New analysis: Clean and renewable energy booms nationwide, but Alaska lags behind

Interactive dashboard allows users to explore clean energy growth in Alaska and nation over the past decade, analysis puts Alaska behind national pace for solar, wind and efficiency growth

ANCHORAGE– Alaska gets approximately 2.7% of its retail electricity from solar, wind, and geothermal, ranking it 43rd in the nation according to an online dashboard released today by Alaska Environment Research & Policy Center. The dashboard, Renewables on the Rise 2023, documents the growth of six key clean energy technologies across the United States over the past decade: solar power, wind power, battery storage, energy efficiency, electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging stations. While Alaska generates enough solar and wind energy to power over 15,000 households, that progress lags behind the 12-fold growth in solar power and doubling in wind power seen nationwide in the last decade. This analysis comes as the railbelt faces a looming natural gas shortage and federal funds for renewable energy infrastructure are plentiful. 

Even though Alaska hasn’t made the leaderboards in most categories, there is plenty of growth. Last year, 610 electric vehicles were sold in Alaska, which is a 14-fold increase over 2013. At the end of 2022, there were 114 charging plugs for those vehicles, and more are on the horizon. There was almost no solar in Alaska in 2013, and now panels provide energy for the equivalent of 1,646 homes. Efficiency measures implemented in 2021 saved enough electricity to power 117 households for a year. Alaska also has the 10th largest battery capacity in the nation. 

However, most of Alaska’s tremendous clean energy potential remains untapped. According to data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Alaska has the technical potential to generate the equivalent of 1,398 times its electricity demand in 2020 from the sun (though that production is seasonal) and 232 times its electricity demand from the wind. A recent study examining possible scenarios for a Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, which has been proposed in SB 101 and HB 121, took into account Alaska’s additional seasonal challenges and found numerous workable scenarios.

“We produced more wind power in 2013 than we did in 2022, and while our solar has grown, the 49th state is still in 49th place. Alaskans want a clean and healthy future powered by renewable energy, so we need to pick up the pace,” said Dyani Chapman, State Director with Alaska Environment. “The remarkable gains we’ve seen from coast to coast — and right here in Alaska– should give Alaskans the confidence we need to build on nationwide momentum and catch up with the rest of the country.” 

In addition to highlighting states that have made the most progress in adopting renewable energy technologies, the research also details the rapid gains achieved nationally over the past decade. According to the report, America produced more than three times as much renewable electricity from the sun and the wind in 2022 as in 2013. 

The Inflation Reduction Act, passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden in summer 2022, continues federal tax credits for renewable energy, such as wind and solar, through 2032. It also provides rebates for home efficiency upgrades and the purchase of heat pumps, electric induction stoves and other efficient electric appliances and equipment. In addition, the Inflation Reduction Act provides tax incentives to encourage individuals and businesses to buy electric vehicles.

The authors recommend that state and local governments set clean energy goals, and then make plans and leverage federal resources to hit them. Lawmakers should ensure that utility policies fully and fairly compensate investors in clean energy technology and adopt policies for permitting and interconnection that make adopting clean energy technologies easy and hassle-free. States and localities should also cut energy waste by continuing and expanding efficiency programs and policies, including utility energy efficiency programs, energy codes for buildings, and appliance efficiency standards.

“This report offers a timely reminder that we have an immense, largely untapped opportunity when it comes to clean energy here in Alaska and we should take full advantage of federal tax credits, grants, and rebate programs to help realize our clean energy potential,” Chapman said. “Alaskans are already reaping the benefits of the progress we’ve made so far, but there is so much more we can do to usher in the clean, renewable energy future we need, starting with passing the Renewable Portfolio Energy Standard, requiring railbelt utilities transition to 80% renewable energy sources by 2040.”