This month the governor. Mike Dunleavy’s task force for energy security has released its draft state-wide energy plan. The draft outlines strategies to improve energy efficiency for three main regions of Alaska -rural communities, coasts as well as the Railbelt.
The plan follows an overall approach. There are references to fossil fuels, including natural gas as well as renewable energy sources like solar, wind and hydropower. The plan calls for the development of technologies such as micronuclear plants.
span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”It was a bit of an extensive collection of every energy concept that anyone has heard of over the past decade all in one place,” stated Ben Boetteger an analyst in policy at Cook Inletkeeper.
However, the only relevant plans are ones which have been long-timely criticised by renewable energy advocates.
The document suggests reexamining many of the megaprojects that have been discussed for years, such as Susitna Dam. Susitna Dam and the Alaska Liquid Natural Gas pipeline which is also known as the AKLNG pipelinewhich is an 800-mile pipeline that will run across north of the North Slope to Cook Inlet.
Active Arleigh Hitchcock of the Fairbanks Climate Action Coalition said it’s an “carbon explosive,” emitting a massive amount of greenhouse gases which causes changes in the environment.
Its style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”We must move towards natural gas.” Hitchcock said. “It’s still fossil fuel and is a resource that is limited. It’s also not reliable. .”
The draft proposal states that getting the pipeline into place will be beneficial for Railbelt utilities, who rely mostly on natural gas from Cook Inlet. Cook Inlet supplies could run in short by the time the decade is over.
However, the project comes with an estimated price of $40 billion. To build it Alaska will have to sell gas leases to people outside from the State, mainly in Asia. So far, no buyers have come forward so far.
Some critics say the plan is not financially viable and it’s unclear how much gas produced by the AKLNG will be distributed to Alaskans.
Hitchcock stated that the draft plan’s emphasis on AKLNG as well as other natural gas opportunities was disappointing.
It’s a good idea to have a style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”It would have been nice to have seen the taskforce develop real solutions, perhaps renewable energy options which are the future of Alaska,” they said. “Instead of continuing with the same model of extraction for Alaska, which isn’t working, we should consider a new .”
This draft document does set out broad goals to encourage renewable energy projects, aspects like the development of workforce and recruitment new ways to finance renewable energy projects and additional funds for the state’s funds for renewable energy.
This plan calls for adoption of a clean state energy standard. The taskforce initially was considering the possibility of a renewable energy standard. It would have established specific deadlines and targets for utilities to adopt more sustainable energy sources such as wind and solar power. Clean energy is a standardthat the task force approvedis based on incentives and has more lenient conditions.
It’s too soon to determine whether these ideas will do much to boost the use of renewable energy that is available in the state. However, Boetteger along with Cook Inlet Keeper suggested that the plan’s draft might inspire legislators.
Its style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”I think that this will influence the legislative process and will aid in raising the issue,” Boetteger said. “But in terms of resolving them it’s not the solution by itself. .”
The draft’s plans are concrete commitments as of yet. In fact, in the nearly 150 pages of proposals for strategies for renewable energy sources the report mentions climate change one time.
