The AKPIRG Advocate, June 2025
In the face of it all, we keep showing up
Thousands of people gather for a "No Kings" protest on Saturday, June 14, 2025 in downtown Anchorage, coalescing around frustration and anger with Trump administration actions. (Loren Holmes / ADN)
Across the country, communities are rising up in response to immigration raids and policies that tear people from their homes, families, and communities; to a federal budget reconciliation bill that threatens to slash critical protections for working families and those already pushed to the margins; and to ongoing and escalating violence in the Middle East. It’s a lot. These policies and conflicts may be made far from Alaska, but their impacts are felt locally.
We applaud everyone who has shown up to protest, stood in solidarity, and supported our neighbors during these challenging times. Your courage and commitment to community care remind us that even when national forces feel overwhelming, local action and mutual support make a real difference.
At AKPIRG, we know that what happens in D.C. reverberates across our state. We’ve seen how federal inaction and harmful policies can endanger financial stability, public health, and cultural survival in Alaska. We also know that in moments like these, the power of community, accountability, and public voice matters more than ever.
Even as national policies shift, we can build power and resilience right at home.
Here in Alaska, organizations like the ACLU of Alaska, the Mutual Aid Network of Anchorage, and Native Movement are providing direct support to those who need it most. We encourage you to donate to or volunteer with them if you can.
Alongside that critical on-the-ground work, AKPIRG is concentrating on the federal budget reconciliation bill. We’ve been busy meeting with lawmakers and agencies in D.C. to urge them to protect funding for essential programs Alaskans rely on – from SNAP and Medicaid to consumer protections and rural energy upgrades.
Earlier this month, AKPIRG Economic Justice Lead Claire Estelle Lubke made the trip to D.C. to join consumer advocates from across the country to urge lawmakers to defend the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) – the only federal agency dedicated to protecting consumers from unfair financial practices. (above)
The following week, AKPIRG Executive Director Julia Hnilicka was in D.C. with a group of Alaskans to meet with lawmakers and federal agencies to defend renewable energy tax credits that rural Alaskan communities depend on to keep energy affordable and reliable. (left)
We need your voice, too. Please call Senators Murkowski and Sullivan and urge them to vote NO on any cuts to renewable energy tax credits, CFPB funding, SNAP, Medicaid, public media, and other essential programs that Alaskans rely on.
👉Sen. Murkowski: (202) 224-6665
👉Sen. Sullivan: (202) 224-3004
To support this work, consider making a donation to AKPIRG:
New report spotlights energy inequity in Alaska
AKPIRG, Native Movement, and Cook Inletkeeper teamed up with the University of Washington’s Center for Environmental Health & Equity to release a new report on energy burden in Alaska – the percentage of household income spent on electricity, heating, and fuel.
The findings are striking:
🔺The average energy burden in Alaska is 60% higher than the national average.
🏔 Some rural and low-income households are spending over 20–50% of their income just to keep the lights on.
💡 Renters, remote communities, and people living in poverty are hit hardest.
As federal energy programs and tax credits face possible cuts in D.C., this data shows exactly why Alaskans can’t afford to be left behind.
Both the full report and a two page summary of the report are now available on our website.
AKPIRG Condemns Governor Dunleavy's Veto of Payday Lending Reform Bill
Yesterday brought disappointing news: Governor Dunleavy vetoed SB 39, a commonsense, multipartisan bill that would have capped predatory payday loan interest rates at 36% in Alaska. AKPIRG strongly condemns this veto as a failure to protect Alaskans from predatory lending.
AKPIRG’s research shows that payday lenders in Alaska charge between 194% and 521% APR on loans under $500, trapping borrowers in cycles of debt. SB 39, sponsored by Senator Forrest Dunbar and passed with strong multipartisan support, would have closed a longstanding loophole in Alaska’s Small Loan Act by requiring payday lenders to follow the same 36% interest rate cap that already applies to banks and credit unions.
“SB 39 is an opportunity to improve the credit marketplace for Alaskans in a time of substantial economic instability, but this veto allows predatory lending to continue.” said Claire Estelle Lubke, AKPIRG Economic Justice Lead. “This bill is a commonsense, multipartisan effort to end a debt trap that has harmed our communities for over 20 years. Instead of siding with Alaskans, the Governor chose to protect an industry that profits from financial insecurity. Payday loans are not an accessible form of credit for our communities.”
