Editor’s Note: Free-market energy advocate Todd M. Lindley is running for a board position at Anchorage-based Chugach Electric Association, the largest power distributor in the state.
On April 29, voting opens for Chugach Electric to elect two board members who will determine the future of the utility. A reset in the name of energy exceptionalism is needed.
Much of the policy adopted in recent years has favored organizations that invest in alternative energy. For an electric utility that serves more than 90,000 rate payers, this strategy is shortsighted and heavily reliant on regulation to even the playing field with traditional energy sources. This is not a sustainable path, nor does it provide an economy of scale to address risks associated with generation and transmission in Alaska. After voting opens, rate payers have a chance to accept the status quo and get more of the same or take a risk and make a change at the May 29 election.
Energy Exceptionalism
The Trump Administration has made it clear that energy is national security and is based on a strategic objective to be the leader in Artificial Intelligence. The amount of power required to compute, process, heat, cool, and transmit data for the AI infrastructure will require accelerated development and multiple step changes in output from where we are today. Alaska is sitting on massive reserves of oil, gas, coal, water, and minerals, along with being perfectly positioned on the planet with beneficial ambient conditions to solve many of these problems simultaneously. Why are we not leading today?
Decarbonization
The climate changes, and so will the demographics of our state if energy continues to be unaffordable. We can change affordability; we cannot change the climate.
This self-limiting strategy is based on an unattainable outcome of reducing the temperature of the Earth by lowering carbon emissions and carbon intensity. Frankly, this is a distraction from solving important issues like Cook Inlet Gas production and strategically diversifying energy sources at scale. If the Chugach board were serious about achieving carbon intensity reductions, then there would be no hesitation to partner with the proposed coal plant designed with carbon capture technology. Unfortunately, the current strategy still relies heavily on wind and solar. This is unacceptable and is holding the utility back from more important work.
How do alternative energy sources fit in the portfolio? They must demonstrate an economic benefit to the rate payer either by cost avoidance or greater flexibility through Alaska’s seasonality.
In January of 2024, the Eklutna Dam Hydro plant helped secure power for the Chugach rate payers while Fire Island failed, yet no one protested to remove the wind farm! Diversification of generation and storage is a necessary strategy to maintain high reliability and to keep costs low.
This is not meant to meet a random renewable percentage but should be focused on redundancy. Industries serving defense and data require this level of security to minimize risk to their operations. The strategy of the co-op needs to support this and look for ways to creatively partner with other co-ops and businesses to develop this infrastructure. Energy diversification should reflect the strategic business opportunities of the co-op, not the regulations of a Renewable or Diversified Portfolio Standard.
Vital Choice
Alaska is poised to see a once-in-a-generation transformation of the energy industry. In November 2025, the Department of Oil and Gas enthusiastically stated that gas production in Cook Inlet moved the supply gap by several years, including the drilling Chugach and Hilcorp are doing at Beluga River Unit. The Alaska Gasline is ready to move forward and bring North Slope gas to market and to Alaskans. The Terra Energy coal plant is progressing and sitting on nearly a century of coal reserves. Alaska is among the top states for massive hydro power potential, and examples like Bradley Lake and Eklutna demonstrate that forward thinking, collaboration and risk management net the most affordable, reliable, and secure power for decades.
The vote comes down to one thing: affordability. In order to capitalize on these opportunities, it will take experienced leadership and strategic thinking. The climate changes, and so will the demographics of our state if energy continues to be unaffordable. We can change affordability; we cannot change the climate.
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This is a slightly edited repost of Lindsey’s Chugach Electric Board Candidate Rejects Self-limiting Decarbonization Agenda (April 14, 2026), which originally appeared in The Watchman (April 14, 2026).