Launch Alaska, a nonprofit known for supporting climate and energy-focused startups, has filed a lawsuit against the US Navy’s Office of Naval Research, claiming the Trump Administration unlawfully terminated a $5 million federal grant.
In a complaint filed in US District Court in Anchorage, the organization’s lawyer John R. Crone alleges that the Office of Naval Research ended the funding without substantive explanation or due process, causing immediate harm to its operations and threatening its future viability.
According to the lawsuit, the abrupt cancellation could lead to widespread layoffs, broken contracts, and the potential shutdown of Launch Alaska’s signature accelerator program, an initiative that connects tech startups with Alaska utilities, infrastructure providers, and government partners to pilot cutting-edge energy solutions. The organization appears to have less than a dozen employees.
Launch Alaska was blindsided by the Navy’s decision, the group says.
Isaac Vanderburg, CEO of Launch Alaska, leads the organization, which has become a player in fostering innovation in renewable energy, climate resilience, and Arctic technologies in the state, and also outside the state. In fact, it appears most of the group’s business is outside the state.
The nonprofit says it helps attract startups from across the country to test and deploy solutions in Alaska’s challenging environment.
The grant was intended to support the expansion of those efforts, which align with Department of Defense priorities in energy security and Arctic readiness. The complaint argues that canceling the funding undermines national interests as well as local economic development.
The case was originally before US District Judge Sharon Gleason, who recused herself. Honorable G. Murray Snow is the new judge.
It bothers me that our government funds so many things on the back of taxpayers. In addition & not that it matters because nothing should be funded by taxpayers without their informed consent, almost all of the funding comes without accountability, let alone oversight. I’m totally fine with cutting grants because guess what else happens. Not only do taxpayers fund the grants given to so many companies & “non-profits,” but when anything of value comes from those grants, we pay for it again when we want to access the good or service that we already paid to create.
Entitled much? You’d think any .gov contract can be canceled at any time. But, we all figured it would not take too long for an AK org, especially a member of the climate cult, to start using the communists’ playbook of suing at budget cut decisions. Next up: to see which judge they’ll shop to get the favored result before it is overturned by the Supreme Court. It’s all so predictable. And all such a waste of time.
Oh boo hoo another green climate hoax company from Obama error lost its hand outs. What a shame.
Launch Alaska sounds like a grifter.
When you’re on the government dole, it’s hard to stop. This $5 million grant is very likely just a tiny tip of a huge iceberg of money-wasting government grants that do nothing more than enrich the recipient company’s executives. If you want to argue about it, then show me some positive results of these giveaways.
These clowns don’t do anything useful. IIRC they’ve been named on MRAK prior when they drove electric vehicles up the haul road as if that’s proof of concept and of benefit to someone. When they were castigated for claiming that as a win of some kind one of their boobs attempted to defend their boondoggle and it amounted to something of an ‘oh-huh’ retort.
Completely useless operation that exists parasitically. I’d bet a nickel that our swamp leader Senator Sullivan’s money leaking NGO funding arm is probably stupid enough to have ok’d a grant request from Launch Alaska.
Launch Alaska exists to capture money from others, nothing more.
We need to review the books of this company and see where the money is actually going. It’s more than likely being funneled off to NGOs and other political activist groups outside the state.
Grant is grant.
Entitlement is entitlement.
Not the same thing
When you are sucking on the government tit and the money runs out, you should expect they aren’t going to print more just to keep your paycheck coming. Time to go to work in the private sector. Check with Musk, he might be hiring 🙂 About time some of these “non profits” that are make work projects for the people running them get the government money clawed back. Executive compensation for 2023 for Launch Alaska was $932,015.00. Non profit my butt, someone sure is profiting.
Thank goodness this grant was cancelled. Launch Alaska is nothing but another NGO/Special Interest group like REAP or The Alaska Center for the Environment.
I can only hope more restrictions come on solar and wind.
The grantor of free money ALWAYS has the right to change their minds. To claim that there was no due process is legalese for I need a reason to sue.
The Green Scam perpetrated on America by the Obamait’s from 2021 to 2025 is the reality that is starting to sink in with American public. Lies and scare tactics based on junk science.
So the NGO cry babies suing about loosing funding that is based on a lie gets no sympathy nor do they deserve any.
Good No more wasted money on stupid, Judge Sharon knows this will be a lose for the group so she bowed out
Non-Profit scrambling to protect their profits
You say you do what?
The citizens tax money being used for your BS double speak.
If your doing something useful investors should be lining up.
Did you say, “Lunch Alaska”? Sounds like a Democrat grift to me . . . “fostering innovation in renewable energy, climate resilience, and Arctic technologies in the state”. Renewables, hah! 98% subsidized by taxpayers, intermittent energy, destabilizing the power grid, and 77% failure rate. Glad President Trump’s in office. And the Dems bitch about spending in the BBB.
See Alaska Corporation database searching for “Launch Alaska”
1. Launch Alaska Fund LLC Entity #: 10038255 (made up of 7 private individuals, Alaska Accelerator Fund, LLC (Entity#: 10017095), ALASKA GROWTH CAPITAL and COOK INLET REGION, INC. (Entity#: 11044D).
2. Launch Alaska Fund II LLC (Entity #: 10067229)
3. Launch Alaska (Entity #: 10031740).
Even the LLCs have LLCs/Corporation members to chase down if you are so inclined.
So many fingers in this non-profit monstrosity depending on the $5,000,000 grant it makes your head spin.
My experience w/ them has been that they ask for free stuff under the guise of having been working on a great concept and later you find out that the pseudo opportunity is thousands of miles away and for them, not for you. Their MO is to churn an appearance of progress and at their core lies a Garrett Elder style scam that consumes but does not provide merit, ever. All thieves belong in prison.
CIRI is a principal in Launch Alaska?
Time to question the policies of your Electrical Provider! They are not representing YOUR best interests.
Check this out:
‘https://gettr.com/post/p3mzyeic91f
So glad Trump got rid of another major waste of tax payer funded project!! STOP THE WASTE DEMOCRATS!!
If it was viable and worthwhile, this entity should be able to sell its services for profit or non-profit sustainability like the rest of us. Stop leaching off the American taxpayer.
Sounds like a CEO is. worried his money laundering grift is no longer being taxpayer funded. How much has Launch Alaska funneled to ACT Blue to get money to Murkowski and the Dems?