5 surprising facts about renewable energy growth in Alaska
Alaska produces nearly 6 times as much energy from solar than it did in 2019. Find more clean energy facts here.
According to Renewables on the Rise 2024, the eighth edition of our annual report on the state of clean energy in America, Alaska has made substantial progress on clean energy. In 2010, Alaska had no reported solar production and only generated 12.6 gigawatt hours of wind power. In 2023, Alaska generated more than 12 times as much power from renewable sources. This increase means that we can power an additional 13,196 households each year with clean energy.
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Here are five interesting facts about clean energy’s growth in Alaska:
1. Alaska generated more solar energy in 2023 alone than all solar generation before 2021 combined.
Alaska produced 24 GWh of solar energy last year, up from just 4.1 GWh in 2019. Even in the coldest and least solar-friendly state, Alaska has shown recent solar growth.
2. Alaska had no reported battery storage capacity until 2014, now we’re 12th in the country.
As of 2023, Alaska has installed 0.09 gigawatts of battery storage capacity. This ranks us 12th in the country.
3. There were 2,538 electric vehicles registered in Alaska as of 2023.
The number of EVs has grown 5802% since 2014. We’ll need improvements in charging infrastructure to make EVs more widespread, but nonetheless they are starting to make a splash.
4. Alaska added 11 EV charging ports in 2023.
This was a 9.73% increase from 2022, meaning there are currently 124 EV charging ports in Alaska. There is still a lot of work to be done to make EV charging available to Alaskans, but the growth is promising.
5. Alaska is generating 9 times more wind energy than it did in 2010.
Though wind energy was down across the board in 2023, we’ve still seen significant growth over the long-term. Alaska is ranked 37th in the country in wind generation.
When we replace fossil fuels with wind turbines and solar panels, and curb wasteful uses of energy, we build a world where the planet and people can thrive.Dyani Chapman
State Director, Alaska Environment Action
Our clean energy growth over the past 10 years has proven the viability and significance of these renewable energy sources. By taking advantage of the opportunities to continue these trends, Alaska can advance the transition away from fossil fuels.
What can state and local leaders do to keep renewable energy growing?
State and local governments can support renewable energy by:
- setting renewable energy goals with clear benchmarks
- leveraging federal resources to reach renewable energy goals.
- ensuring that utility policies fairly compensate the owners of renewable energy technologies
- support policies for permitting and interconnection that make adopting renewable energy technologies easier.
- expand efficiency programs, including updating energy codes for buildings and adopting the latest appliance efficiency standards.
You can help renewable energy continue to grow in Alaska by taking action below.
Topics
Authors
Dyani Chapman
State Director, Alaska Environment Research & Policy Center
Dyani runs campaigns to promote clean air, clean water, and open spaces in Alaska. She lives in Anchorage and loves to hike, ski and cook yummy food.
Evan Jones
Go Solar, Associate, Environment America Research & Policy Center
Evan works as a campaign associate and organizer on Environment America's clean energy campaigns. Evan lives in Amherst, Massachusetts, where he enjoys running, hiking and tennis.
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