The AKPIRG Advocate, January 2024
2024 is AKPIRG's 50th Anniversary Year!
2024 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Alaska Public Interest Research Group 🎉🎂
Since our founding on October 21, 1974, AKPIRG has been advocating for the public interest in Alaska – and we have much to celebrate after five decades of advocacy! We look forward to sharing many trips down memory lane and celebrating our legacy together at events in Anchorage, Juneau, and Fairbanks.
If you were involved in AKPIRG as a member, staff, board, or volunteer at any time in the past 50 years, we want to hear about your experience with AKPIRG! Reach out to info@akpirg.org to get involved in the storytelling of our 50th Anniversary.
Thank you for being an AKPIRG Advocate, whether this is your first day or your 50th year as a member. Cheers to 50 more years of AKPIRG Advocacy!
We aim to raise $50,000 in grassroots donations,
which will set us on the path toward 50 more years of AKPIRG.
We’ll be highlighting each of our program areas in the months to come, to break down the many exciting projects that money raised will go toward. Here are some of our overarching goals:
Good government: Protecting democracy by ensuring accountability, transparency, and access to our government
Economic health: Working toward compassionate, people-centered economic policy
Language access: Providing access to information and uplifting traditional and cultural knowledge
Energy democracy: Advocating for a more equitable, affordable, and reliable energy future in Alaska
Broadband access: Moving toward affordable and reliable broadband for all
In addition to supporting our work, donations made in 2024 will get you some of our limited edition 50th anniversary merch!* The items below are exclusive to 2024 donors:
*while supplies last
You can donate online, or send us a check to the address listed at the bottom of this email. And, if you want to contribute but don’t want any merch, just let us know. From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU for your support!
AKPIRG Annual Report 2023
Introducing: the AKPIRG Annual Report 2023! 🎊
We accomplished so much in 2023, and we're excited to share a full report of our year with you. And there's so much more to come! We look forward to expanding on all of this work in 2024, AKPIRG's 50th Anniversary Year.
Our work would not be possible without your continued support. Thank you all for being with us as we strive for a more equitable and just Alaska together.
An Update from the AKPIRG Energy Team:
2024 is "The Energy Year"
Even before it began, advocates and legislative watchdogs were already calling 2024 “the Energy Year.” It isn’t hard to see why, with the Cook Inlet gas crisis looming over Alaskans and historic opportunities in federal infrastructure funding in play and on the horizon. We have big choices to make about the energy infrastructure we want to invest in, the oversight needed to protect consumers, and a path forward between utilities, the public, and other entities cooperating for our energy future. Key bills to follow in the upcoming legislative session include enacting a Renewable Portfolio Standard, establishing a Green Bank, and creating a pathway to Community Solar (which AKPIRG helped write!).
AKPIRG’s Energy Team will also be monitoring upcoming Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) confirmation hearings and appointments. We will be weighing in on nominee qualifications and watching for corruption in the selection process, remembering that the current RCA chair was nominated after being a prominent donor to the Dunleavy administration. Dunleavy has also announced intentions for legislation that would lock Alaska into gas dependence, jeopardizing consumer interests. Now is prime time to advocate for a diversified, renewable, and reliable energy future that moves beyond dependency on Cook Inlet and natural gas.
It is a great time to engage with your legislators, attend their town halls and call their offices, while getting excited about this year in energy!
One way to stay connected to your energy systems this year is following the Alaska Energy Transparency Project (AETP). AETP offers unbiased reporting on developments in the Alaska energy sector, and offers information to help you engage in systems like our electric cooperatives.
Check out their most recent article here:
Welcome to Team AKPIRG, Catherine!
We are so excited to welcome our new Energy Fellow, Catherine Rocchi, to Team AKPIRG!
As AKPIRG’s Energy Fellow, Catherine uses her legal training to work toward a sustainable, equitable, and democratic energy system in Alaska. She holds a B.A. from Dartmouth College, a J.D. from Stanford Law School, and an M.S. from the Stanford School of Earth. Before joining AKPIRG, Catherine worked as a law clerk at the Alaska Supreme Court.
Catherine loves mountain adventures, vegetable-forward meals, and meeting new people. She lives on Dena’ina lands in Anchorage.
Join us in welcoming Catherine to the team! To learn more about all AKPIRG staff, visit:
Decay Report:
Trust in State Government Deteriorating
In recent months, our state government has experienced a concerning deterioration, eroding Gov. Dunleavy’s commitment to "restoring trust in government."
The latest is the administration’s recent violation of the 2022 Alaska Online Checkbook Act, a law AKPIRG ardently advocated for. The law requires the administration to implement an easily searchable website to make state financial information available to the public by Oct. 1, 2023. Unfortunately, what was produced is out of compliance, doesn’t contain the required financial information, and does nothing to restore trust in government.
Kudos to Sen. Wielechowski, the sponsor of the Online Checkbook, for holding the Dunleavy administration accountable for their violations of Alaska laws and the questionable management of public funds allocated by the legislature for the Online Checkbook.
Another example is AG Taylor’s unilateral attempt to change Alaska ethics laws in order to give himself, the governor and Lt. governor a sweetheart deal. Although our Constitution spells out the separation of powers between the administration, legislative and judicial branch, AG Taylor chose to bypass the legislative process so that Dept. of Law attorneys will represent the governor, Lt. governor and AG, with public funds, if and when they’re the subject of ethics complaints filed with the AG’s office for allegations of unethical and dishonest conduct. Again, this undermines trust in government.
Fortunately, HB 240 and SB 165, pre-filed this week by Rep. Josephson and Sen. Claman, aim to counteract this power grab by Gov. Dunleavy and AG Taylor. As we navigate the evolving political landscape, AKPIRG remains dedicated to enhancing government transparency and accountability for the benefit of our community and the state of Alaska.
To learn more about our Good Government work, visit:
ACTION ALERT:
Provide Input on the Alaska Connect Fund (ACF) by January 16!
Image courtesy of Holly Nordlum
In 2016, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) created the Alaska Plan, a $1.5 billion fund supporting Alaskan ISPs until 2026. As this plan nears its end, the FCC has introduced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for the Alaska Connect Fund (ACF), the successor to the Alaska Plan. The ACF, expected to distribute $1 billion from 2026-2036, aims to improve internet connectivity in Alaska.
Public input is crucial during the NPRM's comment period to influence the creation of effective rules and ensure optimal fund utilization. In the original Alaska Plan, only members of the Alaska Telecoms Association had access to the money. With the Alaska Connect Fund, we are asking that local and Tribal governments be included, which will encourage competition. Moreover, we demand that the people actually using (and paying for) internet services in Alaska have easy access to information about this funding through transparent systems, so providers are held accountable to actually ensuring the best broadband services for all.
For more on how to make a comment, and a breakdown of the questions the FCC is asking, visit:
NEW AKPIRG 50th Anniversary Swag!
To celebrate our 50th Anniversary, get yourself some **limited edition** merch from the AKPIRG store!
A portion of each purchase will support our mission to create a more just, equitable Alaska. It's the coziest way to support AKPIRG's work!
