The AKPIRG Advocate, July 2025
Build Housing Near Transit Walking Tour 🏘️ 🚌
Join us for an outing hosted by the Anchorage Housing Club, the Build Housing Near Transit Walking Tour! Together, we’ll take a closer look at how our city’s layout impacts housing access, transit use, and walkability right here in Midtown Anchorage.
The tour will be led by Nithya Thiru, AKPIRG’s Housing Organizer, and will explore what’s working, what’s not, and what’s possible when we prioritize building housing near public transportation. Whether you're a longtime advocate or just curious about how smarter housing and transit planning could benefit Anchorage, this is a great opportunity to learn, connect, and envision a more accessible city for all.
When: July 24th at 6:30pm.
Where: Meet at the parking lot of the Lowes on Tudor or the Tudor/Cordova bus stop.
Bring a friend, comfortable walking shoes, and some water!
AKPIRG on Air:
What the big beautiful bill means for renewable energy
AKPIRG’s Energy Lead, Natalie Kiley-Bergen joined Alaska Public Media’s Talk of Alaska to share insights on how the new federal budget could affect our state’s renewable energy landscape. Natalie expressed concerns about the cuts to renewable energy projects and emphasized the value of expanding such projects statewide.
“Fuels like natural gas and diesel are tied to unpredictable global prices,” Natalie explained. “When you invest in renewables like wind and solar, there's no cost for the energy source coming in and being used over time. We see long term price stability paying back multifold for consumers and residents.”
AKPIRG Condemns Governor Dunleavy's
Veto of Payday Lending Reform Bill
Governor Dunleavy vetoed SB 39, a bill that reforms payday lending in Alaska by capping interest rates at 36%. AKPIRG strongly condemns this veto as a failure to protect Alaskans from predatory lending.
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 staff and our research were featured in coverage of the veto across the state. Click below to see a few articles that explain what's at stake:
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.
Call your legislators today – here’s what to say:
Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a constituent. I’m calling to urge you to support an override of the Governor’s veto of SB 39. This bill had broad multipartisan support and would protect Alaskans from predatory payday loan rates. Please stand up for responsible lending and override the veto.
Pipeline Promises: Who's responsible for cleanup?
When the Trans-Alaska Pipeline reaches the end of its life, who’s responsible for cleanup? Our new article in the Alaska Law Review explores the legal and financial gaps that could leave Alaskans on the hook.
Pipeline owners promised to pay for cleanup as a condition for operating on public land. They’ve already collected billions -- but the money isn’t in a separate fund. It’s mixed in with their parent companies' assets, and the public can’t access it.
There’s also no clear legal mechanism to ensure companies follow through. With no dedicated fund and no accountability, the public bears all the risk – and companies have incentive to delay.
The good news? There’s still time to act.
Regulators can create transparency and opportunity for working Alaskans by recovering pipeline cleanup funds, but they have to start building a solution now – long before the pipeline shuts off.
Learn more in AKPIRG’s new article in the Alaska Law Review, or read our 2 page summary.
Kotlik’s Story of Resilience Reaches new Audiences
This spring, we shared the story of Richard Bender and his efforts to bring solar and wind power to his home village of Kotlik, Alaska. Kotlik’s clean energy innovation is gaining national attention after a new article from Public News Service highlights how Kotlik is turning clean energy into a long-term economic opportunity for the community.
The piece goes into detail about the project, its multi-phased approach, and the new local job opportunities that will become available. Bender emphasizes that this isn’t just about electricity; it’s about keeping the community healthy, self-sufficient, and thriving for future generations.
We’re proud to see this story reaching more people.
