Rural Alaska village banks on alternative energy as economic driver
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Despite debate in Washington over ending incentives to help Alaska's smallest places move away from traditional oil and gas-based power generation in the most remote parts of Alaska, one village above the Arctic Circle has found success and plans to invest.
Kotlik, a Yupik native village nestled on the banks of the Yukon River is using alternative energy as an economic driver.
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Richard Bender, president and CEO of Kotlik Village Corporation, said the village has developed a three-phase plan to move away from oil and gas-based power to generate electricity for its 600 residents.
"Phase 1 is to purchase a battery storage system and switch gear," Bender outlined. "Phase 2 of Kotlik's energy plan is to produce energy using solar panels. Phase 3 is production of electricity using wind turbines."
Despite the success of places like Kotlik, and its aggressive plans for future alternative energy development, Washington lawmakers are debating a budget bill which would eliminate tax incentives for investing in clean power in rural Alaska, which could reduce funding for the projects the village depends on.
Kotlik collaborated with the Alaska Alaska Public Interest Research Group to produce a video about the project, which Bender noted goes beyond providing sources of alternative energy to the village.
"In addition to energy sovereignty, and sustainability, this project will have a positive impacts on health education and workforce development," Bender explained.
Bender added creating stability in those areas will spill over into different parts of the community and help the village keep people working at home, rather than moving to other places.
