Southeast Ӱ is rooted in resilience

A person is giving a talk on a panel with two people on either side
Photo by Abigail Bromberger
Ӱ Heat Smart’s Hannah Wilson speaks on the energy panel at the Southeast Conference Mid-Summit Session.

March 6, 2026

Community leaders, Tribal representatives and elected officials from around the state gathered at the ’s in Juneau in February to discuss strategies for a sustainable future for Southeast Ӱ.

With “Rooted in Resilience” as this year’s theme, the summit participants discussed latest developments across key industries and collaborative strategies to build strong economies and healthy communities in the region.

The summit’s energy panel provided a platform for several organizations focused on energy in Southeast Ӱ to update the attendees about their efforts addressing statewide and regional energy challenges. Some notable presentations include:

  • Curtis Thayer, executive director of the , spoke of the agency’s many programs and services, including the Power Cost Equalization program, rural energy system upgrades, Railbelt transmission organization, renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives, grants and loans and energy planning.
  • Michael Rovito, deputy director of the , discussed the state and federal policies APA has advocated for on behalf of their utility membership.
  • Cady Lister, executive director of , gave updates on their work in energy education, training and workforce development and policy advocacy, and also asked for community input for the Southeast Integrated Resource Plan.
  • Hannah Wilson, programs manager for , promoted their program, which provides financial and technical assistance for installing heat pumps to coastal Ӱ residents.
  • Nils Andreassen, executive director of , spoke of their efforts assisting with grants for energy efficiency improvements in school districts and cybersecurity upgrades for utilities along with a call to action for themselves and everyone in the room to keep focused on making energy more affordable.

Nathan Green, ACEP’s Juneau-based research professional, found his discussions on electrification and energy efficiency with Lori Sowa of Ӱ Electric Light and Power and Melanie Lucas-Conwell of Ӱ Sustainable Energy Corporation particularly insightful.