Alaska in Focus, with REAP Executive Director Chris Rose (Ep. 42)

More Power To You®️

In this episode of the podcast we focus on Alaska's unique energy landscape. Our guest is Chris Rose, Executive Director of the Renewable Energy Alaska Project, or REAP. We begin with an overview of energy in Alaska today, then delve into the unique way Alaska's grid operates without oversight from FERC—the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission—and how reforming the grid's system-wide governance can improve efficiency and reliability and reduce costs. We look into the reasons behind the growth of renewable energy despite the lack of a statewide Renewable Portfolio Standard, including how Alaska's high energy costs can make new technologies more economical than in the lower 48 states, and we highlight an innovative flywheel energy storage system on Kodiak Island. We close with a discussion about how the national climate change conversation is playing out in Alaska, and look ahead by contemplating what Alaska's energy landscape may look like ten years from now.

Show references include:

• E&E News: On Kodiak Island, flywheels are in and diesel is 99.8% out by Margaret Kriz Hobson, June 10, 2016
• Midnight Oil, an 8-part podcast series from Alaska Public Media
• Climate Action for Alaska Leadership Team
• Island Institute in Rockland, Maine
• Cold Climate Housing Research Center
• Alaska Center for Energy and Power

Recorded: May 9, 2018.

Published: June 5, 2018.

Sign up for email news and updates from More Power To You.

More Power To You is sponsored by the Energy News Network. With original reporting on clean energy and daily digests of timely aggregated content, the Energy News Network is dedicated to covering America's transition to a clean energy economy. Subscribe for free to its regional services covering the Midwest, Southwest, Northeast and Southeast, or to its national service—US Energy News—at energynews.us.