2026 Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference Wednesday

Strong partnership historically, and we are about to embark on an even stronger partnership with this wonderful state and with one of the great institutions in this state. There's nothing that can be accomplished solo. The collaboration between our— one of our most, most wonderful national labs— I'm biased because it's my lab, uh, the National Lab of the Rockies, but it's one of 17 national labs And yesterday we signed an MOU with the state of Alaska. Uh, the governor, uh, and I are both very —step, and it's an honor and a privilege to be here today with you and to have this signed. And I think— Dr. Vernon.

Thank you. Well, on behalf of the 3,000 highly passionate and motivated and outstanding staff at the National Lab of the Rockies, I am really excited to sign this Memorandum of Understanding with University of Alaska at Fairbanks. We have a longstanding partnership, but as the Assistant Secretary said, now is the time to refresh it. We're going to focus it on critical minerals, energy and power, and energy infrastructure for the State of Alaska. State of Alaska, as the governor said, is unique.

It has unique challenges and unique opportunities. We have a staff and an office in Fairbanks, and, you know, it started in 2000, and it's really been growing, and we are really excited about using that foothold of our staff in Fairbanks to continue the partnership, to have a bigger difference across the state of Alaska. And today we're going to sign, and it's ink on paper, but I can tell you from the top of the university, we met with the governor yesterday, to the National Lab of the Rockies, to Assistant Secretary Robertson, we are really committed to turning this into something that delivers impact for all of you in the state. So I'm really excited about the future. And with that, I'll hand it over to the University of Alaska at Fairbanks.

I just want to chime in on that excitement. On behalf of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, I am delighted to be signing this memorandum of understanding today with the National Lab of the Rockies. NLR brings great and complementary expertise in energy technology and critical minerals to the University of Alaska. This partnership is going to allow us to combine our expertise and go in new directions, building on the partnership that we already have in place. We have the Alaska Center for Energy and Power, as well as the Alaska Critical Minerals Collaborative that are housed within UAF, and those entities are going to be key to these new— to these two areas that Audrey emphasized in terms of partnership growth.

We also envision that the partnership will have new workforce possibilities all the way from two-year degrees up to PhDs that can help support this growing industry in the state. So I just want to chime in with Audrey and with Judd and thank them for their partnership. We are delighted to be signing this MOU today. So thank you, everyone.

You guys remember earlier this morning when I said to make sure you use a proper hashtag when you use your social media? Accounts to tag the organization. I said hopefully I won't have to say that again the rest of the day. Well, here I am again. If you are on social media, please make sure you share your photos from yesterday, today, even the slightly awkward ones from the train last night using the— I mean, really, we don't want to see those.

Just use your better judgment if you possibly could exercise that. If you're on social media, please use the hashtag ASEC 2026. And according to millennials, that will help us track all of the photos and everything, as I still struggle to figure out MySpace. So that'll be just fine. And a reminder that we wouldn't be the Sustainable Energy Conference that people who are protesting across the street don't seem to understand if we didn't actually power the conference via sustainable energy.

The Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference is powered 100% of renewable energy from the Fire Island Wind Project, and thanks to our friends at Chugach Electric Association, retired renewable energy certificates that this conference purchased, uh, matched 100% of the electricity used in this event. And of course, that purchasing was made possible by our many sponsors who will be up on the board throughout, and you can mingle with them during the reception this evening. Also a reminder, do not lose your complimentary beverage ticket. I was told to put mine in the back of my pouch, which right here, which was a great, great idea. And at the conclusion of our final presentation this evening, right around 5 o'clock or so, because nobody, nobody wants to be the presentation that is the last one and makes you late for the reception.

We've all been to those conferences. Trust me, we're very well organized. Nothing like that will happen. So, invite you to enjoy your lunches, and in just a few short minutes, we will begin our afternoon program. Thank you.