The results from the Chugach Electric Association Board election, which ended Friday, will bring one new board member on the board of directors, and leaves one incumbent in place.
Incumbent Sam Cason was bounced from the board by challenger by Dan Rogers. Incumbent Mark Wiggin retained his seat, pulling in more votes than challenger Todd Lindley.
Cason and Wiggins were both supported by major unions such as Laborers Local 341, IBEW, and the Alaska Center [for the Environment].
Final board election results announced during the Chugach Electric Association community appreciation event on Friday at Changepoint Alaska were:
- Mark Wiggin: 6,675
Dan Rogers: 6,449
Sam Cason: 5,892
Todd Lindley: 4,877
It was enough to flip the board to a more consumer-friendly outlook for the coming year, yet it was an illustration of just how effective the environmental lobby is at taking over and retaining seats on power association boards.
In recent years, the Alaska Center and Outside dark money have made taking over electric coops a priority for moving power away from some sources, like coal, natural gas, and hydropower, and toward solar and wind. Board elections are not covered by campaign finance laws, and have become a new battleground for the hardline environmentalists, who are increasingly focused on taking down hydropower projects.
Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna Valley’s power source, the Eklutna Hydroelectric Project, has been under siege by environmental groups that want the Eklutna Dam removed, even though it provides the lowest cost power in Southcentral Alaska, producing approximately 44% of Matanuska Electric Association’s renewable generation portfolio and approximately 25% of Chugach’s renewable generation portfolio.
The leftist Anchorage Assembly majority also wants the dam removed, but has been strategic in its timing, because the decision is ultimately made by the governor. The Assembly leadership wants to wait until there is a Democrat governor or at least until Gov. Mike Dunleavy is out of office.
The Assembly has been at odds with Chugach Electric Association, where board members set the policy recommendation; the Municipality itself does not have a vote. Last month, the CEA board sent a letter to the governor with its recommendation for the future of the dam, which is covered by a formal 1991 agreement with the federal government to review fish and wildlife concerns periodically.
CEA explained, “Although representatives of the MOA, through Anchorage Hydropower, have participated at every step in the process required by the 1991 Agreement for the past five years, the MOA is not participating in the submittal to the Governor. In October 2020, as part of the acquisition of Municipal Light & Power by Chugach, the MOA surrendered its voting rights on the Eklutna Hydroelectric Project and the 1991 Agreement matters until the MOA acquires necessary utility managerial and technical expertise that is approved by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA). That process has not yet occurred, so according to RCA’s orders, the Municipality continues to have no voting rights and cannot participate in or delay decisions related to implementation of the 1991 Agreement at this time.”
The letter and explanation are at this link.
The electric utility, which bought Anchorage Municipal Light and Power two years ago after voters approved a merger, has nearly 500 employees.
