In 2025, fossil fuels supplied almost three-quarters of Alaska’s electricity consumption, while low-carbon sources provided about a quarter. Gas alone accounted for roughly half of electricity consumption, followed by oil at about 14% and coal at 10%. Hydropower dominated clean electricity, supplying around 23% of the total, while wind contributed just under 2%. Alaska therefore still relies heavily on fossil electricity, leaving considerable scope to expand clean generation and reduce climate-changing emissions and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Alaska?

Electricity consumption in Alaska is growing: in 2025, it reached about 10,200 kWh per person, exceeding the previous record set in 2023 by roughly 1,060 kWh, or 12%. Low-carbon electricity generation also reached a new high of about 2,650 kWh per person, but surpassed its 2023 record by only 17 kWh, less than 1%. The overall increase is encouraging, but the near-stagnation in clean electricity generation is disappointing. Faster low-carbon growth would help Alaska meet expanding demand from electrification and AI with cleaner electricity.

Suggestions

Alaska can build on hydropower by expanding wind and solar generation and considering nuclear power. Finland provides a particularly relevant northern example, generating 36% of its electricity from nuclear and 25% from wind. The US state of North Dakota also demonstrates wind’s potential, supplying 36% of its electricity from that source. For solar, the US state of Maine offers a useful northern reference, with solar providing 19% of electricity generation; Alaska could explore projects tailored to local conditions and its long summer daylight hours. Learning from these regions could help Alaska develop a more diverse low-carbon electricity supply, with nuclear providing steady clean generation alongside solar, wind and hydropower.

History

The available history covers only 2024 and 2025 and shows little sustained growth in Alaska’s low-carbon electricity generation. Hydropower declined by 0.1 TWh in 2024, then recovered by the same amount in 2025, leaving it unchanged overall across the two annual changes. Wind and biofuels each recorded no change in either year at the reported precision. The hydropower recovery is welcome, but this short period’s overall lack of progress underscores the need for a stronger expansion of clean electricity.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade