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  • Man in suit and tie stands behind podium giving a presentation to an audience.

    Behind the scenes: International Arctic research planning

    July 01, 2025

    What does the next decade of Arctic science look like? Who decides which research matters most and how can researchers from ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ shape those priorities? This spring, ACEP researchers traveled to take part in major Arctic gatherings. Hear directly from ACEP's delegates as they reflect on reconnecting with global research peers, participating in Indigenous-led planning sessions, sharing new tools for community-engaged data and laying the groundwork for international partnerships.

  • Ron Johnson, mentoring in air quality research, takes a moment to pause for a photo. Photo by Tom Marsik/ACEP.

    Better citizens of the world: The legacy of Ron Johnson

    June 20, 2025

    Ron Johnson was one of those rare people whose steady positivity, quiet wisdom and generosity of spirit left a lasting mark on everyone who knew him. Learning about his passing brings deep sadness, but also immense gratitude. For those of us fortunate enough to be mentored by him, his influence endures as a source of inspiration, reminding us to lead with kindness, humility and purpose.

  • Woman stands in front of a float plane behind a huge moose rack. Image is clearly old and dates to 1959.

    A legacy unboxed: Diane Carpenter's papers come home to ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ

    May 23, 2025

    Although most people outside of the Bethel region have never heard her name, Diane Carpenter's contributions to ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ -- especially to the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta -- were immense. The arrival of her collection back in ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ was six years in the making and made possible by a dedicated team of friends and family in both ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ and Mexico, and of course, by Diane herself.

  • An aerial photo of Kotzebue Electric Association’s 1.1 MW solar farm and 1.8 MW wind farm, located outside the community of Kotzebue, 30 miles above the Arctic Circle. Photo by Amanda Byrd/ACEP.

    Foundational elements of the ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ Energy Data Gateway

    May 20, 2025

    In summer of 2024, the State of ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ entrusted the University of ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ with the task of rejuvenating the ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ Energy Data Gateway, a single source of information about energy use and costs in ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ. ACEP's data analysis and collection lead Liz Dobbins explains what it took for the data team to build a strong foundation for future data and metadata of the AEDG that should last for many years.

  • Wenceslao Ruiz shares his thoughts in an open letter to ACEP. Photo by Yuri Bult-Ito/ACEP.

    A letter to ACEP: My reflections in a turbulent time

    May 05, 2025

    Wenceslao Ruiz, ACEP's design lab manager, reflects on the ups and downs of his early career journey, the uncertainty of our current moment and the tremendous value of finding fulfilling work among "a bunch of highly intellectual cats" at ACEP.

  • Representatives from the Native Village of Iqiugig, the ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ Governor's office, and ORPC stand in front of a hydrokinetic device along the bank of a river, smiling.

    Indigenous values drive energy transformation in remote ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æn village

    April 25, 2025

    AlexAnna Salmon is of Yup'ik and Aleut descent and serves as President of Igiugig Village Council, the governing body for Igiugig, a remote community of some 70 people in southwestern ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ with no road access. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of this story - an excerpt from a forthcoming University of ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ book - is that this tiny village is willing to experiment with river hydrokinetic technology placed in a stream which has provided the livelihood of Native peoples for millennia.

  • Can data centers lower ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ's high energy costs?

    March 25, 2025

    Data Centers are transforming the energy industry. Today, there are more than 8,000 data centers worldwide that consume roughly 1 to 2% of the global energy use. From a geographic perspective, ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ could evolve into a major player for hyper-scale data centers, given its strategic location near large Asia Pacific markets. Could this growing industry benefit ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æns?

  • ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ rock samples were on hand at the recent carbon capture, use and storage town hall events in Anchorage and Kenai in January 2025. Photo by Amanda Byrd/ACEP.

    What carbon capture and storage might mean for ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ

    February 04, 2025

    We are facing evidence that we can't afford to ignore COâ‚‚ and that simply reducing emissions might not be enough to meet climate goals. Carbon isn't just found in the atmosphere or living things. Over 99% of the Earth's carbon is locked away in the rocks beneath our feet. Can we capture COâ‚‚ directly from power plants, industrial facilities, or even from the air itself, and store it permanently underground? This method could become an important new front in our fight against climate change, working alongside efforts to cut emissions.

  • Celebrating young researchers: Upward Bound T3 students present posters at the 2024 Rural Energy Conference

    December 06, 2024

    Eleven students from across ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ came together for a transformative research experience, showcasing their work at the 2024 ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ Renewable Energy Conference.

  • Man stands holding an award wearing a beaded vest.

    Bringing my first solar PV project on-line for my grandfather

    November 15, 2024

    For decades, solar energy was discounted in ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ. However, steep decline in solar photovoltaic prices and improved performance of batteries to store excess solar production has led to a mini-boom in recent solar PV deployments in ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ. Ed Bifelt, founder of ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ Native Renewable Industries, has been leading the charge for bringing the largest solar PV projects in the state to rural and remote microgrids. This is an excerpt from his chapter in the forthcoming University of ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ Press book ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ's Energy Innovators.

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