Holdmann Named on Energy Security Task Force

April 03, 2023

Last week, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy revised the Alaska Energy Security Task Force and announced its members. The governor issued Administrative Order 344 on Feb. 23, 2023, establishing the task force. The group has been revised to include the Lieutenant Governor as the chair and add an additional public seat, increasing the number of voting members from 13 to 15. The Energy Security Task Force, as revised in this administrative order, focuses on Alaska’s efforts to reduce the cost of energy for Alaskans.

“Alaska is an oil and gas giant, but we are all in for every form of energy – wind, solar, hydro, tidal, geothermal, micronuclear, and hydrogen,” said Gov. Dunleavy. “I have full confidence in these members of the Energy Security Task Force to identify tactics to reduce the cost of energy for Alaskans during this exciting time of energy innovation in Alaska.

“Addressing the challenge of providing affordable, reliable energy to our communities is vital to Alaska’s long-term economic and social well-being,” said Gwen Holdmann, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation & Industry Partnerships at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. “I am honored to work with this diverse group of Alaskans to develop a sustainable path toward energy independence for the state. Alaskans are innovators, and I believe that in working together, we can come up with creative strategies to meet our energy needs for today, and for the future.”

The task force shall deliver an initial report to the governor by May 19, 2023, and the task force will sunset on Oct. 31, 2023.