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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 source material does not provide specific information about day-to-day management of the fund, denial processes for grant applications, or funding amounts. The candidate explanation includes details that are not supported by the provided official bill text.

Renewable Energy Grant Fund Act

This act establishes a renewable energy grant fund to support affordable energy projects in Alaska and sets rules for how grants are awarded.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates a separate fund called the Renewable Energy Grant Fund to help pay for energy projects that make energy more affordable across Alaska.
  • Sets up rules for deciding which projects get money from the fund, giving extra consideration to areas where people pay high prices for energy and those with smaller populations.
  • Requires the authority to give technical help to small communities (less than 2,000 people) in preparing grant applications.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Communities across Alaska that apply for grants from the Renewable Energy Grant Fund.
  • The Department of Natural Resources and the authority responsible for managing the fund.
  • Small communities with populations under 2,000 people seeking technical assistance.

Terms To Know

Renewable Energy Grant Fund
A special fund created to provide money for energy projects that make electricity and other forms of power more affordable in Alaska.
Advisory Committee
A group appointed to give advice on how the Renewable Energy Grant Fund should be managed and used.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify who will oversee or manage the fund day-to-day.
  • It is unclear what happens if a community's application for a grant is denied.
  • There are no details on how much money will go into the Renewable Energy Grant Fund.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-09 1804

    (H) REFERRED TO FINANCE

  2. 2026-03-09 1804

    (H) FN2: INDETERMINATE(DNR)

  3. 2026-03-09 1804

    (H) FN1: (CED)

  4. 2026-03-09 1804

    (H) DP: COSTELLO, RUFFRIDGE, KOPP, HOLLAND, MEARS

  5. 2026-03-09 1804

    (H) ENE RPT CS(ENE) NEW TITLE 5DP

  6. 2026-03-05 Text

    (H) Moved CSHB 196(ENE) Out of Committee

  7. 2026-03-05 Text

    (H) ENERGY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120

  8. 2025-04-29 Text

    (H) Heard & Held

  9. 2025-04-29 Text

    (H) ENERGY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120

  10. 2025-04-24 Text

    (H) Scheduled but Not Heard

  11. 2025-04-24 Text

    (H) ENERGY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120

  12. 2025-04-15 757

    (H) ENE, FIN

  13. 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