{"id":327633,"date":"2024-05-10T08:28:06","date_gmt":"2024-05-10T06:28:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=327633"},"modified":"2024-05-10T08:28:08","modified_gmt":"2024-05-10T06:28:08","slug":"alaska-energy-future-needs-informed-voters-gas-hydro-under-political-assault","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=327633","title":{"rendered":"Alaska Energy Future Needs Informed Voters (gas, hydro under political assault)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Master Resource<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By\u00a0<\/em>Kassie Andrews<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cWe do not have a gas shortage problem; we have a gas contract renewal \u2018problem\u2019 that the incumbents on the board refuse to address.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow can a board member do both: support green unreliable energy and meet their fiduciary responsibilities of lowest cost, highest reliability, best service, and safety?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Chugach Electric Association members face politicized, expensive, and unreliable power options that are certainly not the fault of rich, local resources that have proven their worth for many decades. Only inaction in the face of nefarious \u201cgreen\u201d can make it happen. Will Chugach members wake up to what economists call the concentrated benefit\/diffuse cost problem<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Radical green politicization of electric co-op boards has been a long time in the making, specifically for the 90,000 members of Anchorage-area Chugach Electric Association (CEA). Here is the latest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Green\u2019 Incumbents CEA Board<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sam Cason<\/a> and Mark Wiggin<\/a>, green incumbents on the CEA board, are endorsed<\/a> by the Alaska Center.  The Alaska Center supports<\/a> a carbon tax and is funded by the Sixteen Thirty Fund, which is managed by Arabella Advisors, the largest political dark money<\/a> network in the country. The Alaska Center is advocating for the removal<\/a> of the Eklutna Dam, Chugach\u2019s single largest source of clean and firm renewable energy, accounting for 24% of the renewable energy portfolio and 5-6% of the total electricity for the Railbelt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Eklutna Dam provides the lowest cost of firm power in the Southcentral region.  Aside from removing the lowest-cost clean energy, dam removal would affect Anchorage\u2019s drinking water as 90% of the water comes from Eklutna Lake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cason and Wiggin are also endorsed by Renewable Energy Alaska Project (Renewable Energy Alaska Project<\/a>, which is supported monetarily by National Renewable Energy Laboratory<\/a>, a federally funded program with an annual budget of over half a billion dollars. NREL\u2019s mission<\/a> is heavily geared towards \u201cEnergy Justice,\u201d aiming to convince folks that windmills and solar panels equate to equity and diversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the endorsement<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

These two candidates have each shown their commitment to REAP\u2019s mission of increasing the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency in Alaska throughout their time on the Chugach Board. And together they have pledged to address this Cook Inlet Gas Crisis in a transparent manner by diversifying Chugach Electric\u2019s generation portfolio away from a dangerous dependency on natural gas towards a mix of local, reliable, stably-priced renewable energy sources.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately for ratepayers, REAP has nothing to gain by advocating to keep clean, reliable, affordable power from Eklutna Dam. In fact, REAP stands to benefit from the removal of the dam under the proposal<\/a> to deactivate \u201cas soon as a different renewable energy source replaces the hydroelectric project\u2019s output.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eighty percent (80%) of the power generation for CEA members is provided by natural gas. CEA has raised the red flag on dwindling gas supplies and the need to find \u201calternative sources\u201d of energy to fill the gap. This \u201cgap\u201d is due to natural gas contracts expiring. New contracts need new provisions, an everyday practice. But green board members do not want to extend\/renew natural gas contracts if their friends and current board members<\/a> are all in the business of providing wind and solar solutions<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conflict-of-interest at the expense of ratepayers is obvious. Unfortunately, the coop has decarbonization goals<\/a> at odds with their primary duty of providing price-competitive, reliable power. The incumbents also reject proposals such as a coal plant with carbon capture as a policy of distraction and delay<\/a>. Fair enough but proponents of wind and solar are engaged in just that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We do not have a gas shortage problem; we have an economic problem that the incumbents on the board refuse to own. Instead, board members sit on their hands, allowing ENGOs to infiltrate our state government to draft and lobby legislation that will hold them harmless from liability for their terrible decisions to come. These ENGOs such as REAP are regularly invited to Juneau to testify on green bills enacting renewable mandates<\/a>, central planning organizations<\/a>, green banks<\/a>, and to further subsidize and \u201clevel the playing field\u201d for for-profit renewable independent power producers<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In turn, there is no one invited to testify as to the true economical impacts of this legislation. While these ENGOs such as REAP and Launch Alaska (energy transition accelerator) claim to be non-profit, they are implementing profiteering<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the end of the day, the totality of the \u201call of the above\u201d energy legislation that is cycling through our capital will result in no accountability from the boards that represent the rate payers, as well as higher costs \u2013 either the board members know this and do not care to represent ratepayers, or they are not paying attention. How can a board member do both: support green unreliable energy and meet their fiduciary responsibilities of lowest cost, highest reliability, best service, and safety? We are well on our way to becoming ratepayers without representation with a very expensive utility bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of the Above = Bad<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201call of the above\u201d approach to energy is a terribly misinformed<\/a> mantra that is repeated at all levels<\/a>, including<\/a> by Governor Mike Dunleavy, who is the primary champion for all of these green policies.  When they openly tell us what their plans are, we should listen to and believe them. Including ALL power alternatives implies unreliable, very expensive, and environmentally destructive sources will be put on our grid. As physicist John Droz<\/a> sagaciously asks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

How do we advance our economy and our society by allowing unreliable, expensive, and environmentally ruinous power sources on the grid? Who really benefits from an \u201cAll of the Above\u201d policy? Well it certainly is not taxpayers, ratepayers, or the environment. The primary beneficiaries are foreign conglomerates who supply us with energy sources that are unreliable, expensive and environmentally devastating \u2014 plus China who we will owe an even larger debt to!  All of the Sensible is the obvious answer.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Yes indeed, sensible options needed for the ratepayers, please.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Folks, if you like representation in your power co-op, we need to elect board members who are not driven by green politics and greed, and who are prepared and willing to do the job \u2013 no matter how tough it gets. What will it look like when Chugach members are battling with .45\u00a2\/kwh power rates and social justice billing? Will we be forced to eat it like Californians? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today we have an advantage over models in the lower-48 where we have representation and nonprofits that provide our power; it is ours to keep. It is through ignorance or corruption that our nonprofit energy infrastructure is being dismantled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Election Opportunity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The incumbents believe decisions they are responsible for are better left up to the government, ENGOs and bureaucracies. As Alaskans, we\u2019ve lived through this progressive reliance on government as it has become a costly impediment to our way of life and our freedoms. In this election, we have a unique opportunity to keep our representation and align it with our values as Alaskans. Neither candidate running<\/a> against the incumbents are beholden to special interests \u2013 they see the train coming and their background, experience and dedication to transparency<\/a> equip them to deal with our challenges ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dan Rogers<\/strong> is an engineer and business owner with decades of experience in improving power system reliability and cost.  Dan was once employed with Chugach and is the co-founder of one of the largest power system engineering companies in Alaska.  He has been involved in many projects including the firm and reliable Bradley Lake Project.  His clear-eyed take is that renewable projects can<\/em> be done at Chugach, \u201cbut only if a dispassionate look is taken at the options available.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Todd Lindley<\/strong> is an engineer and business owner with a firm understanding of economics, energy systems and many years of applying logic driven solutions.  Todd has an extraordinary breadth of experience at home in the United States and abroad in design and evaluation\/risk scoring on projects large and small.  Todd has been actively involved<\/a> in the study of carbon legislation and energy policy.  He brings a unique perspective to the electrical utility realm as so much of our firm power is reliant on the oil and gas industry where he has spent his career as a Mechanical Engineer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ballots<\/a>\u00a0are in the mail \u2013 Retrieve your election passcode from your ballot packet and vote online\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0through May 17th<\/sup>. Watch the Anchorage Chamber \u201cMake it Monday\u201d forum with the candidates\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Kassie Andrews<\/a>\u00a0is a Principal at MasterResource who regularly\u00a0comments<\/a>\u00a0on Alaska energy policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How do we advance our economy and our society by allowing unreliable, expensive, and environmentally ruinous power sources on the grid? Who really benefits from an \u201cAll of the Above\u201d policy? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":327640,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691818602,691820184,691818128,691819094,691828541],"class_list":{"0":"post-327633","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-uncategorized","8":"tag-alaska","9":"tag-carbon-tax","10":"tag-energy","11":"tag-renewable-green-energy","12":"tag-unreliable-power","14":"fallback-thumbnail"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/0IMG_0588.jpg?fit=1280%2C960&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-1nep","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":280535,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=280535","url_meta":{"origin":327633,"position":0},"title":"Alaska Energy vs. Woke Government","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"26\/09\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Alaska\u2019s economy runs on oil and gas. Additionally, oil revenues have accounted for up to\u00a090% of our General Fund\u00a0revenue. Amid its resource abundance, however, Alaska has a big and growing governmental problem\u2014mostly in Washington, D.C., and increasingly, in local governments trying to appease their federal masters.","rel":"","context":"In \"Alaska\"","block_context":{"text":"Alaska","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=alaska"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/image-779.png?fit=1200%2C635&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/image-779.png?fit=1200%2C635&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/image-779.png?fit=1200%2C635&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/image-779.png?fit=1200%2C635&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/image-779.png?fit=1200%2C635&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":281413,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=281413","url_meta":{"origin":327633,"position":1},"title":"Alaska Energy vs. Woke Government","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"01\/10\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"From MasterResource By Kassie Andrews\u00a0 \u201cThe actions of Alaska policy makers, led by the governor, are eradicating the free-market principles in our state. A media blackout on the problem has left only citizen-led initiatives driving the train to truth. We the People Alaska publishes an eye-opening\u00a0substack\u00a0on many of these topics.