Feb 23 2010 - For Immediate Release:

CONTACT:

Elizabeth Outten

Statewide Energy Coordinator

(907-258-6102)

Energy Study Shows Potential for Savings and Job Creation

Released to the public for the first time today, the new Railbelt Electricity Efficiency Landscape in Alaska Roadmap shows how Alaska’s Railbelt region can meet its energy needs in 2025 by more efficiently using just 50% of the electricity from centralized generation required in the year 2000.

“Better use of our energy will lead to cash savings and job creation to help stimulate and diversify Alaska’s economy, while driving down long term energy costs for Alaskans,” said Representative Charisse Millett, co-chair of the House Energy committee.

Setting a destination of achieving electrical efficiency gains by as much as 50% represents an improvement of 3.3% per year over the next 15 years.  This has been shown to be possible using a combination of market-based incentives and clearly-stated policies.  The returns on investments in improved efficiency include:

• Saving money for residents, businesses, schools, industries, and utilities;

• Job creation and reducing exposure to volatile prices of fossil fuels; and

• Decreasing property taxes by freeing up funds for other uses or tax relief

“Energy efficiency has the potential to create thousands of good paying Alaskan jobs, produce significant savings for consumers, and generate some real property tax relief in our cities and boroughs,” added Senator Bill Wielechowski, co-chair of the Senate Resources committee.  “When our families, businesses, and schools are spending less money on energy, that’s good news for all Alaskans.”

The REEL in Alaska Roadmap builds on previous work and publications completed by the Cold Climate Housing Research Center, the Alaska Energy Authority, the Alaska Housing Finance Authority, the Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska Anchorage, Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP), the Alaska Legislature, Black & Veatch, the six Railbelt utilities, and dozens of others.

Full copies of the report as well as a report summary can be viewed here:

http://natcapsolutions.org/Alaska/COMPLETE-REELinAlaskaRoadmap.pdf

http://natcapsolutions.org/Alaska/SUMMARY-REELinAlaskaRoadmap.pdf