Energy

Eielson Air Force Base

Work on Eielson microreactor project may resume this summer

State Sen. Click Bishop, R-Fairbanks, urged the Air Force to move ahead with the small nuclear power plant after a presentation last week.
a road

Unalaska to pursue geothermal energy project with new partners

For the city’s plan to work without Chena Power’s involvement, the Ounalashka Corp. would likely have to break ties with Chena.
A man on a ladder installs a piece of equipment on the upper part of a wall.

Alaska creates climate plan to reduce statewide emissions and fund a wide range of sustainable energy projects

The state identified almost a billion dollars in need for projects that would help lower energy costs for an EPA grant program. 
a building

Alaska development authority signs contracts with ex-Dunleavy aides, paying up to $295/hour

Rex Rock and John Moller, both former rural affairs advisors to Gov. Mike Dunleavy, were hired by AIDEA through a competitive procurement process.
a polar bear

Federal appeals court declines to ‘criminalize’ Beaufort Sea oil and gas work

A divided three-judge panel concluded that a federal agency failed to justify a regulation that allows some oil and gas work.
Massive industrial conveyor belt and loading equipment on a dock in a cloudy harbor.

Coal loading equipment in Seward is set to be demolished, likely a permanent end to Alaska coal exports

The Seward coal loading dock has sat idle since 2016 after demand for Alaska coal exports collapsed, one sign of the global energy transition. 

Alaska House resolution calls on feds to scrap rule limiting NPR-A development

The Bureau of Land Management rule would apply “maximum protection” to more than half of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.
a road

Unalaska pulls plug on Makushin geothermal project

Unalaska City Council members had lost confidence that the project would be completed on a reasonable timeline.
a white, snowy landscape of a dam covered in snow and mountains covered in snow.

Anchorage Assembly preps for legal fight with Bronson administration over future of Eklutna Dam

The Assembly and administration have major differences over who sets the policy and what the city’s position actually is.
a sunset

Alaska natural gas promoter floats new plan: Send North Slope gas to Southcentral first

The Alaska Gasline Development Corp. suggests supplying the Cook Inlet region with natural gas as a phased prelude to Asia-bound LNG exports.
a volcano

Unalaska positions to walk away from geothermal agreement

A Friday memo from Unalaska's administration advises against renewing a power purchase agreement in the Makushin Volcano geothermal project.

USDA boosts energy grants to help rural businesses, farmers, others

The federal Department of Agriculture is offering grants to help people who live and work in Alaska’s rural areas reduce their energy costs.
Cook Inlet

Alaska Gov. Dunleavy’s plan to lease land for carbon storage comes with questions

Analysts say estimates that the state could earn hundreds millions from leases are overpromising.
A narrow lake among snow-capped mountains

Eklutna hydro owners say they won’t extend wildlife restoration process

Stakeholders who have fundamental objections have little time for further negotiation, and little recourse but federal court.
a Hilcorp platform in Cook Inlet

Bill to provide free access to Cook Inlet seismic surveys moves forward

House Resources Committee chair Rep. Tom McKay, R-Anchorage, said he believes the proposal could spur more drilling.
Man speaking to legislative committee

Cook Inlet gas crunch likely to push up prices as lawmakers search for solutions

The state’s largest gas utility is warning that shortfalls could come as soon as next year – and imports are years off.
a building

Hilcorp fined $260K for missing well integrity test on Alaska’s North Slope

Thursday's penalty came two days after the oil company was fined $452,100 over unauthorized injections into Prudhoe Bay Unit oil pools.
homes

Alaska’s recent cold snap tested critical infrastructure, including in Mertarvik

The entire community was without electricity for more than three days, as subzero temperatures sapped the local generator's batteries.
a person walking by a sign

Kensington Mine cuts 20% of pay for some hourly employees, citing financial woes

In a memo sent in early January, the mine’s general manager said the mine will struggle to remain viable if it does not find ways to reduce costs.

Southcentral Alaska gas utility says high demand is straining gas storage system

“This is the most strained I’ve seen the system,” ENSTAR President John Sims said at a press conference Thursday.
Power transmission lines on poles in the foreground, with mountains in the distance.

Gas leak triggers chain of power outages spanning from Anchorage to the Mat-Su

Utilities say a 25-minute outage early Thursday at the Eklutna Generation Station triggered outages across the Railbelt to prevent a blackout.
Rows of solar panels stretching off into the distance.

Chugach Electric offers its support for renewable energy benchmarks

A renewable portfolio standard would require Railbelt utilities to ramp up renewables. Chugach is the first Railbelt utility to publicly back it.
a pipeline

Political pressure builds as state-led Alaska LNG project goes another year without a deal

Gov. Mike Dunleavy wants to spend another $4.5 million on marketing and development the project. But lawmakers sound increasingly skeptical.
a woman with a laser pointer in front of an audience

Anchorage, Mat-Su utilities disagree with Eklutna village on full dam removal to restore namesake river

The public has until Feb. 19 to comment on the utilities’ hydro project river repair plan, which is much more modest.
pipeline

State expects Willow and Pikka to push oil production up 30% by 2032

Natural Resources Commissioner John Boyle told lawmakers he expects a more than 30% production increase by the start of the 2033 fiscal year.

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