The “we can’t get there from here” rationale is weakening because it looks like renewable energy is starting to pencil out. Everyone should read ADN’s Nov. 26 article about how two major mining companies working in Alaska, at Fort Knox and Red Dog mines, are considering renewables, wind and solar for electrical energy instead of oil and gas. Chugach Electric’s board, now revising its strategic plan (in closed-to-the-public meetings), should read the article too.
Mining executives stated “Alaska has ‘extremely high’ electricity costs,” inhibiting them, and “buys 100% renewable power” at “very, very cost-effective” rates at other mines outside Alaska. At the Resource Development Council (RDC) meetings, they said renewables are “very complementary,” summer (solar) and winter (wind). They said this in front of mining and oil/ gas advocates. Such courage! I’m guessing RDC never allows the phrase “human-caused climate change” to be spoken at their meetings.
Chugach’s board has added only a handful of renewable power sources in 20 years. Meanwhile, we Alaskans have been traveling to the Lower 48, seeing hundreds of wind turbines and tens of thousands of solar panels installed. These energy sources avoid massive startup, transport, and additional exploration costs, unlike oil and gas.
The Chugach Board has been told Cook Inlet gas, which generates 80% of our electricity, may fall short of demand by 2027.
Their current solution?
Please get Alaskans, our Permanent Fund, the federal government, or anyone else, to build a $43 billion-plus gas pipeline from the North Slope. This hasn’t been penciling out for decades. Would it take a decade to build? Too late.
Chugach’s board should set ambitious, measurable goals now for renewables, for other carbon- free ways to generate electricity, and for building a better grid. There’s federal funding available to help us. They should be above board and get ratepayers involved in the Chugach’s planning. We all need to be involved in realistic solutions because it is our future. Will they spring huge increases in electricity rates on us, or drastically reduce our electricity usage? Are businesses and people just going to leave the state?
What about the environment, our fish? We need to wake up, folks.
— Bill Herman
Anchorage
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