

Alaska Energy Conference Highlights Gas Pipeline Progress Amid Legislative Tax Debate

Alaska LNG pipeline signed contracts, targets 2029 delivery, but governor and legislature split on tax framework. • Southcentral consumers could pay $22.96 per thousand cubic feet if exports fail, double current rates. • Federal officials highlighted critical minerals and $1 billion in funding, but permitting takes 15 to 18 years. • Rural Alaska pays $6.63 per gallon with no pipeline relief in sight.

by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago4 min readAI

The public can't sit in as the Railbelt reworks your power costs

The body redrawing how Railbelt transmission costs get split is meeting behind closed doors this week — legal under its own bylaws, though the binding decisions still face public review.

by Melinda Communities.News1mo ago1 min readAI

Murkowski targets federal conditions on Southeast's hydropower licenses

Southeast's power comes from dams on Tongass land. Murkowski's bill would limit what the Forest Service can demand as those licenses come up for renewal.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min readAI

Begich cites $163M Alaska oil lease sale as proof federal certainty drives investment

Rep. Nick Begich cited a record $163 million Alaska oil lease sale as evidence that federal policy certainty drives energy investment, and called for faster permitting to unlock Alaska's oil, gas, and geothermal resources for national security.

by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI