An excerpt from blog post "Questions About Renewable Energy"-- April 24-25, 2009

Q: I live in Florida and I’m curious about what is being done in Alaska to develop wave and tidal energy. Do you know of a website with a simple overview of the technology and research that is underway?

Good luck in Alaska! You play the Politics Game with different rules up there. Never a dull moment.

A: The Alaska Energy Authority, Renewable Energy Alaska Project, and The Department of Energy Renewable Energy Director are all places you can check . It is possible that there maybe a tidal study in the Kachemak Bay in the near future. There was also a study about 10 years ago. In any event I know there has been some research and that there are some proposed projects. I am not aware of a proposed wave study as of yet. If I think of anything else I will let you know.

The State of Alaska allocated 100 million for renewable energy projects in Alaska. The first 50 million was awarded about 2 months ago. Seventy-seven projects were funded. The next round is coming up soon. The list can be obtained on the Alaska Energy Authority website, as they were the pass-through for the money and organized the review committee.

It is true that there is never a dull moment in AK. I wish it was a bit different and that personalities and influence did no always win out over logic and need.

Q: Rob, What about wind and solar energy development in Alaska? I understand much of Alaska has a rating of 6 and 7 wind regions, especially in the Y-K Delta region. What are the possibilities of utilizing this resource in a cost effective manner? Will the utility companies currently in these regions support this development? Or would River communities be better suited with hydro electric? There are so many questions regarding energy potentials for Alaska, but I think I agree with you...

The key is being creative about the solutions and really understanding what energy development fits best in which location and/or region. Energy solutions in Alaska require diversity, just like our people and communities.

A: Check out the Renewable Energy Project Website to see the “Wind Atlas” of Alaska that was developed. This will show you where wind is most viable. Solar is of course viable all over. A friend of mine installed some solar units in Arctic Village a few years ago which help power the washateria. They are working great. In fact they tilt towards the snow at a certain time of the day to gain extra energy from the reflection of the snow.

The Y-K Delta has plenty of wind to go around. A community can obtain a loaner device that will measure the wind in various locations of town. The key is net useful energy. It is critical to deduct the start-up and delivery costs from the amount of energy that is produced to get a realistic view as to whether or not an energy source is viable.