Keeping Warm: What Can We Do in the Face of Rising Gas Prices?

We were proud to co-host this event with Renewable Energy Project of Alaska (REAP).

Cook Inlet gas is used to heat three out of every four homes in Southcentral Alaska and generate roughly 75% of the region’s electricity. For years, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources has projected that supply is likely to fall short of demand as soon as 2027. Now, the region’s utilities are exploring much more expensive gas import options to fill the gap.

While rising gas prices will contribute to higher electricity costs, the increase will be far greater for heating. This is because fuel costs currently constitute about one third of Southcentral ratepayers’ electricity bills while it represents a whopping 80% of ENSTAR customers’ heating bills.

With thousands of our neighbors already experiencing housing insecurity and many others struggling to make ends meet amidst mounting crises of affordability, Alaska Common Ground and REAP hosted this timely conversation with Alaska energy experts about rising gas prices and their implications for heating in Southcentral.

Speakers:

• Melanie Lucas-Conwell, Director, Alaska Sustainable Energy Corporation
• Shawn Holdridge, Director of Construction and Energy Sustainability, Cook Inlet Housing Authority
• Aaron Cooke, Licensed Architect and Project Manager, National Lab of the Rockies Alaska Campus
• Cady Lister, Executive Director, Renewable Energy Alaska Project

Thank you to our sponsors CIRI, Chugach Electric, and AARP Alaska!