Inside Alaska Business
Renewable IPP
A planned solar farm on the Kenai Peninsula would, by itself, triple the output of all solar panels in Alaska. Renewable Independent Power Producers agreed with Homer Electric Association to build a 45 MW solar farm in Nikiski, enough to power 9,000 of the utility’s customers on the Kenai Peninsula. The independent power producer runs an 8.5 MW solar farm in Houston, currently the state’s largest. Estimated to cost tens of millions of dollars (mostly private financing plus a $2 million grant from the Alaska Energy Authority), the project is slated to be operational in 2027.
Denali Universal Services
A team of investors, including CEO Maria Bourne, took over Denali Universal Services (DUS) from its parent company, French conglomerate Sodexo. Formerly a joint venture of Sodexo and Doyon, Limited, the company split away from the Alaska Native corporation for the Interior region while maintaining offices in Doyon’s South Anchorage building. Bourne says going independent enables more agility as the company aims to grow nationwide. DUS provides facility management (housekeeping, camp catering, and sundry support tasks) and security services (including emergency medical services and firefighting) to private and public sector clients.
Narwhal
Oil and gas leases northwest of Prudhoe Bay surrounding near offshore leases relinquished by Shell would form a new unit called Narwhal. Anchorage-based Narwhal and its designated operator, EE Partners, asked state regulators to form a unit from 77,848 submerged acres encircling Shell Offshore’s former 81,000-acre leasehold in West Harrison Bay. A small company majority owned by a Texas family, Narwhal submitted a five-year plan Oil and gas leases northwest of Prudhoe Bay surrounding near offshore leases relinquished by Shell would form a new unit called Narwhal. Anchorage-based Narwhal and its designated operator, EE Partners, asked state regulators to form a unit from 77,848 submerged acres encircling Shell Offshore’s former 81,000-acre leasehold in West Harrison Bay. A small company majority owned by a Texas family, Narwhal submitted a five-year plan for two to four exploration wells. Shell previously rebuffed Narwhal’s proposal to purchase or jointly explore West Harrison Bay. In May, Shell surrendered its leases back to the state, and in August the state approved the company’s voluntary termination of the unit.
ConocoPhillips Alaska
Fabrication finished ahead of schedule on the largest operations center module for ConocoPhillips’ Willow project, allowing it to be barged to the North Slope before summer ended. The company decided late last year to proceed with Willow and immediately began construction. In the first half of 2024, the company invested $1.4 billion in Willow—part of the Bear Tooth Unit in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska—and the Nuna project, a new prospect in the Kuparuk River Unit. ConocoPhillips anticipates first oil from Willow in 2029.
SEARHC
SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) Wrangell Medical Center achieved full accreditation status from DNV Healthcare USA. Accreditation involves an extensive review of clinical practices, patient care, safety protocols, and operational procedures. Full accreditation signifies that SEARHC Wrangell Medical Center meets or exceeds requirements set forth by DNV while motivating SEARHC to strive for excellence across all twenty-seven communities it serves.
Copper River Seafoods
The Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development’s Made in Alaska program named Copper River Seafoods the Manufacturer of the Year for 2023. Founded in 1996, Copper River Seafoods has grown into a leader in Alaska wild seafood, employing more than 700 people at its peak summer salmon season. The Cordova-based company networks with fishermen throughout Alaska to purchase halibut, cod, rockfish, and salmon to deliver to customers around the world.
Bushes Bunches
Longtime Palmer-area farming family Bruce and Vickie Bush are the 2024 Farm Family of the Year. Bruce Bush’s father bought a Matanuska-Susitna Borough farm in 1956. Bruce began farming at a young age, and he developed a new variety, Bushes Peanut Potato, which has since become very popular at the Bushes Bunches produce stand. He helped create the Farm Family of the Year award, chosen by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Agriculture and the Alaska State Fair, twenty-five years ago. “It’s incredibly appropriate that Bushes Bunches has won the silver anniversary award for their decades of dedication to agriculture in Alaska,” said Governor Mike Dunleavy.
Alaska Resource Education
The National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum in Leadville, Colorado honored Alaska Resource Education (ARE) with the Prazen Living Legend of Mining award. “Alaska Resource Education was selected for this award for their outstanding work in educating students about the mining and resource development industries,” says award committee chair Steven Hoerger. ARE Executive Director Ella Ede adds, “This award shows the hard work and dedication of our team and partners who strive to inspire and inform the next generation about the importance of Alaska’s natural resources.” ARE, a nonprofit founded in 1982, is accepting the award at a hall of fame induction gala this month.