lyeska Tire, a prominent business in Alaska’s tire and wheel industry, is expanding its presence, vision, and impact with the construction of a state-of-the-art retail location in Soldotna. The 7,200-square-foot, ten-bay facility positions the company to start 2025 with enhanced product offerings and services.

The new facility sits strategically next to Alyeska Tire’s current site on the Kenai Spur Highway. Aside from a few “hiccups here and there,” construction has gone “rather smoothly,” according to co-owner Craig Wortham.

“Planning the right of way and getting approval was a little frustrating,” he says. “Otherwise, LittleKnife [construction company] has made the entire project relatively easy for us.”

Alyeska Tire hired two extra people because of the Soldotna expansion—and to support the company’s longer-term plans to expand its footprint in the Alaska market while serving as a model for sustainable operations and investment in renewable energy.

Alyeska Tire first expanded to Soldotna in 1989. However, its service to Alaskans began long before then. The business was co-founded as “Alyeska Sales and Service” in 1978 by Jerry Wortham (Craig’s father) and the late George Navarre. The partners purchased a Chrysler dealership with the idea of selling used cars and auto parts. The business grew, and Jerry Wortham bought out Navarre’s half. In the early 2000s, the company’s name was changed to Alyeska Tire to better reflect its key focus: selling tires.

Now under the husband-and-wife team of Craig and Bethany Wortham, Alyeska Tire boasts eight facilities throughout the state. The dealership’s operational footprint features a distribution center, a truck tire center, and six retail locations. With a presence in Soldotna, Anchorage, Fairbanks, Kenai, Palmer, and Homer, Alyeska Tire offers a broad selection of tires and wheels, along with comprehensive maintenance services, ranging from tire changeovers and brake repairs to engine diagnostics and preventative maintenance.

Alyeska Tire’s recent expansion in Soldotna is expected to have a significant effect on the Kenai Peninsula. Increased inventory capacity and allows Alyeska Tire to serve a larger clientele. Additionally, the company will be converting the old building into storage for the new location next door. The construction project has already created several new jobs, and more opportunities are expected as Alyeska Tire continues to expand throughout the state.

As part of Phase 2 of the expansion, Alyeska Tire is planning to add electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.

“We anticipate that we will be able to introduce this to the public free of charge at the onset,” Bethany says. “We believe that the future of our industry will be dictated by electric vehicles. We want to be leaders, not followers. We want to inspire.”

Industry trends indicate that the future of transportation is electric. The EV market is rapidly evolving, with models available in a range of vehicle types, from compact cars and sedans to sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks. The federal government has set a goal to make half of all new vehicles sold in the United States in 2030 zero-emissions vehicles, according to the US Department of Transportation (DOT).

Alyeska Tire plans to install EV chargers at all its locations. The company recently added two at its Palmer location and is exploring a potential partnership with a firm that has conducted extensive analysis of chargers in Alaska’s extreme temperatures.

“As our world changes, we want to be a part of that change,” Craig says. “We are looking into a company [FLO] that has done substantial research and testing in Fairbanks—specifically testing the chargers in extreme temperatures ranging from -40°F to 122°F. The company uses aluminum to reduce corrosion and has a unique heating and cooling system. We’d like to partner with a company that understands the challenges Alaska presents.”

Alyeska Tire’s new retail location is designed to promote energy efficiency and sustainability. For example, the building incorporates features that reduce energy consumption and improve air quality. “We invested in higher R-value doors and utilized ‘smart door’ technology to be more efficient and consume less energy,” Craig says. “We have low-energy lighting—anticipated to save 50 percent on energy—and a modern HVAC system that recirculates air.”

Air handling is especially important in auto-servicing spaces. “Tire shops get extremely dusty, especially in the spring and summer. We are looking forward to good air quality in that facility and hope to install units like this in our other locations,” Craig says. “As well, the HVAC system has the capability to provide air conditioning; it seems each summer that becomes more and more desired as we deal with a changing climate in the North.”

Looking ahead, Alyeska Tire is contemplating the creation of a separate entity to underscore the company’s long-term vision to lead in sustainable practices and contribute positively to the community and environment. “We are currently hoping to do a spin-off company solely dedicated to the promotion of renewable energy,” Craig says.

For such an effort, Soldotna is a fine starting point. The local power utility, Homer Electric Association (HEA), operates the state’s largest renewable energy facility, the Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Project with 120 MW of installed capacity. HEA signed a purchase agreement last August that enables Renewable Independent Power Producers to build a 30 MW solar farm, the Puppy Dog Lake project in Nikiski, which will be the largest in Alaska to date.

In Soldotna, HEA installed Tesla Megapacks to demonstrate grid-connected battery storage under Alaska weather conditions. And Soldotna is where the state’s first Tesla Supercharger was installed, hosted by Addie Camp at Whistle Hill, a business that also wants to be at the forefront of the EV transition.

From solar panel technicians to wind turbine engineers, the demand for skilled workers in the renewable energy field is growing, driven by the global shift toward sustainability, Craig says. “The industry is innovative, constantly evolving, and offering numerous opportunities for research and development roles,” he adds. “We encourage change and adaptation.”

The transition to renewable energy is not just about environmental sustainability; it also fosters economic advancement, according to Craig. “Investing in renewable energy is a powerful driver for job creation,” he says. “The renewable energy sector is booming, and it’s creating a wide range of job opportunities.”

Studies show that clean energy investments create more jobs per dollar invested compared to fossil fuels, Craig emphasizes. “These jobs contribute to long-term economic stability and growth,” he says. “Reducing reliance on fossil fuels helps mitigate climate change and pollution, leading to long-term environmental and health benefits. Diversifying the energy mix enhances energy security by reducing dependency on fossil fuels.”

Craig says transitioning to renewable energy can reduce wholesale electricity costs by 20 percent to 80 percent in the medium term, depending on the region. This can lead to increased profitability for firms and upward pressure on wages. “Clean energy investments are booming, driven by industrial policies and market demand,” he says. “This attracts further investments and boosts economic growth. We are trying to nudge Soldotna and Alaska forward.”

The company’s decision to invest in the new facility is deeply rooted in the community’s backing of the project. “We have received unrivaled support from the residents there,” Craig says. “Without Soldotna’s investment in us, we would not be where we are today. We feel it is important to say ‘thank you’ for your support.”