ACEP news
ACEP offers paid research experience for science teachers
March 26, 2026
Middle and high school science teachers in Anchorage and Unalaska can apply for a paid, two-summer fellowship connecting educators with university researchers working on real-world energy and climate challenges.
Climate innovation fellow tackles soil health project
March 25, 2026
Since joining ACEP last September as a climate innovation fellow, Audrey Welsh has been tackling an innovative research project aimed at improving soil health using two resources abundant in Alaska -- kelp and glacial silt.
Energy in the North on solar energy
March 24, 2026
The upcoming "Energy in the North" episodes will feature Michelle Wilber on her research at the edges of the grid and Rich Strömberg on recycling old solar panels for households and businesses.
Pemberton brings storytelling and policy expertise to ACEP
March 12, 2026
Jennifer Pemberton's passion for storytelling and policy research intersects at ACEP, where she plays a key role in shaping how Alaska's energy policies are communicated.
Solving Alaska’s Energy Challenges
ACEP works with Alaskan communities and industries as leaders establishing the energy systems of the future. Alaska’s remote off-grid systems present unique problems to generation, distribution and resource integration that have spurred microgrid innovations for decades.
Events
April 01, 2026
Lydia Andriesen will defend her M.S. thesis, titled "Annual Riverine Hydrokinetic Energy Resource in Remote Northern Microgrid Communities: A Case Study of McGrath, AK."
Workshop on alternative and synthetic fuels
April 01, 2026
A free two-day virtual workshop, "Alternative and synthetic fuels for energy and transportation systems," will take place April 1-2, hosted by the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference in partnership with ACEP.
Update on decommissioning Fort Greely nuclear reactor
March 24, 2026
The Alaska Nuclear Energy Working Group meeting on March 24 will feature an update on the decommissioning of the reactor at Fort Greely.
From the Grid
Dispatches from Alaska’s Energy Sector
From internship to publication: Undergraduate interns publish first-author papers
February 18, 2026
Publishing a paper in a peer-reviewed journal as first author while an undergrad is a monumental achievement indicating the dedication of the student and support of the mentor. In this story, Magnus de Witt describes the journey of the two 2025 ACEP summer interns he mentored, from summer projects to peer-reviewed publications and discusses the impacts on the students and future possibilities.
From planting seeds to installing solar panels: Sean McDonald's journey into Alaska's energy future
February 11, 2026
When Sean McDonald joined Upward Bound and Teaching Through Technology Alaska in 2020 as a freshman in Wrangell, Alaska, he had no idea that a virtual summer program during COVID-19 would help launch him toward a future in renewable energy. Four years later, Sean is an electrical engineering college student spending his summers helping build solar arrays across rural Alaska -- proof that hands-on learning can change a young person's entire trajectory.
Future investment critical for continued energy data access in Alaska
January 20, 2026
Alaska's energy systems are complex, serving large industrial users, military bases and remote rural communities. As demand grows and infrastructure ages, long-term, costly decisions are unavoidable, yet gaps and inconsistencies in energy data have hindered effective planning. The Alaska Energy Data Gateway addresses this challenge by providing a centralized, public platform with validated energy and socioeconomic data for communities statewide. Rebuilt through legislative investment and led by the University of Alaska, AEDG integrates millions of data points into accessible dashboards. The platform empowers policymakers, planners, researchers and residents to guide investments, assess policy impacts and plan Alaska's energy future. Continued investment is needed to keep the data current.
Kotzebue home heating field study
Researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks are recruiting participants for a 24-month field study in Kotzebue. The study aims to reduce fuel oil use and home heating costs.
