Join us in asking the legislature to pass House Bill 121 and Senate Bill 101 for a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to establish renewable energy goals for Alaska's railbelt! 

A renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) would create deadlines for utilities from Homer to Fairbanks to reach renewable energy milestones: 25% renewable by 2027, 55% by 2035, and 80% by 2040. This will accelerate the adoption of renewable energy, stabilizing utility rates and reliability for consumers. A Renewable Portfolio Standard bill was introduced in 2022, was heavily amended and did not pass, and was introduced again in 2023 in House Bill 121 and Senate Bill 101. 

The economic case for renewables is clear. As fuel costs rise, developing renewable energy sources now will save millions for utilities down the road. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that meeting the first deadline of 25% renewable energy by 2027 would save utilities and their members up to $35.5 million in fossil fuel costs annually. Meeting the final deadline of 80% renewable energy by 2040 would save up to $357 million in fossil fuel costs annually. 

Alaska needs your help! Show legislators that Alaskans demand an RPS. Please join us in calling on legislators to pass HB 121 and SB 101 establishing a Renewable Portfolio Standard that will:

• Create an enforceable timeline towards renewable energy adoption

• Maximize savings and federal dollars to stabilize energy costs for Alaskans

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions

• Disqualify false solutions such as nuclear and mega hydro projects

We're supporting a strong RPS that continues to exclude:

• Carbon capture, which remains an unproven technology, doesn't exist at a utility scale, and can't guarantee how long carbon will stay “captured.” It's a distraction from real solutions like wind, solar, and hydro.

• Waste heat recovery, which is already being used in most railbelt generation facilities. Including it in the standards will not create new fuel savings, receive tax credits, decrease costs, or improve stability.

• Nuclear energy, which is not renewable, is extremely expensive and comes with unacceptable risks and impacts. Even if the risks of nuclear disaster could be lessened, mining and enriching uranium has serious disproportionate impacts on Indigenous peoples and lands, on other people of color, and other communities on the front lines of climate change. 

It is important that we set these renewable energy benchmarks now in order to take advantage of federal funding via the Inflation Reduction Act. The IRA creates cash credits that can be paid directly to Railbelt utilities for switching to renewables. If Railbelt utilities hit their 25% goal by 2027, they could be eligible for up to $11.1 million in cash refundable tax credits. Breaking away from the status quo will always be more work, but the benefits to state, ratepayers and climate are clear - it's worth it and it's necessary. 

Our landscapes are ripe for wind, solar and sustainable, fish-friendly hydro now, and tidal and geothermal in the future. Please help us hold our utilities accountable by supporting the RPS. 

Letter 

Dear State Legislators, 

Alaska has an opportunity to build a prosperous, energy-independent future with renewables, and we need to do it soon to avoid dramatic rate increases as local gas diminishes. That's why we must pass a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) in 2024. Senate Bill 101 and House Bill 121 will preserve Alaska's energy independence, keep energy jobs in our state, and stabilize electric rates for generations to come. The time to act is now.

Requiring that just 25% of our electricity is generated from renewable energy by 2027 will enable our utilities to take advantage of up to $11.1 million in federal dollars from the Inflation Reduction Act. With an RPS, we can build on this momentum and achieve 80% renewable energy generation by 2040.

Wind, solar, and sustainable hydro projects are already cost competitive with non-renewable energy sources, and tidal and geothermal technology is rapidly developing. I urge you to support a strong RPS that continues to exclude carbon capture, waste heat recovery, and nuclear energy. Please take decisive action to support a strong RPS, today.