This is a friendly reminder that online voting in the Chugach Electric Association board election ends this Friday, May 19th, at 3:00pm.

Cook Inlet is at an energy crossroads. Our region is running out of cheap natural gas. The state Department of Natural Resources has projected this since 2009, and yet the Chugach Electric Association board of directors has done little to diversify the utility away from its dangerous dependency on natural gas. In fact, over the last 10 years Chugach has increased the proportion of its total generation that comes from renewables by less than 1%. This decade of inaction comes in spite of the fact that the cost of renewable energy has plummeted over the same period, as evidence by the fact that over 83% of all new electricity capacity installed in the United States this year will come from wind, solar, and batteries. In contrast, current Chugach Electric representatives have told the state legislature that importing expensive liquefied natural gas (LNG) is the answer to gas shortages in Cook Inlet. In the next five days, we have the opportunity to elect three new board members that all favor diversifying Chugach’s generation portfolio, from a more than 80% reliance on natural gas to a much larger proportion of renewable energy. A diversified electricity portfolio with more stably-priced, local renewables will protect ratepayers from volatile gas prices and conserve local Cook Inlet natural gas for heating.

If you are a Chugach Electric member and have not yet voted, please make sure to cast your ballot for REAP’s endorsed candidates Shaina Kilcoyne, Suzanne Fleek-Green, and Jim Nordlund before 3:00pm this Friday. Please also encourage everyone you know who is a Chugach Electric member to vote in this important election.

Members can also vote in-person at the Chugach Electric annual meeting beginning at 5pm this Friday, May 19th, at ChangePoint Alaska (6689 Changepoint Drive Anchorage, AK 99518).

Chugach members who vote are automatically entered into a drawing for the chance to win a free year of electricity (up to 10,000 kWh)!

Chugach Ratepayers Alliance has also unveiled their “3 Friends for Our Energy Future” art campaign through which folks who get three of their friends to vote will receive a beautiful energy-themed postcard designed by a local Alaskan artist! Check out their Instagram page for more info on that awesome effort.

Finally, it is critical that we reach voters outside of our networks in order to get out the vote. If you are able, please join us in volunteering to help spread the word about the pivotal Chugach Electric election!