Between September 2024 and August 2025, Alaska's electricity consumption reveals a significant reliance on fossil fuels, with these sources comprising approximately two-thirds of the total energy mix, demonstrating areas where improvement could be made. Gas contributes a substantial portion of this fossil energy at just over 40%, while oil and coal account for about 15% and 12%, respectively. In contrast, low-carbon or clean energy resources, which are important for sustainable development, currently make up almost a third of Alaska's energy makeup. Hydropower is by far the dominant source within this category, contributing more than 28%, indicating the potential for stability and growth in clean energy. Wind and other low-carbon alternatives offer minimal contributions, highlighting significant opportunities for clean energy diversification, particularly through the expansion of wind or solar energy.
Data sources used on this page include EIA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Alaska?
Despite Alaska's rich potential for clean energy, its overall electricity consumption has seen a reduction since its peak in 2007, currently standing at 8917 kWh per person, which marks a decline of 1110 kWh per person. Conversely, low-carbon electricity generation is on an upswing, with recent numbers showing 2752 kWh per person, which is an encouraging increase of 117 kWh per person from the previous record in 2020. This positive trend in clean energy is a beacon of Alaska's capability to contribute towards reducing its carbon footprint through greater reliance on environmentally friendly options, although the overall drop in consumption necessitates a further push towards increasing the share of low-carbon electricity to drive future growth and sustainability.
Suggestions
To boost its low-carbon electricity generation, Alaska can look to other regions for inspiration. Given Alaska's geographical and environmental conditions, investing in wind energy, similar to states like Iowa and South Dakota where wind contributes over 50% of electricity, could be particularly beneficial. Additionally, nuclear energy remains an underutilized resource in many places but has shown its potential in countries like France and Slovakia, where it constitutes a major portion of their electricity generation. Incorporating nuclear energy into Alaska's portfolio could provide a stable and reliable source of clean energy, complementing efforts to ramp up solar power, as seen in regions like Nevada. By strategically investing in these technologies, Alaska could significantly amplify its clean energy production and set an example for other states.
History
Reflecting on the history of low-carbon electricity in Alaska, hydropower has played a consistent role, seeing modest fluctuations from 2005 to 2025. Most years observed minor changes in hydropower generation, often rising or falling by small increments of 0.1 to 0.2 TWh, reflecting a stable yet untapped growth opportunity. However, in 2013, a noteworthy development was the introduction of wind power, albeit with a modest increase, alongside a constant but limited contribution from biofuels. From 2020 onwards, hydropower increases have remained moderate, suggesting that with focused investment, hydropower's role could be expanded in conjunction with newer technologies. Embracing a history of steady low-carbon utilization, Alaska is primed to harness forthcoming opportunities to escalate its clean energy generation for a more robust, sustainable electricity future.
