The North Slope...
AKLNG: Dirty deeds (not) done
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Recent Posts From Ben
The Missed Milestone for Homer Electric Association
The Missed Milestone for Homer Electric Association — Ben Boettger 2025 would have been a milestone for Homer Electric Association. Under the renewable energy goal that HEA's directors set four years ago, it aimed to be 50% renewable by this December. Meeting this ambitious goal would have been hard and frankly unlikely. HEA was (and is still...
Our Modern Lives Demand Energy – So We Must Demand Energy We Can Live With
Our Modern Lives Demand Energy – So We Must Demand Energy We Can Live With — Ben Boettger For about 60 years, natural gas extracted in and around Cook Inlet has provided most of our heat and nearly all our electricity. The gasoline in our cars and planes is produced by the refinery in Nikiski, which primarily uses crude from Cook Inlet, as well...
Inletkeeper Supports Raising Net Metering Cap
Inletkeeper Supports Raising Net Metering Cap As the Regulatory Commission of Alaska decides whether utilities should be required to connect more member-owned solar installations through net metering, Inletkeeper is highlighting the value of letting members invest in their own energy to conserve Cook Inlet gas, hedge against its rising price, and...
Climate Community, with Coffee
Climate change can be a lonely and alienating issue. But solving it is a team sport. There's literally nothing you can do alone that will reach the scale of the problem. Even the most climate-friendly individual choices make a difference only when many people are informed and inspired to adopt them. Our climate impacts come from using the systems...
HEA Board Approves Contract for State’s Largest Solar Farm
HEA Board Approves Contract for State's Largest Solar Farm — Ben Boettger On August 13 the Homer Electric Association (HEA) board unanimously approved two measures in a single resolution: to buy the power from the planned Puppy Dog Lake solar farm – to be built in Nikiski by the Anchorage-based developer Renewable Independent Power Producer...
The Sausage-Making Factory
In a deliberative democracy, ideas that may start off rough have a chance to be polished and cleaned on the way to becoming policy. In legislative hearings, bills are scrutinized from many angles by many stakeholders. Although the process can be frustrating to watch, it is one of the strengths of our government. Senate Bill 101, Renewable...
HEA Renewable Goal Repealed
Homer Electric Association's directors have abandoned the co-op's goal of becoming 50% renewable by 2025. At their Dec. 12 meeting, board members voted 6-3 to rescind the renewable goal and subsequently approved a new policy for HEA to "to encourage future development of Cook Inlet gas resources wherever feasible," with efforts that "will include...
Energy security task force
In February, Gov. Dunleavy created the Alaska Energy Security Task Force by executive order and charged them with making plans to lower the state's energy costs. The Task Force intends to deliver a Statewide Energy Master Plan by Dec. 1 and is now taking public comments on their draft. Their public comment session will be on Oct. 24 from 5-6 p.m....
Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) Are A Way Forward for Local Energy
When the Legislature reconvenes in January, Alaskans will have an opportunity to change our energy system through a pair of bills requiring the four southcentral utilities to get 80% of their energy from renewable power by 2040. This is not only a necessary solution to the gas supply problem, and a foundation for Alaska's long-term security and...
Ben Boettger
Born and raised in Indiana, on traditional lands of the Shawnee and Miami, Ben Boettger came to Alaska in 2014. Prior to joining Cook Inletkeeper, he was a Peace Corps volunteer in Mongolia, a National Park Service ranger, and a reporter for local and regional newspapers in Vermont, Indiana, and Alaska. From 2014 to 2018, he covered local government, energy, environment, and the Cook Inlet oil and gas industry for the Peninsula Clarion. He enjoys hiking, camping, climbing mountains, and observing ravens, and he would like to learn more about sea kayaking. He currently lives in Soldotna on Dena’ina Land.