HB196 • 2026

RENEWABLE ENERGY GRANT FUND

An Act relating to carbon offset revenue; and relating to the renewable energy grant fund.

Energy Taxes

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: REPRESENTATIVES BURKE, Fields
Last action: 2026-03-09
Official status: (H) FIN
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official title mentions 'carbon offset revenue,' but the provided bill excerpt does not define how this revenue is collected or deposited into the fund.

Renewable Energy Grant Fund Rules

This bill sets rules for how Alaska ranks and recommends renewable energy projects to help communities with high electricity costs.

What This Bill Does

Establishes a separate fund to finance certain energy projects in Alaska to provide affordable energy.
Requires officials to create rules that rank project applications based on need, cost, and feasibility.
Gives the most priority to areas where residents pay more for energy than other parts of the state.
Provides technical assistance to communities with fewer than 2,000 people so they can prepare grant applications.
Asks officials to send a report to lawmakers each year listing which projects should get money first.

Who It Names or Affects

Alaska communities that apply for renewable energy project grants
Small towns with populations under 2,000 people receiving technical assistance
The advisory committee and Department of Natural Resources staff who review applications
State lawmakers who receive annual reports on grant recommendations

Terms To Know

Renewable energy grant fund: A separate pool of money set aside to pay for certain energy projects in Alaska.
Advisory committee: A group that helps officials decide which energy projects should get funding first and elects a chairperson.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not say how much money is in the fund or where it comes from.
It lists when reports are due to lawmakers but does not list specific dates for awarding grants.
The text mentions carbon offset revenue in the title but does not explain how that money connects to this grant program.

Bill History

2026-03-09 1804
(H) REFERRED TO FINANCE
2026-03-09 1804
(H) FN2: INDETERMINATE(DNR)
2026-03-09 1804
(H) FN1: (CED)
2026-03-09 1804
(H) DP: COSTELLO, RUFFRIDGE, KOPP, HOLLAND, MEARS
2026-03-09 1804
(H) ENE RPT CS(ENE) NEW TITLE 5DP
2026-03-05 Text
(H) Moved CSHB 196(ENE) Out of Committee
2026-03-05 Text
(H) ENERGY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
2025-04-29 Min
(H) Minutes (HENE)
2025-04-29 Text
(H) Heard & Held
2025-04-29 Text
(H) ENERGY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
2025-04-24 Min
(H) Minutes (HENE)
2025-04-24 Text
(H) Scheduled but Not Heard
2025-04-24 Text
(H) ENERGY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
2025-04-15 757
(H) ENE, FIN
2025-04-15 757
(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Official Summary Text

RENEWABLE ENERGY GRANT FUND
An Act relating to carbon offset revenue; and relating to the renewable energy grant fund.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB0196b -1- CSHB 196(ENE)
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS0502\H

CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 196(ENE)

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY THE HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ENERGY

Offered: 3/9/26
Referred: Finance

Sponsor(s): REPRESENTATIVES BURKE, Fields
A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to the renewable energy grant fund and recommendation program." 1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 2
* Section 1. AS 42.45.045(a) is amended to read: 3
(a) A renewable energy grant fund is established as a separate fund to finance 4
certain energy projects in Alaska for the purpose of providing affordable energy to 5
all communities in the state. 6
* Sec. 2. AS 42.45.045(d) is amended to read: 7
(d) The authority shall, in consultation with the advisory committee 8
established under (i) of this section and the Department of Natural Resources, 9
(1) develop a methodology for determining the order of projects that 10
may receive assistance, including separate requirements for grant eligibility, and adopt 11
regulations identifying criteria to evaluate the benefit and feasibility of projects for 12
which an applicant applies for support from the legislature, with the most weight being 13
given to projects that serve any area in which the average cost of energy to each 14
resident of the area exceeds the average cost to each resident of other areas of the 15
34-LS0502\H
CSHB 196(ENE) -2- HB0196b
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

state, and significant weight being given to a statewide balance of grant funds and to 1
the amount of matching funds an applicant is able to make available; 2
(2) provide technical assistance to communities with a population 3
of less than 2,000 to help the community prepare and submit grant applications 4
for projects; 5
(3) annually solicit and review grant applications for projects; 6
(4) make recommendations to the legislature for renewable power 7
production reimbursement grants; and 8
(5) [(3)] not later than 10 days after the first day of each regular 9
legislative session, submit to the legislature a report summarizing and reviewing each 10
grant application submitted under this section and a recommended priority for 11
awarding grants. 12
* Sec. 3. AS 42.45.045 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 13
(m) The advisory committee appointed under (i) of this section shall elect a 14
chair from among its members. The chair serves for a term of two years. The chair 15
may not serve for consecutive terms. After a year of not serving as chair, the member 16
is eligible for election as chair again. The advisory committee shall meet at the call of 17
the chair. 18