OPINION: Renewable energy could help solve Anchorage’s gas problems and school budget shortfalls

Has been updated: 1 1 day ago release date: 1 1 day ago

Alaska’s natural gas shortage has politicians in a quandary. While it may have seemed like a trivial issue a few years ago, it’s reaching a breaking point as natural gas prices are expected to rise significantly from current levels if Alaska is forced to rely on imports. One of the biggest victims of the shortage will be the school system, with the Anchorage School District (ASD) already facing a $98 million budget deficit, time is running out to discuss solutions and they must act. And fast. Class sizes are growing and staff cuts are expected. With no clear solution in sight, it’s time to turn to an answer that seemed unrealistic a few years ago: solar energy.

It’s a fair argument to make that this may not have been feasible 5 or 10 years ago. But solar prices are falling, and the federal solar tax credit is making solar power more and more feasible in Alaska. Today, you pay for solar power and get a 30% rebate from the government. For projects in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, this tax credit can add up to significant savings.

That being said, there is a big problem when it comes to solar power in Alaska: winter. Alaska’s long winters and short hours of daylight cause most people to overlook the benefits of solar power. What most people don’t realize is that the long hours of daylight in the summer can save you thousands of dollars. Even in winter, the sunlight reflecting off the snow helps increase energy production.

Alaska already has two large solar farms, in Willow and Houston. The Houston project alone is an 8.5 megawatt plant expected to power about 1,400 homes. Other jurisdictions outside of Anchorage are already using solar power.

Using solar power could save ASD about $18 million a year in energy costs, especially during the summer when a school such as South Anchorage High School spends about $15,000 a month on maintaining school buildings. Alaska Solar estimates that installing about 170 solar panels at South High School could save thousands of dollars a year, offsetting as much as 27,000 pounds of coal annually.

This goal can be achieved through grant funding from organizations like the Alaska Energy Department, which has provided millions of dollars in funding for solar projects like the Willow Solar Project. If implemented across the ASD, this could provide much-needed savings to schools, helping to retain teachers, reduce class sizes, and reduce reliance on natural gas.

Kegan Sewall Lau A senior at South Anchorage High School, he is working with teachers and the principal to bring solar power to his school.

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