Telling the story of Alaska's electrification
April 01, 2024
As an energy and environmental historian at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, much of my research has focused on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) and its historical influence in Alaska and beyond. While conducting this research I kept finding fascinating and remarkable stories of Alaska's electrification. This book provided me the opportunity to offer a narrative of Alaska's electrical history and contemplate possibilities of electric futures.
Telling the story of Alaska's electrification
April 01, 2024
As an energy and environmental historian at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, much of my research has focused on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) and its historical influence in Alaska and beyond. While conducting this research I kept finding fascinating and remarkable stories of Alaska's electrification. This book provided me the opportunity to offer a narrative of Alaska's electrical history and contemplate possibilities of electric futures.
Alaska's data center opportunity: A reality check and possible next steps
February 08, 2024
The role of data centers continues to increase in the lives of ordinary citizens, large corporations and other electricity consumers across the globe. From the surge in interest and application of artificial intelligence and machine learning to the more localized needs of remote communities in Alaska, access to the Internet and cloud computing are transforming the economy and the electricity infrastructure that underpins it. Could a large data center like those seen in Iceland make sense in Alaska?
Inspiring tales of energy innovation from the top of the world
January 19, 2024
As glaciers melt and permafrost thaws, treasured species of fish such as salmon and crab decline, oil reserves wane and consumer energy bills continue to rise, Alaska is re-evaluating its energy future. The good news is that many rural Alaska communities are already leading the way towards a new energy future for the state.
January 03, 2024
As EV technology continues to improve and market demand grows in the U.S., the adoption of EVs will undoubtedly increase in Alaska. We see evidence of this trend already. What will this increase in electric demand mean for overall consumer rates as we work to address the gas conundrum over the next 5 to 10 years?
ARCTIC Toolkit: Students pave the way towards energy resiliency in rural Alaska
November 10, 2023
Sometimes to get a job done in rural Alaska, you have to learn how to do it yourself. Equipped with thermometers, hair dryers, and infrared cameras, Alaska Teaching Through Technology students learned how to assess a home's energy efficiency, make recommendations and weatherize buildings with accessible materials.
September 15, 2023
Public opinion about nuclear energy is often shaped by big events and popular culture, with many people not feeling they fully understand the topic
Ready or not, electric vehicles are coming
August 03, 2023
The transition to electric vehicles is happening—rapidly in some places and more slowly in others. Are we ready for EVs in Alaska?
Does Coal have a Role in Alaska's Energy Future
July 07, 2023
Coal has become a dirty word, and not without good reason. But when it comes to coal, Alaskans have to be pragmatic and open-minded about the realities of our state's needs and available resources. We need to think holistically about our energy options and how we can do the absolute best with ALL of the energy sources and technologies we have access to.
Innovation at the Margins – Lessons Learned from Rural Alaska
June 29, 2023
Technology transitions don't happen uniformly all at once. There are pockets of early adopters, or niche markets, where technology uptake is much faster than the norm. In Alaska, those niche markets have been our rural communities. The Railbelt should look to its counterparts in rural Alaska to understand what strategies and approaches have worked, where, and why.
Nuclear Power and the Perils of Pioneering
June 22, 2023
One day in 2004, Marvin Yoder, the City Manager of Galena, AK, received an unusual e-mail that would change his life and the course of an industry. The email was an inquiry from Toshiba Corporation, asking if Galena might be interested in hosting a demonstration deployment of a small nuclear microreactor "battery" that was under development in Japan.