Energy
Demystifying Alaska’s energy system for a community-led energy future.
Demanding transparency from regulators & developers.
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AKPIRG serves as the Small Consumer representative on the Board of the Railbelt Reliability Council (or RRC). The RRC is the electric reliability organization (ERO) for the Railbelt region of Alaska (from the bottom of the Kenai up through Fairbanks). Led by a 15-member Board of Directors, the goal of the RRC is to ensure grid resilience and reduce long-term costs by developing and enforcing technically sound reliability standards, conducting grid-wide integrated resource planning, and designing consistent interconnection protocols for grid users.
AKPIRG works to ensure that consumers are fairly represented through prioritizing low costs, reliability, and a diverse generation portfolio that will ensure our security and safety for the long term.
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The Regulatory Commission of Alaska is charged with setting fair rules for Alaskan energy production & delivery, but too often only industry professionals have the expertise and time to track these issues, which determine Alaskans’ day-to-day. We are working to raise awareness and make the RCA more accessible to every day Alaskans. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at info@akpirg.org
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AKPIRG has focused on financial transparency in the transfer of BP’s assets to Hilcorp. As privately-owned corporation, and now the company with one of the biggest stakes in Alaska’s oil & gas industry, the public had zero access to Hilcorp’s financials as the transfer was being considered. With such a large responsibility, AKPIRG is concerned that the public has no idea about whether Hilcorp will be able to be financially accountable down the line.
Learn about our fight for transparency in the largest oil deal of our generation here.
Alaska Energy Transparency Project (AETP)
The Alaska Energy Transparency Project (AETP) seeks to fill a need for reporting on the democratic processes that drive Alaska’s member-owned electrical cooperatives. The Transparency Project is an editorially independent initiative of AKPIRG — although AKPIRG helped to found it and is presently its sole funder, the Transparency Project’s publications do not represent AKPIRG’s stances on energy policy.
Energy Policy
It’s no secret that the cost of energy is high in Alaska. We are working to reduce legal and regulatory barriers for communities to collectively invest in solar energy, through a program named Community Solar. Not only will this reduce the carbon footprint of energy use in Alaska, but it will also save Alaskans money on their electric bill.
Energy & Infrastructure Investment
With the passage of the BIL and IRA, Alaskans have an opportunity to shape their infrastructure, energy, and communities’ future. We are working to ensure that communities are informed about funding opportunities and have the tools needed (technical plans, grant writers, project managers) to successfully get funding. Additionally, we hope to ensure that these funds go where they are most needed, rather than allocated through backroom deals that exclude the public process.
Know Your Power!
Want to learn more about how your home and community is powered? We have an info sheet to get you started. Learn the basics of Alaskan electric cooperatives and the role that member-owners play in determining the direction of energy production in Alaska.