Accelerate Alaska Showcases ACEP on Decarbonization Innovation
Last week, over 500 people attended the Accelerate Alaska conference at the Anchorage Museum, where attendees heard from entrepreneurs, thought leaders, strategists and visionaries on how the 49th state is a pioneer on multiple fronts spanning energy, transportation, the blue economy and more. The ultimate goal of the conference was to inspire, engage and innovate to transform an economy often viewed as being on the northern edge of the world into a center of commerce and sustainability.
Though the event spanned entrepreneurs pitching everything from dog treats made from fishing industry waste to new airlines designed to resolve transportation challenges for those living in the circumpolar Nnorth, it was the energy track that brought ACEP to the main stage.
ACEP’s Iinterim Ddirector Jeremy Kasper was invited to lead the energy track component of the conference, which explored northern energy opportunities through the lens of economics, renewability and rural life.
“Accelerate Alaska was an opportunity to highlight all of the innovation taking place around Alaska including on energy systems,” said Kasper. “I was thrilled that as the energy track lead, I was able to help send the message that Alaska is where people should be looking for solutions to present-day energy challenges.”
For Accelerate Alaska conference director Joey Bosworth, it was crucial to the success of the conference that the right track leads were chosen to help with the recruiting of speakers and facilitation during each session.
“We were lucky enough to have Jeremy Kasper recruiting speakers for and guiding the narrative of this year's Accelerate Alaska Eenergy track,” said Bosworth. “Getting leaders like Kasper to participate means we can showcase not only exciting projects, but, just as importantly, a well-informed perspective on Alaska's energy future.”
ACEP’s Peter Asmus, who also serves as executive director of the Alaska Microgrid Group, spoke to the crowd about how the world of energy is becoming increasingly decentralized and that how this shift has already been underway in Alaska for some time. “Alaska leads the world in microgrid capacity, the majority of which are remote power systems that mirror infrastructure designs most common in emerging economies,” said Asmus.
ACEP research faculty Erin Whitney brought hydrogen into the spotlight, presenting on how hydrogen can play an increasingly significant role not only in Alaska’s energy future, but also as a long-term energy option around the world.
You can learn more about Accelerate Alaska at https://www.accelerateak.com.
ACEP Iinterim Ddirector Jeremy Kasper speaks before the 2022 Accelerate: Alaska audience. Photo by Joey Bosworth.