Inside Alaska Business
Alaska LNG

In a December 23 filing, the Alaska LNG team submitted an additional 2,000 pages of charts, data, maps, and explanations to answer questions from federal regulators for the Alaska LNG final EIS, which has a scheduled publication date this month.

If there are no delays in the process, FERC commissioners could vote on the project application as early as June 4. alaska-lng.com

Railbelt Utilities

All six Railbelt utilities (Chugach Electric Association, Golden Valley Electric Association, Homer Electric Association, Matanuska Electric Association, Municipal Light & Power, and Seward Electric) have signed a MOU to move forward with the Railbelt Reliability Council, which will define and enforce electric reliability standards; coordinate joint planning through an integrated resource planning process; and ensure consistent interconnection protocols for utilities, independent power producers, and others who would like to use the grid.

The utilities plan to file the executed MOU with the Regulatory Commission of Alaska by the end of the year. alaskapower.org/rrc/

Ahtna, Incorporated

Ahtna Netiye’ subsidiary Ahtna Petrochemicals Products acquired 23 acres of North Slope pad space to support operational and logistical needs of the oil and gas industry. The pad (previously owned by AIDEA and available for leasing) is located less than five miles from the Deadhorse airport with fifteen acres of gravel.
ahtna.com

60Hertz
Impact investor Factor[e] Ventures closed a deal with 60Hertz, the first maintenance management software designed specifically for people managing remote energy assets such as microgrids, in December. The Alaska-based startup, which launched in 2017, has developed a cloud-based application to train and assist operators who maintain expensive, critical assets in isolated locations. The 60Hertz platform connects remote operators to a peer network, provides in-app trainings for “upskilling” on the job, and assists with change management. The platform first piloted in fifteen rural villages in Alaska in 2019 and now is commercially deployed in twenty-eight locations across the state. 60hertzenergy.com
BBNC | DMV
On January 13, in the village of New Stuyahok located in the Bristol Bay region, residents had the opportunity to test for their driver’s license and get their REAL ID, the first instance of a mobile DMV deployed in Alaska. The State of Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles and Bristol Bay Native Corporation spent a year coordinating to make the mobile DMV possible; with rural Alaska residents typically facing several obstacles to get their driver’s license, many people go without, limiting their eligibility for employment and training opportunities. bbnc.net | doa.alaska.gov/dmv/
The Wilson Agency

The Wilson Agency and Albers & Company (both of which were acquired, along with ConnectHR, by Alera Group in 2018) have changed their name and branding to Wilson Albers, an Alera Group Company. As an Alera Group company, Wilson Albers offers the resources, technical expertise, and best practices of a national firm while maintaining its personalized services and local relationships. wilsonalbers.com

Alaska USA

Alaska USA signed a definitive agreement to acquire TCF Bank’s seven branches in the greater Phoenix, Arizona, market, along with deposits and certain related assets. As part of the agreement, Alaska USA will extend employment offers to all TCF Bank team members who work at the seven branches.

TCF Bank branches add to the eight branches that Alaska USA currently operates in the Phoenix market, which will total fifteen branches following the acquisition. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter. alaskausa.org

Fred Meyer

Fred Meyer of Palmer’s efforts to feature Alaska Grown products in creative displays and to promote Alaska Grown-labeled products has won it the “Golden Carrot” in the third annual Alaska Grown $5 Challenge campaign.

The $5 Alaska Grown Challenge encourages Alaskans to spend $5 each week on Alaska Grown products, including vegetables, dairy products, meat, and grains during the five months when such products are in season and available. The $5 Challenge has succeeded in raising the visibility and sales of food raised in Alaska, by Alaskans, for Alaskans. Participating retailers included Carrs Safeway, Walmart, Fred Meyer, Three Bears, and Alaska Commercial Co. fredmeyer.com

South 32 | Trilogy Metals
South32 has exercised its option to acquire a 50 percent interest in a joint venture with Trilogy Metals that will own the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects (UKMP) located in northwest Alaska.

Trilogy Metals will contribute all its assets associated with the UKMP and South32 will contribute $145 million to the joint venture. Establishment of the joint venture follows an initial exploration partnership between South32 and Trilogy Metals over three field seasons to advance both parties’ geological understanding of the UKMP. south32.net | trilogymetals.com

Back to Issue