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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
The Paris Agreement seeks to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels to give the planet a decent chance of avoiding the worst outcomes of climate change. To hit this target, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change calls for reducing carbon emissions by 40-60% by 2030 and reaching net zero emissions by 2050-2070. ...
It's been a little over a year since Hilcorp warned the local utilities, which depend on their gas supply, not to rely on future supply contracts from them. Since then, our four regional electric co-ops and gas distributor ENSTAR have been studying the cost and benefits of gas from other sources, including imported liquified natural gas (LNG) and...
In a recent decision hitting Hilcorp with a $265,500 fine for violating an approved drilling plan, the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC) cited the company's “track record of regulatory noncompliance.” It sounds a lot like the AOGCC fine Hilcorp received in 2020, which also cited "a history of regulatory...
Vote online in the HEA election here, or send your mail-in ballot by May 4. We can’t predict what energy system we’ll have in 2030, but it won’t be the one we have today.Since the 1960s, the majority of our electricity has been fueled by Cook Inlet natural gas. In January, the state forecast that at current usage rates, supplies could fall short...
Cook Inlet natural gas – the fuel for roughly 85% of our region's electricity – could fall short by 2027, according to a report released in January by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. Previous DNR gas supply studies have estimated that prices would need to increase by 50-100% by 2030 for gas extraction to break even. Natural gas...
