Alaska
State Scorecard Rank
39
Alaska
6.5Scored out of 50Updated 12/2022
State Government
Score: 1 out of 4.5
State Government Summary List All
Alaska offers several consumer incentives for energy efficiency upgrades, including a program for energy-efficient upgrades in rural Alaskan community buildings. The state government by example by requiring efficient public buildings and benchmarking energy consumption in these facilities. Alaska is one of the few states to require the release of residential building energy data at the time of sale. The state has one research center focused on energy efficiency.
Financial Incentives List All
The state of Alaska offers the following financial incentives to encourage energy efficiency improvements:
- Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund Program
- Energy Efficiency Interest Rate Reduction Program
- Second Mortgage Program for Energy Conservation
- Small Building Material Loan
- Weatherization Program
- Village Energy Efficiency Program
- Alternative Energy Conservation Loan Fund
Further financial incentive information can be found in the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE Alaska). In addition to these state-funded incentives, Alaska has enabled commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing and has one active program. For additional information on PACE, visit PACENation.
Last Reviewed: June 2022
Equity Metrics and Workforce DevelopmentList All
We were unable to determine if the state's energy plans or electrification strategies establish specific policies or equity-related metrics to ensure access for underserved customers or if they include specific measures to prioritize clean energy workforce development.
Workforce Development
AEA sponsored a class for teachers that focused on alternative energy and energy efficiency. The participants received college credit for participating. This was completed in partnership with Alaska Resource Education.
Last Reviewed: September 2022
Carbon Pricing PoliciesList All
The State of Alaska does not yet have carbon pricing policies in place.
At this time, the state does not have a statewide emissions reduction goal in place.
Last Reviewed: September 2022
Building Energy Disclosure List All
- Building type(s) affected: residential
Alaska statute AS.34.70.101 requires the release of utility data for residential buildings at the time of sale.
Last Reviewed: May 2022
Public Building Requirements List All
Passed in 2010, Senate Bill 220 mandates 15% energy efficiency improvement retrofits by 2020 of 25% of the state's public buildings that are 10,000 square feet or larger not including legislative or court buildings. SB220 also included a provision mandating ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1 compliance on all retrofits or deferred maintenance of public facilities performed under the 25% improvement section of the bill.
In addition to the retrofit goal of reducing energy use by 15% in 25% of the public facilities by 2020, any new facilities managed or owned by the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, 10,000 square feet or greater that are not legislative or court buildings, must be constructed to the latest version of ASHRAE/IESNA standard. The Department of Education also requires that new facilities constructed with FY14 funds must be constructed to the same ASHRAE standards.
Senate Bill 220 also directed the Office of Management and Budget to work with state agencies to develop a standardized methodology to collect and store energy consumption and expense data. The state has benchmarked over 1,700 public facilities (as of June 2013). Data is compiled in the Alaska Retrofit Information System (ARIS) database. A voluntary effort is underway to benchmark publically owned buildings not owned by the state of Alaska.
Last Reviewed: June 2022
Fleets List All
No policy in place or proposed.
Note: For state efficient fleet initiatives, policies listed must make a specific, mandatory requirement for increasing state fleet efficiency. State alternative-fuel vehicle procurement requirements that give a voluntary option to count efficient vehicles are thus not included.
Last Reviewed: June 2022
Energy Savings Performance Contracting List All
In 2010, the State Legislature authorized the creation of a $250M revolving loan fund for energy efficiency retrofits for public facilities. Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) are one possible way to access this funding. Three Energy Services Companies (ESCOs) who offer ESPCs are retained on a three year term contract to service state-owned facilities through the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. ESCOs are also able to bring clients and contracts for school and municipal projects in for AHFC loans. Several ESPCs have been completed across the state with Federal, State and municipal funds. The Alaska Industrial Development Export Authority (AIDEA) has two loan programs under which ESCO and/or non-residential building owners can access State capital to make efficiency improvements. This type of contracting is a still relatively new but growing industry in Alaska.
