Commonwealth North Releases Railbelt Energy Study

by Joe Beedle

Commonwealth North, a non-partisan organization active in Alaska’s public policy issues, just released a report entitled “Energy for a Sustainable Alaska: The Railbelt Predicament.” The report was prepared by an energy study group of Commonwealth North members with input from energy experts.

The group listed a number of critical action items to address rising energy costs in Southcentral Alaska, including:

1. Local and state governments should implement measures to encourage conservation.
2. Regulatory agencies, utilities, and commercial interests should work together to quickly make gas storage available to help address deliverability issues.
3. With abundant and inexpensive Cook Inlet gas a thing of the past, Alaska must diversify its energy portfolio.
4. Alaska must encourage development of oil and natural gas, including construction of a natural gas pipeline.
5. Alaska’s policy markers and industry leaders should continue the energy dialogue and take a proactive approach to engage the public on energy issues.

As this year’s president of the Commonwealth North board, I encourage Alaskans to read the report and support its recommendations.