SB 39 passed the Alaska Senate 14-6 and the House 24-16, with broad multipartisan support. Governor Dunleavy’s veto of this bill follows a string of vetoes that unilaterally undermine multipartisan policymaking in the Legislature, to the detriment of all Alaskans.
AKPIRG is calling on the Alaska Legislature to override this harmful veto and finally bring the payday loan industry in line with the responsible lending standards that Alaskans deserve.
We’re not giving up. And if you believe in this work, we hope you’ll stand with us. Call your state legislators and urge them to support an override of this veto, and consider making a donation to AKPIRG to continue fighting for a fairer financial future for all Alaskans.
AKPIRG Regulatory Roundup⚡
Let’s be honest – regulatory proceedings aren’t exactly page-turners. But they shape everything from how much we pay for electricity to who gets to generate it. AKPIRG works to make sure Alaskans, not just utilities or big companies, have a voice in those decisions. Here’s a quick look at what we’ve been up to so far this year to keep regulators working in the public interest:
This year, we've helped ensure that two new energy laws – both of which we helped develop and pass – are implemented in ways that truly benefit communities.
Community-Owned Energy Projects:
Alaska’s new law on community-owned energy facilities (like community solar) needed strong, fair regulations to work for Alaskans. Earlier this year, AKPIRG co-hosted workshops with the National Renewable Energy Lab to bring Tribes, utilities, and independent power producers to the table. We submitted detailed comments calling for rules that protect consumers, expand access for low- and middle-income households, and ensure fair utility fees. In June, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska adopted many of these recommendations.
→ Listen to AKPIRG’s Natalie Kiley-Bergen on the Local Energy Rules podcast to learn more.
Improving the Railbelt Grid:
The second law sets the stage for a new open-access transmission tariff – an important technical change that will improve how electricity is shared between utilities along the Railbelt. By making it easier for power to move across the grid, this change could lower overall energy costs and support a more flexible and reliable system. AKPIRG has been actively involved in the process to certify the group responsible for creating the tariff, consistently advocating for transparency and public accountability throughout.
Protecting Consumers During Energy Shortages:
As Cook Inlet’s gas supply declines, we’re pushing for clear, fair standards for how utilities respond to energy shortages. We’re also calling for stronger public notice requirements when rural utilities raise rates.
Regulatory decisions affect us all, and they need more public input to truly work for everyone. We’ll work to make sure that these processes are prioritizing public voices and keep you updated with opportunities to engage.
If you believe Alaskans deserve a seat at the table, consider making a donation today to support AKPIRG's regulatory work:
How transparent is your electric utility? 🤔🔍
Transparency matters – especially when it comes to how our energy decisions are made. The Alaska Energy Transparency Project (AETP) just released an updated Transparency Scorecard evaluating how well Alaska’s Railbelt electric cooperatives are keeping their members informed and involved.
This year’s Scorecard builds on AETP’s original 2023 report, which assessed how accessible and open the monthly board meetings of these member-owned utilities really are. Two years later, AETP has taken another look, updating each co-op’s score and diving deeper into some of the key policies and practices that shape board transparency.
Want to see how your local co-op measures up? Check out the scorecard here:
AKPIRG IRL: Community, Archives, and Urban Waterfalls ✌
At AKPIRG, we take our work seriously – but we also know that building a better future means being in community, celebrating milestones, and sometimes pausing to admire a really impressive waterfall.
This month, our Economic Justice team traveled to Spokane, WA for a regional gathering of the Welcoming Neighbors Network. We connected with advocates from across the West to talk about policy solutions for housing shortages, share strategies, and reflect on what our communities have in common. We even got to visit Spokane Falls, the largest urban waterfall in the United States! (below left)
Back in Alaska, we hand-delivered dozens of boxes of AKPIRG’s physical archives back to their permanent home at the UAA Consortium Library after spending the past several months digitizing them. Our full archive is now available to the public, both in person at UAA and online at akpirg.org/archive. Dig in! (above right)
We also brought our full staff together in Anchorage for an in-person gathering and a joyful send-off for our former Executive Director Veri di Suvero. Friends and community members showed up with so much good food and memories to share, and the baton was warmly passed to our new Executive Director, Julia Hnilicka. Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate with us – you make this work worth doing.
Whether we’re digging through dusty archives, brainstorming policy solutions, or gathering to celebrate our people, we’re always glad to be in community with you.