Last Reviewed: July 2020
Research & Development List All
The Cold Climate Housing Research Center (CCHRC) in Fairbanks, Alaska is an industry-based, nonprofit corporation created to facilitate the development, use, and testing of energy-efficient, durable, healthy, and cost-effective building technologies for people living in circumpolar regions around the globe. The Center represents 1,200 building industry firms and groups across the state. CCHRC’s energy efficiency research focuses on fuel use monitoring, window insulation evaluation, domestic hot water energy modeling, wall systems insulation, passive refrigeration, ventilation systems, and more. The Center’s 15,000 square foot Research and Testing Facility (RTF) first opened in 2006 after receiving $5.2 million in public and private funding. CCHRC conducted Alaska Housing Finance Corporation's statewide housing needs assessment that focused on energy needs and was released in 2018.
Last Reviewed: July 2019
Buildings
Score: 3 out of 12
Buildings Summary List All
Building energy codes apply to state-financed residential buildings, but not other new construction. Alaska has made several efforts to ensure code compliance, including establishment of a stakeholder advisory group and completion of a gap analysis.
Residential Codes List All
Alaska does not have a mandatory statewide code for new residential construction. However, since January 2019, residential construction projects financed by the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation are required to meet the state-developed Building Energy Efficiency Standards (BEES), which is based on the 2018 IECC with state-specific amendments. Since the corporation finances approximately 20% of the market share, the majority of homes in Alaska are built to this standard. In addition, research has found that about 68% of new residential construction adheres to BEES.
Last reviewed: November 2024
Commercial Code List All
Alaska has no statewide commercial building code, but all public facilities must comply with the thermal and lighting energy standards adopted by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities mandated by AS44.42020 (a) (14).
Last reviewed: November 2024
Compliance List All
- Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: BCAP chose Alaska to assist with the development of its gap analysis and a strategic plan, which were completed in late 2012.
- Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: A database has been constructed to capture data on energy code compliance for all new homes. However, an analysis has not been completed to date.
- Utility Involvement: No regulatory guidelines have been established with regard to involving utilities in supporting building energy code compliance.
- Stakeholder Advisory Group: N/A
- Training/Outreach: The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation has classes for contractors, building officials and others to train in compliance with the Alaska Building Energy Efficiency Standard. Training is offered to about 500 builders, inspectors, and energy raters on an annual basis.
Last Reviewed: November 2024
Important Links List All
CHP
CHP Summary List All
The state has a grant program for CHP projects, but otherwise has limited policies to encourage CHP. One new CHP installation was brought online in 2018.
Interconnection StandardsList All
Alaska’s interconnection standards are only applicable to systems 25kW and smaller, and only to those powered by renewable fuels, including biomass. The state has not established an overall standard for interconnection processes, but instead will review each regulated utility’s interconnection standard to judge for “reasonableness.” The Regulatory Commission of Alaska considered interconnection requirements for non-utility generators connecting to the Muncipal Light and Power (ML&P) electric system in Anchorage in a docket that is now closed.
Last Updated: July 2018
Encouraging CHP as a ResourceList All
There are currently no state policies designed to acquire energy savings from CHP (like other efficiency resources) or energy generation from CHP (in terms of kWh production) that apply to all forms of CHP.
Last Updated: July 2018
Deployment IncentivesList All
Incentives, grants, or financing: There are currently no state policies that provide incentives for natural gas-fueled CHP, but biomass systems are eligible for assistance through the Alaska Energy Authority.
Net metering: Although there are net metering regulations in the state, CHP is not an eligible technology
Last Updated: July 2018
Additional Supportive PoliciesList All
Some additional supportive policies exist to encourage CHP in Alaska. The Alaska Energy Authority provides specific technical assistance and free screening analysis reports for potential CHP projects in the state. The AEA also offers two programs for which renewable-fueled CHP may be eligible (1) the Alaska Renewable Energy Fund (REF) and (2) the Rural Power System Upgrade Program (RPSU).
The REF was established by the state legislature in 2008 and extended 10 years in 2012. The fund is intended to provide assistance to utilities, independent power producers, local governments, and tribal governments for feasibility studies, reconnaissance studies, energy resource monitoring, and work related to the design and construction of eligible facilities. The fund did not receive appropriations in 2016 or 2017.
The RPSU provides funding for power system upgrades in rural communities through Alaska. Upgrades may include efficiency improvements, powerhouse upgrades or replacements, line assessments, lines to new customers, demand-side improvements and repairs to generation and distribution systems.
