4 Steps to Catalyze Alaska’s Clean Energy Economy in 2024
How community connections, new capital, policy, and tech deployments can help drive the energy transition in Alaska – and beyond.
There’s a lot to be excited about when it comes to Alaska’s energy transition: While the stakes are high, the opportunities are abundant.
As we spring into a new season, we asked a few Launch Alaska team members to share some of the top climate tech opportunities and priorities on our radar this year – from project funding to partnership development, policy advocacy and tech deployment. Here’s what’s on their minds, and how it all plays a role in our mission to accelerate the energy transition, catalyze Alaska’s clean energy economy, and decarbonize the globe.
Isaac Vanderburg, CEO
Isaac Vanderburg, CEO: “I'm looking forward to expanding the way we organize capital for our companies, projects and programs in Alaska this year. There is a huge amount of federal dollars already coming into the state thanks to President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and I'm excited to leverage that with both private dollars and philanthropic support. Our organization can play a pivotal role in getting resources to companies and projects in Alaska.
This helps us accelerate the energy transition in two ways. First: Getting funds for demonstration projects in Alaska will show our partners that the technologies we need to transition are ready to go at scale and will accelerate deployment of those technologies across the state. And second: Bringing private and philanthropic dollars to the state will act as a force multiplier for support we're already receiving from public sources – which allows more technologies to be deployed, more projects to get built, and more Alaskans to join in on the transition.”
Suzanna Caldwell, Tech Deployment Track Manager
Suzanna Caldwell, Tech Deployment Track Manager: “I am always thrilled to see the level of interest in climate tech companies from private industry, local government and utilities across the state. There is so much need and therefore desire for folks to work with cutting edge technology companies, they simply don't have time to source them. Seeing interest from such a varied group of people, from all ends of the political and business spectrum, reminds me that these climate tech solutions are practical and wanted.
As we recruit and prepare to welcome our 2024 Tech Deployment Track cohort, I look forward to seeing more of that same enthusiasm this year – it reminds me that we are on the right path.
We know we have to rapidly decarbonize business sectors if we are to meet climate goals and help mitigate the effects of climate change. By bringing new tech to the table, we're helping industries decarbonize in ways they might not have thought of, or helping to solve a problem they hadn’t previously identified. It's very exciting.”
Frances Ball, Chief Operations Officer
Frances Ball, Chief Operations Officer: “I'm excited to see how we can develop new ways to connect all types of investors to our portfolio of climate tech companies this year. I'm also looking forward to improving how we measure the impact of Launch Alaska's work and the work our portfolio companies are doing in Alaska, and communicating that impact publicly.
Startups need all types of capital, so getting money into their hands is one of the fastest ways to accelerate the energy transition. Accurately tracking our impact will hold us accountable to our goals, and show others what is possible.”
Penny Gage, Managing Director
Penny Gage, Managing Director: “There is a lot of interest and enthusiasm on energy topics coalescing in our State Capitol in Juneau this year. From the natural gas shortage to renewable energy standards for electric utilities to electric grid transmission upgrades for urban Alaska, there is a lot that is rising to the top during the 2024 legislative session which is of interest to Launch Alaska and our portfolio companies.
The Governor's Energy Security Task Force delivered its final report in December 2023 and we have been excited to see some of those recommendations being reviewed and considered by legislators and policymakers this year. Our CEO Isaac Vanderburg was a member of this task force and co-chaired the Incentives & Subsidies Subcommittee.
Launch Alaska spent time early this year in Juneau meeting with and educating Alaska lawmakers on our 2024 priorities, and we also traveled to Washington, DC for advocacy in partnership with the National Coalition of Clean Energy Incubators. We look forward to continuing to grow relationships with policymakers and key stakeholders to advance Alaska's energy transition in 2024 and beyond.
Also this year, 50 out of our 60 state legislators will be up for election. We'll be paying attention to the issues that rise to the top for voters this fall, and how energy, transportation, and industrial decarbonization play a role.
We're excited in 2024 to reconvene and highlight Launch Alaska’s 40+ portfolio companies for our annual Climate Innovation Showcase in May alongside the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference in Anchorage. We love connecting with these companies and hearing about their current projects in our state and their ambitions.
We've also opened applications for the 2024 Tech Deployment Track accelerator program. It’s our sixth year of this program, and we're excited to select a strong cohort of energy, transportation and industry companies interested in projects in Alaska.”