2008 Energy Policy

The mission of the Resource Development Council is the responsible development of Alaska’s natural resources. Many large natural resource development opportunities exist throughout Alaska.  Adequate and reliable supplies of energy and delivery are fundamental to economic and responsible resource development throughout the state.

The following five barriers exist to successfully providing this development support.  RDC’s solutions to overcome these barriers follow:

BARRIER
Large rural resource development projects need power.  Rural utilities do not have the means or security to invest in the power generation and therefore have an inability to accommodate risks to large projects. Risks are localized rather than regionalized.

SOLUTION
Assure fair returns on energy investments for both energy producers and purchasers and provide state security for making these investments.

BARRIER
Inequitable public funding distribution for rural energy grants.

SOLUTION
Re-examine funding formulas for rural energy grants and programs.

BARRIER
Independent interests on the rail belt energy grid are conflicting and inefficient.

SOLUTION
Establishment of a unified organization for the development and administration of generation and transmission delivery resources

BARRIER
No clear rules for acquisition of non-utility energy resources.

SOLUTION
Establish a standardized payment methodology and acquisition criteria.

BARRIER
Implementation of state energy policy is inhibited by the inability to recruit and retain qualified energy professionals.

SOLUTION
Re-position energy professionals in exempt class.