The state Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C) program has also funded waste heat recovery systems in isolated villages to capture exhaust heat from diesel-fueled generators for beneficial use to heat nearby public buildings.
Last Updated: July 2018
Utilities
Score: 0.5 out of 15
Utilities Summary List All
Historically, there have been very few utility-sector energy efficiency programs in Alaska. Most program activity is through the state government and Alaska Energy Authority.
In 2010, House Bill 306 established Alaska's state energy policy, which included an aggressive renewable electricity goal, as well as a goal to reduce per capita electricity use in the state by 15% by 2020. This goal has not yet been translated into specific requirements for utilities to achieve specific savings levels and therefore is not yet considered an energy efficiency resource standard (EERS).
The most recent budgets for energy efficiency programs and electricity and natural gas savings can be found in the State Spending and Savings Tables.
Last reviewed: April 2022
Customer Energy Efficiency Programs List All
Much of the existing program activity is through the state government, not the utilities. The major state government program, the Home Energy Rebate Program, has saved about 1.7 trillion Btus since 2008 (savings are mostly in heating fuel rather than electricity). This and other state programs are covered on Alaska’s State Government tab.
The most recent budgets for energy efficiency programs and electricity and natural gas savings can be found in the State Spending and Savings Tables.
Last Updated: June 2016
Energy Efficiency as a Resource List All
There is currently no policy in place that treats energy efficiency as a resource. Alaska does not have an integrated resource planning (IRP) process.
For more information on energy efficiency as a resource, click here.
Last reviewed: April 2022
Energy Efficiency Resource Standards List All
In June 2010, Governor Sean Parnell signed House Bill 306 into law. The legislation established Alaska's state energy policy, which included an aggressive renewable electricity goal, as well as a goal to reduce per capita electricity use in the state by 15% by 2020. This goal must be translated into specific requirements for utilities to achieve savings of a specific amount to qualify as an EERS.
For more information on Energy Efficiency Resource Standards, click here.
Last Updated: June 2016
Utility Business Model List All
There is currently no policy in place that decouples utility profits from sales.
There is currently no policy in place that rewards successful energy efficiency programs.
Last Updated: July 2017
Evaluation, Measurement, & Verification List All
There are no formally approved ratepayer-funded energy efficiency programs in Alaska. There is no required reporting to any central entity.
Last Updated: July 2017
Guidelines for Low-Income Energy Efficiency Programs List All
Requirements for State and Utility Support of Low-Income Energy Efficiency Programs
Federal funding for weatherization efforts in Alaska is supplemented by financial investment from the state, utilities, and other organizations. The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) has administered the federal Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) since 1992. Funding is prioritized for low-income seniors and families with disabilities or young children in their home. In program year 2019, $4.7 million was distributed resulting in 190 unit completionss. No specific required spending or savings requirements for utility programs were identified. Utilities generally do not administer separate low-income energy efficiency programs. However, utility funding is used to supplement the programs described above.
Cost-Effectiveness Rules for Low-Income Energy Efficiency Programs
No specific adjustments or exceptions to general cost-effectiveness rules are in place for low-income programs.
Coordination of Ratepayer-Funded Low-Income Programs with WAP Services
Level of coordination is unclear from publicly available data.
Last updated: November 2020
Self Direct and Opt-Out Programs List All
Alaska does not have self-direct or opt-out provisions for large customers.
Last updated: July 2017
Data AccessList All
There is no policy in place that requires utilities to release energy use data to customers or third parties.
Last Updated: June 2016
Transportation
Score: 2 out of 13
Transportation Summary List All
Alaska has one of the highest per capita transit expenditures of any state, an indication that they have an interest in promoting energy-efficient modes of transportation. However, the state has not pursued specific energy-efficient transportation policies.
Transportation System Efficiency List All
Transportation and Land Use Integration: No policy in place or proposed.
VMT Targets: No policy in place or proposed.
FAST Freight Plans and Goals: No freight plan or goals in place.
Last Reviewed: November 2022
Incentives for High-Efficiency Vehicles List All
No policy in place or proposed.
Last Reviewed: November 2022
Equitable Access to TransportationList All
Alaska does not have any programs in place to incentivize the creation of low-income housing near transit facilities, nor do they consider proximity to transit facilities when distributing federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to qualifying property owners.
Last Reviewed: November 2022