Opinion: Dunleavy’s energy conference is an insult to Alaskans. We know what real sustainability looks like.
By Sarah Furman, Courtney Moore, Enei Begaye and Erin Jackson-Hill
Originally published in the Anchorage Daily News on June 2, 2025
This week, Gov. Mike Dunleavy will be holding his Sustainable Energy Conference, which highlights the voices of major fossil fuel advocates while largely excluding the voices of Alaskans most impacted by the climate and energy crises.
The week is riddled with non-sustainable fossil fuel topics and speakers, beginning with a presentation from the Trump energy team, including former oil executive and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Trump administration energy officials will be pushing the development of the LNG pipeline, including pressuring delegates from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan to commit to buying Alaskan liquefied natural gas (LNG). Later in the week, attendees will hear from keynote speaker Alex Epstein, the author of a controversial book that spins fossil fuels as sustainable, rather than finite resources that are the scientifically proven leading cause of climate change.
As leaders of Alaskan environmental and social justice groups, we find Dunleavy’s use of the word “sustainability” disingenuous. This conference is an insult to Alaskans who care about a truly long-lasting and regenerative economy, energy sources and healthy communities. Our economy is powered by hard-working Alaskans, not outside oil companies. We want our families to have clean air to breathe, clean water to drink and we want our kids to be able to use the land like we have for generations to come.
Alaskans face compounding crises, including increasing climate impacts to our health and homes, a state budget lacking provisions for basic things like education funding, and increasingly scarce energy resources. We cannot afford to sell our home to the boom-and-bust fossil fuel industry. New pipelines and more fossil fuel extraction are not answers to any of the crises we face. If built, the LNG pipeline will be too late to fill the gas supply gap that communities are already experiencing, with some utilities threatening rolling blackouts this year. Further extraction only exacerbates the climate crisis, amplifying the costly impacts on our communities.
Instead of investing in fossil fuel distractions, we could be actively pursuing more local renewable energy, and Alaskans already know how. Kodiak now runs on nearly 100% renewable energy, utilizing a mix of hydro and wind, showing that ambitious goals are achievable with the renewable technology already widely available. Meanwhile in Galena, a tribally owned and operated biomass system accounts for 75% of the community’s heating needs, with another 1.5 MW of solar power coming this summer. This project has led to the construction of the community’s own heavy equipment shop and a local construction company. Galena’s example shows that true sustainability is about more than just clean energy — it also supports good jobs, housing, and local autonomy.
For the Railbelt, ambitious sustainability goals are in reach. Already, the Bradley Lake hydroelectric project is one of the cheapest sources of energy available. A Department of Energy report shows that 76% renewable energy generation by 2040 would result in savings of $100 million per year by the early 2030s. Meanwhile, a 2022 report shows that transitioning to 100% renewables by 2050 would add 67,216 Alaskan jobs.
True sustainability can be achieved in our state, but it cannot be achieved through continued fossil fuel development. We must be innovative in our approach in addressing the energy and climate crises, seeking solutions with the long-term health of our people and the planet in mind. We look to our state leaders to be a partner in building a healthy future for our communities. Stop selling out Alaskans and start supporting a truly sustainable future for our communities.
For more information, visit: fbxclimateaction.org/noaklng
Sarah Furman is co-executive director of the Fairbanks Climate Action Coalition.
Courtney Moore is the plastics and petrochemicals coordinator for the Alaska Community Action on Toxics.
Enei Begaye is executive director of Native Movement.
Erin Jackson-Hill is executive director of Stand Up Alaska.
