Trump executive order puts dozens of clean energy projects in rural Alaska in limbo [View all]

Over $130 million in grants allocated to clean energy projects in rural Alaska are now frozen, following one of President Donald Trump’s executive orders. The projects – which include hydroelectric dams, wind turbines and solar energy systems – aim to lower energy costs in rural communities and bring them additional revenue to support crucial infrastructure.

Trump signed dozens of executive orders during his first day in office, including one that freezes funding from the federal Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. A section of that order mandated that federal agencies pause the disbursement of funds appropriated through those acts.

That’s created uncertainty for many Alaska projects — including two large wind turbines slated to be built in Kotzebue. Those turbines, along with the community’s existing renewable energy assets, would allow the community to produce more than half of their energy from solar and wind, said Chad Nordlum, the energy project manager for the Native Village of Kotzebue. He said it’s unclear now if the funding freeze will affect the project’s timeline.

Read more at: https://alaskapublic.org/news/alaska-desk/2025-01-24/trump-executive-order-puts-dozens-of-clean-energy-projects-in-rural-alaska-in-limbo