OPINION: Wiggin and Cason will keep Chugach Electric moving in the right direction

While the Anchorage mayoral runoff is in full swing, there is another election that garners less press and participation, but is also critical to our future — the Chugach Electric Association board of directors election, which is open for voting through May 17. We’re supporting incumbents Mark Wiggin and Sam Cason, who have been working overtime to ensure an affordable and reliable electric future for Southcentral Alaska.

Mark Wiggin brings deep experience in the oil and gas industry and as former deputy commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. His understanding of Alaska’s oil and gas landscape informs his conviction that diversification is critical to increasing the reliability and affordability of Railbelt energy.

As chair of the Chugach Electric Board, Sam Cason has demonstrated a commitment to diversifying Chugach and Railbelt energy supplies through development of local renewable sources. As an attorney with decades of experience in state energy and regulatory matters, he is highly qualified to help advance the changes we need.

Change is coming whether or not we are ready. Cook Inlet natural gas, which has powered much of Southcentral Alaska for the last 65 years, will soon be insufficient to meet the region’s energy needs. Enstar President John Sims recently shared that the natural gas utility is facing a supply gap starting next year — and that the utility came “extremely close” to being unable to deliver gas to homes in January. We must plan and take action now to avoid supply interruptions, cost spikes, or both.

Fortunately, the Cook Inlet region has vast renewable energy resources — including hydropower, tidal, wind, geothermal, and solar. With rapid advancements in renewable energy technology and a reduction of barriers to their adoption, our renewable energy resources can buffer the risks of declining gas supplies. Strategic use of renewables for electricity will enable us to extend the life of our natural gas resources and ensure we can continue to rely on gas for heating our homes and buildings.

But we need forward-thinking leadership to ensure effective development and integration of these renewable sources. That’s why we support Wiggin and Cason. In our view, they are the only candidates committed to a proactive approach to integrating renewables on the scale and timeline necessary to avert an energy crisis in Southcentral Alaska.

If you get bills from Chugach Electric Association, you are a voting member. Learn how to vote here, and please join us in voting for Wiggin and Cason for the Chugach board of directors.

Harry Crawford is a retired ironworker who represented Anchorage as a Democrat in the Alaska Legislature for 10 years and served 9 years on the Chugach Electric board of directors. Lesil McGuire is a project development consultant and lifelong Alaskan who represented Anchorage as a Republican in the Alaska Legislature for 20 years. Both have championed development of Alaska’s renewable energy resources throughout their careers and currently serve as senior advisors to the New Energy Alaska coalition.

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