Sitka Energy
Our goal is to transition Sitka off fossil fuels as a matter of urgency.
SUCCESS STORY: CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA
Acting on the community’s call to begin acting on the risk posed by global warming and climate change, the City and Borough of Sitka worked with Sitkans to create a strategy and to implement its recommendations. The Climate Action Plan 2010 charged the City with the task of lowering the City’s operational carbon emissions by 25 percent in 2020 (compared to 2003). By 2022, these were down by 64%. Although the City and Borough of Sitka’s emissions now represent only 4% of emissions from the Sitka community as a whole, the actions taken provide examples of what can be done. See more about this achievement in Raven Radio’s 2021 story.
Our Current Challenge
Our hydropower is also success story, but with existing energy usage it is estimated that we can only do a small part of the transition to a fossil-fuel free future. Without big changes, we may be able to ensure that all of our homes use electric heat pumps. Or we could all drive electric cars. But not both. Perhaps more importantly, if we will need a lot more renewable electricity if we want to maintain fossil-fuel-free fishing fleets, ferry and barge services.
Our Goals
Our Next Challenge
As island dwellers, many of our needs are being met by transport systems that we don’t have much control over. Planes, barges, and ferries bring in around 90% of our food, but we are just one of the many communities that these businesses serve. They bring in even more of the other goods that support life here in Sitka. Transition Sitka believes that it is vitally important that we work with other Southeast Alaska communities to support the electrification of these regional supply lines.
Directions To Explore
Efficiency! As we move more of our activities to energy supplied by renewable electric power, we need to consider how we will do more with what we have. This is a critical step to accurately assess how much more renewable energy we will need to develop to meet our existing and future needs.
Integrated Resource Planning! What is the big picture of energy use in Sitka? How do the decisions we make about reducing our household energy use affect the cost and the timing for increasing numbers of electric vehicles? How much extra generation do we need onshore to power and electric ferry to its next stop? Integrated Resource Planning has helped cities, states and even nations make good decisions about expensive electricity generation options. See more about IRPs in this factsheet from the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance.
New Generation! After we assess where we can manage our existing energy resources for maximum efficiency and benefit, how much additional electric generation will we need? When will we need it? What are the most beneficial ways to provide it?
Resources
Alaska Heatsmart (Juneau)
See more about how Juneau is supporting more efficient, fossil-fuel-free, electric heating.
Sitka Carbon Offset Fund
Local carbon offset programs are the best way to make up for carbon-heavy travel or lifestyles. In Sitka, money from travelers and locals is used to help people on low-incomes move to efficient electric heat pumps, and electric vehicles. The Sitka Carbon Offset Fund has also planted fruit tress to help reduce some food miles!
Sitka Rainpower Project
Find out more about the many things Sitkans are doing with rain power.