On April 29, voting opens for Chugach Electric to elect two board members who will determine the future of the utility. Much of the policy adopted in recent years has favored organizations that invest in alternative energy. For an electric utility that serves more than 90,000 rate payers, this strategy is shortsighted and heavily reliant on regulation to even the playing field with traditional energy sources. This is not a sustainable path, nor does it provide an economy of scale to address risks associated with generation and transmission in Alaska. After voting opens, the 90,000 rate payers have a chance to accept the status quo and get more of the same or take a risk and make a change at the May 29 election.
The Trump Administration has made it clear that energy is national security and is based on a strategic objective to be the leader in AI. The amount of power required to compute, process, heat, cool, and transmit data for the AI infrastructure will require accelerated development and multiple step changes in output from where we are today. Alaska is sitting on massive reserves of oil, gas, coal, water and minerals, along with being perfectly positioned on the planet with beneficial ambient conditions to solve many of these problems simultaneously. Why are we not leading today? Decarbonization.
The climate changes, and so will the demographics of our state if energy continues to be unaffordable. We can change affordability; we cannot change the climate.
This self-limiting strategy is based on an unattainable outcome of reducing the temperature of the Earth by lowering carbon emissions and carbon intensity. Frankly, this is a distraction from solving important issues like Cook Inlet Gas production and strategically diversifying energy sources at scale. If the Chugach board were serious about achieving carbon intensity reductions, then there would be no hesitation to partner with the proposed coal plant designed with carbon capture technology. Unfortunately, the current strategy still relies heavily on wind and solar. This is unacceptable and is holding the utility back from more important work.
How do alternative energy sources fit in the portfolio? They must demonstrate an economic benefit to the rate payer either by cost avoidance or greater flexibility through Alaska’s seasonality.
In January of 2024, the Eklutna Dam Hydro plant helped secure power for the Chugach rate payers while Fire Island failed, yet no one protested to remove the wind farm! Diversification of generation and storage is a necessary strategy to maintain high reliability and to keep costs low.
ALASKA WATCHMAN DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
This is not meant to meet a random renewable percentage but should be focused on redundancy. Industries serving defense and data require this level of security to minimize risk to their operations. The strategy of the co-op needs to support this and look for ways to creatively partner with other co-ops and businesses to develop this infrastructure. Energy diversification should reflect the strategic business opportunity of the co-op, not regulated through a Renewable or Diversified Portfolio Standard.
Why now? Alaska is poised to see a once-in-a-generation transformation of the energy industry. In November 2025, the Department of Oil and Gas enthusiastically stated that gas production in Cook Inlet moved the supply gap by several years, including the drilling Chugach and Hilcorp are doing at Beluga River Unit. The Alaska Gasline is ready to move forward and bring North Slope gas to market and to Alaskans. The Terra Energy coal plant is progressing and sitting on nearly a century of coal reserves. Alaska is among the top states for massive hydro power potential, and examples like Bradley Lake and Eklutna demonstrate that forward thinking, collaboration and risk management net the most affordable, reliable, and secure power for decades.
The vote comes down to one thing: affordability. In order to capitalize on these opportunities, it will take experienced leadership and strategic thinking. The climate changes, and so will the demographics of our state if energy continues to be unaffordable. We can change affordability; we cannot change the climate.
The views expressed here are those of the author.
9 Comments
It is dismaying that Todd Lindley thinks reducing Earth’s temperature is “unattainable.” And ALASKANS, of all people, should be especially alarmed, since climate change is especially obvious in the Arctic. Thawing permafrost is among climate science’s worst “positive feedback loops”: As the world warms, permafrost—essentially frozen soil—thaws, releasing fresh water and carbon into the environment. That release further fuels climate change, driving more warming. (Thawing permafrost has also raised concerns about unleashing new pathogens on humanity.)
And in Alaska, the loop seems to be speeding up. In a new study, researchers tracked how thawing permafrost in a Wisconsin-sized section of the North Slope region of Alaska has added fresh water and dissolved organic carbon to estuaries off the Alaskan coast between 1980 and 2023.
You’ve stated some interesting facts that support Todd’s assertion that climate does, indeed, change. But do you have any evidence that the actions of men -anywhere in the world- have actually assisted in the reduction of the earth’s temperature? And, quite frankly, if more water is being released into the earth’s environment because of higher temperatures, shouldn’t we be harnessing Alaska’s “massive hydro power potential”? Todd’s salient point is that the current board is focused on maintaining the failed strategy of relying heavily on regulation, wind, and solar power to achieve diversification goals. This strategy has not proven effective in lowering energy costs or securing long-term, reliable energy production. It’s time to change that, and a vote for Todd can send us in the right direction.
First we had the new Ice Age scare, then the Global Warming scare and then the arbitrary Climate Change. The truth is the climate does change and always has. We should be responsible stewards of the earth but never forget our primary responsibility is to people created in God’s image. Last winter was one of the coldest in decades and that just goes to show we can’t control everything on this planet. Getting people heat during winter to avoid unnecessary deaths is something we can do.
Just don’t pretend you give a damn about the world your grandkids and great-grandkids are going to inherit. You don’t. You only care about yourself.
“………It is dismaying that Todd Lindley thinks reducing Earth’s temperature is “unattainable.” ………”
Even more incredible is the arrogance to believe that human political/ideological struggle can control the weather/climate. Indeed, such foolishness transcends politics/ideology and enters the arena of religion:
“………While claiming to be wise, they became fools………..” Romans 1: 22
Geophysical data, and records that have been discovered by the research of sublayers in the Arctic, provide evidence of a much warmer climate. The research of the Archaeologists display a long era of an ice free, warm climate there. The dinosaurs, and other large creatures were able to survive there, due to the continual abundance of foliage. Their remains have been unearthed there. When the sudden change of climate occurred, many of them starved to death since they didn’t migrate quickly to warmer regions, and likely, didn’t know where to go.. his all occurred, by the way, before man developed anything other than spears, campfires, tents, and dens.
Amen, Gods is in control. He can darken the sky with a few volcanic eruptions end of story.
If you Afraid-Scared left wing people want to stop oil, coal, hydro. For this (wind and solar which Doesn’t work).
Just as Lobo said, go back to living in your cave, with fire and a spear, and walk to all your locations.
hope he wins the seat, but it will be a battle if he does win.
no one can survive without oil and gas
wind and solar cant be built without gas and oil
we would all be naked, starved and froze or died from exposure with out oil and gas
Thank you Todd!