Anchorage eyes new hydropower

Scheduled Date: February 28, 2026
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Anchorage is running short on gas.

Chugach Electric is exploring four new hydropower projects as the region faces a looming natural gas shortage. The utility is looking at water as a long-term backup to keep lights on in Southcentral Alaska.

Right now, most of Anchorage’s power still comes from natural gas. But supply concerns have pushed leaders to look harder at renewable options that can produce steady energy year round.

Hydropower is one of the few local resources that can scale without importing fuel. If even one of these projects moves forward, it could shift how Anchorage powers homes and businesses in the next decade.

For consumers, this is about stability. For developers and large energy users, it is about long-term certainty in a tight energy market.