The AKPIRG Advocate, August 2024
We're hiring! 🎉
Apply to be our Economic Justice Lead by Sept. 8!
APPLY to be our Economic Justice Lead by SEPTEMBER 8!🎉
The Economic Justice Team works on three core issues: housing, debt, and monopolies. Most recently this work has included pro-abundant housing policy advocacy and organizing, payday lending reform, medical debt research, and preventing price increases through anti-trust initiatives.
AKPIRG is seeking an innovative, emotionally intelligent, and highly organized individual to serve as Economic Justice Lead. This person should have outstanding relationship development skills, familiarity with state and municipal legislative processes and strategy, comfort with policy research and advocacy, and a collaborative leadership style.
If this sounds like you or someone you know, please apply or share this opportunity to join Team AKPIRG! Applications are open through September 8, 2024.
To see the full job description and to apply, visit:
Hard work in the legislature pays off:
Energy bills are signed into law
Two weeks ago, we co-hosted a Clean Power Happy Hour with the Alaska Center and Senator Bill Wielechowski to discuss legislative wins and energy policy outlooks. The event was well-attended, and we appreciate everyone who joined us!
Since then, we've seen some of those advocacy efforts pay off. On July 31, the Governor signed two key energy bills that AKPIRG championed during the legislative session.
House Bill 273, the Alaska Energy Independence Fund, creates a framework for a green bank within the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation. This program will offer low-cost financing for residential, small business, and community energy projects. Establishing a green bank makes Alaska eligible for critical federal funding under the Inflation Reduction Act, advancing our clean energy transition.
The Governor also signed House Bill 307, Integrated Transmission Systems. This bill was a focus of our advocacy, involving trips to Juneau, comment letters, public testimonies, and committee hearings. Our efforts safeguarded public processes for Railbelt grid planning at the Railbelt Reliability Council and improved the management of the Alaska Energy Authority and the Regulatory Commission of Alaska. The legislation also creates a Regional Transmission Authority for the Railbelt, enhancing inter-utility collaboration and reducing energy costs for a more reliable, renewable electric grid.
Looking ahead, Senate Bill 152, Community Energy—championed by our policy analyst Phil Wight—will be signed on August 13 at Chugach Electric Association's Community Solar project site. We are excited to see this regulatory win enacted and to see community energy projects get up and running.
Our Energy Team remains committed to advocating for affordable, reliable renewable energy beyond the legislative session. Learn more about this work:
It's time to vote! 🗳
Primary Election on August 20
Graphic: Sightline Institute
Have you made a plan to vote? It's time to make your voice heard in the open Primary Election on August 20! This "pick one" open primary means you'll vote for just one candidate (not ranked-choice), and the top four candidates with the most votes will move on to the General Election.
The deadline for mail-in voting applications is August 10. Any registered voter can apply online! Early voting begins on August 17 at a Division of Elections Regional Office. On Election Day, August 20, your regular polling place will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
This is a crucial primary election -- vote informed, and vote your values! Learn more about the candidates, check your registration status, and more by visiting the Division of Elections website:
AKPIRG In the News 📰
AKPIRG's Good Government team penned a letter of thanks to Alaskan lawmakers who opposed the appointment of Donald Handeland to the Alaska Personnel Board this past legislative session.
In their op-ed, they talk through critical and often overlooked accountability mechanisms that should be working for the public but too often are corrupt. We need a lot more attention on these issues in order to have strong public will to change them.
Art Submissions Needed:
Shining a Light on Alaska’s Diverse Communities
We are thrilled to invite you to participate in a meaningful project celebrating Alaska's diverse cultural heritage and promoting civic engagement. We want to commission artwork from artists across Alaska in two categories: youth/young adults (25 years and younger) and adults (26 years and older).
We will select two artists from each region, one from each age category, and pay each artist $1,000.00. Artists who are selected will be asked to create unique artwork that creatively represents what a multicultural and multiracial democracy looks like in Alaska.
Why Participate?
With voter turnout declining in many communities over recent decades, this project is an excellent opportunity to inspire and mobilize community participation through your art.
How to Apply:
If you are interested, please complete the application here: https://www.rioalaska.org/current-events You will need to submit 3-5 examples of previous work, brief Artist Bio and a description of your proposed artwork.
We look forward to your creative contributions and working together to inspire voter engagement across Alaska.
If you have any questions, please contact Jessica Thornton (jessi@nativemovement.org) or Autumn Cantu (autumn@mobilizationcenter.org)