\u201d\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Alaska Energy\"","block_context":{"text":"Alaska Energy","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=alaska-energy"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-14.png?fit=1200%2C661&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-14.png?fit=1200%2C661&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-14.png?fit=1200%2C661&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-14.png?fit=1200%2C661&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-14.png?fit=1200%2C661&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":375569,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=375569","url_meta":{"origin":327633,"position":2},"title":"Alaska vs Renewable Portfolio Standard: The Public Awakens","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"18\/04\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cThe proposal includes Renewable Energy Credits, a pseudo carbon tax wherein co-ops buy credits instead of building renewable projects; a wind-energy bonus multiplier of 1.25x for large projects; and a Fine reinvestment option to force renewable projects. This mandated energy transformation locks Alaskans into unreliable and politically favored renewables, whether\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Alaska\"","block_context":{"text":"Alaska","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=alaska"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0PlanYourTrip_Packages-Tours_Winter-Packages_Hero_ATIA-Matt-Hage.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0PlanYourTrip_Packages-Tours_Winter-Packages_Hero_ATIA-Matt-Hage.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0PlanYourTrip_Packages-Tours_Winter-Packages_Hero_ATIA-Matt-Hage.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0PlanYourTrip_Packages-Tours_Winter-Packages_Hero_ATIA-Matt-Hage.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0PlanYourTrip_Packages-Tours_Winter-Packages_Hero_ATIA-Matt-Hage.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":263733,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=263733","url_meta":{"origin":327633,"position":3},"title":"Sweden Ditches Renewable Energy Targets in Latest Blow for Unreliable and Inefficient Technology","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"24\/06\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The Swedish Government has\u00a0ditched\u00a0its targets for \u201c100% renewable energy\u201d supply amid a shift back to nuclear power in the latest blow for the unreliable and inefficient technology.","rel":"","context":"In \"climate activism\"","block_context":{"text":"climate activism","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=climate-activism"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/00turbine-effondree-1.webp?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/00turbine-effondree-1.webp?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/00turbine-effondree-1.webp?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/00turbine-effondree-1.webp?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/00turbine-effondree-1.webp?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":294561,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=294561","url_meta":{"origin":327633,"position":4},"title":"Alaska Alert! \u201cGreen\u201d Rate Case Trouble (Chugach Electric vs. ratepayers, taxpayers)","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"11\/01\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Alaska is an oil and gas state.\u00a0In 2022, natural gas, oil, and coal fueled two-thirds of Alaska\u2019s electricity generation, with hydro at 29 percent and wind, solar and biomass accounting for the last three percent.","rel":"","context":"In \"Alaska\"","block_context":{"text":"Alaska","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=alaska"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/0Daily-Alaska-Life_Hill.webp?fit=1200%2C762&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/0Daily-Alaska-Life_Hill.webp?fit=1200%2C762&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/0Daily-Alaska-Life_Hill.webp?fit=1200%2C762&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/0Daily-Alaska-Life_Hill.webp?fit=1200%2C762&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/0Daily-Alaska-Life_Hill.webp?fit=1200%2C762&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":215824,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=215824","url_meta":{"origin":327633,"position":5},"title":"Energy Through the Looking Glass \u2013 Part 2","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"27\/08\/2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The first claim, sadly, seems to be one of traducing one\u2019s opponents 'arguments based on who one\u2019s opponents are.","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-1222.png?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-1222.png?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-1222.png?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-1222.png?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-1222.png?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327633","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=327633"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327633\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":327641,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327633\/revisions\/327641"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/327640"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=327633"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=327633"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=327633"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}