Electric Power Choices: Your Vote Shapes Alaska’s Future

Alaska’s biggest electric co‑op, Chugach Electric Association, is up for a new board this month. More than 88, 000 members will decide who leads the company that supplies power to Anchorage and beyond. Four people are running for two spots, so each vote matters. The board’s decisions will guide how the co‑op uses natural gas—currently about 80% of its energy. They’ll also decide on expanding hydroelectric plants and adding wind, solar and battery storage. The goal is to keep electricity safe, reliable and affordable while cutting dependence on expensive imported fuels. Prices for natural gas are rising because supply from Cook Inlet is shrinking. The era of cheap gas, helped by state subsidies and low hydro costs, is ending. Leaders on the board will need to make tough choices about future energy mix and pricing.Chugach Electric has a long history, almost 80 years old. It started near Anchorage and grew to cover 400 square miles after merging with Municipal Light and Power. Today it is the 14th‑largest electrical cooperative in the U. S. , serving homes and businesses from Anchorage to the Kenai Peninsula and across Cook Inlet. The co‑op’s staff work hard to restore power quickly after earthquakes, storms, heavy snow and wildfires. They also value member input, which is why a Member Advisory Council exists to share concerns and ideas with the board. The council encourages everyone to vote in this important election. Ballots were mailed on April 29, and voting is ongoing. Members can also cast a vote at the annual meeting on May 29. For more details about candidates, projects or bill history, visit chugachelectric. com.