Report Shows Potential of Alaska’s Vast Undeveloped Renewable Energy
New research reveals that development of Alaska’s vast renewable energy resources has the potential to create more than 100,000 jobs across Alaska in the coming decades, more than replacing jobs that will be lost as the world transitions away from fossil fuels.
“Alaska can benefit by increasing investment now in the clean energy revolution, creating thousands of jobs, reducing the cost of energy, improving health, slowing the Arctic melt, and building climate stability for future generations,” said Kay Brown of Pacific Environment, one of the report’s primary authors.
Based on adjusting a sample of independent studies for Alaska cost differentials for renewable resource, energy storage and zero carbon hydrogen/clean fuels infrastructure, the report estimates that by 2050, the transition to a 100% clean renewable energy future for Alaska would generate a net increase of 67,216 jobs (103,554 additional renewable jobs minus 36,338 fossil fuel energy related jobs lost).
“Clean and affordable energy is good for our economy, our pocketbooks, our health and the planet, and one of the best ways to achieve those benefits is to accelerate Alaska’s transition to renewable energy,” said Carly Wier of Native Movement, one of the report’s primary authors.
By accelerating the transition to a clean energy future, Alaska also has the opportunity to make the high cost of energy more affordable for Alaskans, increase energy security and create the potential for renewable resources to support zero-carbon, hydrogen-based fuels for the aviation and maritime industries. Renewable hydrogen-based fuels have the potential to replace fossil fuels in the marine and aviation sectors, and supplying these emerging markets could form the basis of a new export economy.
The report, “Alaska’s Renewable Energy Future: New Jobs, Affordable Energy,” was developed for the Regenerative Economies Working Group of the Alaska Climate Alliance.
Substantial funding and effort on the part of many will be required to achieve the aspirational goal of achieving 100% renewable energy use and production across all sectors of Alaska’s economy by 2050.
Alaska can benefit by increasing investment now in the clean energy revolution, creating thousands of jobs, reducing the cost of energy, improving health, slowing the Arctic melt, and building climate stability for future generations.
Join us for a webinar on March 31 from noon to 1:30 Alaska time to ask questions and learn about the benefits of accelerating Alaska’s transition to clean, renewable energy. For more information and to RSVP, please contact Gwen Dobbs at [email protected].
About the Regenerative Economies Working Group and Alaska Climate Alliance
The Regenerative Economies Working Group of the Alaska Climate Alliance is working with a broad coalition of entities and individuals with the goal of articulating and advancing an economic vision for a prosperous, clean energy future for Alaska. The Alaska Climate Alliance is a group of 50+ organizations and more than 120 participants united by our desire to align Alaska’s climate action community with Just Transition principles, addressing the climate crisis head-on at all levels of society and shifting our state towards a joyful, interdependent and Indigenous-led future.
