ACEP Director Testifies at Cordova Field Hearing
ACEP Director, Gwen Holdmann, was invited by Senator Lisa Murkowski to testify before
the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources during a field hearing in
Cordova on June 10th, 2017. Cordova has been a leading community in working toward
solutions that can define Alaska’s energy future.
The theme of the field hearing was Innovation in Action - Microgrids and Hybrid Energy
Systems.
In her testimony, Holdmann gave many examples of progress made in microgrid technology
in Alaska including substantive progress in developing the Alaska Hub for Energy Innovation
and Deployment (AHEID) where Alaska can serve as a ‘living laboratory’.
In support of the AHEID Program, the Office of Naval Â鶹¹ÙÍø has committed to fund
an energy ecosystem in Alaska incorporating energy research conducted through ACEP.
ACEP is joined in this endeavor by the (ANEEE) managed by (REAP) and Launch Alaska, a business accelerator specifically working on energy issues.
Holdmann ended her testimony by stating “Alaskan communities live and breathe change
while residing in some of the most adverse conditions in the nation. This enterprising
spirit has developed in Alaskans a finely honed early-adopter skillset. This skill
set, coupled with the widespread experience in dealing with constrained resources
and challenging operational conditions, can provide an excellent venue for hardening
U.S. technologies prior to deployment in emerging markets.â€
Photo by Latitude 64 Photography.