Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP)

Background

The Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP) was founded in 2004 by energy advocate Chris Rose, and according to its website is a “coalition of small and large Alaska electric utilities, conservation and consumer groups, businesses and developers, Alaska Native organizations, and municipal and educational institutions” as of 2026. ¹ Several of its listed objectives include ” implementing policies to increase the production of renewable energy in Alaska” and encouraging “stakeholder unity” to support “energy efficiency” in the state.  ^{1 3}

REAP also provides education programs for K-12 “STEM programming, workforce collaborations and trainings,” policy advocacy to promote “inclusive energy” legislation within the state of Alaska, and working with local community organizations to promote its advocacy. ^{4 5}

Activities

The Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP) has helped established grant funds towards financing clean energy initiatives including the Renewable Energy Fund in 2007 as well as the Emerging Technology Energy Fund. REAP has also partnered with organizations and government entities to establish collaborative initiatives such as the Alaska Network for Energy Education and Employment (ANEE) with the Denali Commission as well as People in Power (PIP) with the U.S Department of Energy‘s Arctic Energy Office. Finally, REAP has promoted “Tour Green” advocacy to help state tourist businesses promote clean energy as well as publishing a “Renewable Energy Atlas” to list the state’s “renewable energy resources.” ⁶

According to its website, REAP has promoted several policy advocacy initiatives to advance green energy legislation for the state. Such examples include the 2020 passage by the state legislature to have an “Electric Reliability Organization (ERO)” oversee the state’s Railbelt utilities, pushing the state legislature in 2025 to advance a “Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)” for the state’s Railbelt system, and increasing “green financing” in the state through a “green bank.” ^{3 7 8 9}

Funding

The Renewable Energy Alaska Project has received grants from left-of-center foundations and state organizations. In 2021, the Alaska Conservation Foundation provided $30,000 for “woody biomass” energy initiatives and another $20,000 for general operating support. The Foundation also granted REAP $50,000 in 2020 for “the SSP Regional Energy Catalyst” and another $1,250 for event planning. ^{10 5}

Other funders include the True North Foundation, Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Harder Foundation, Advanced Energy United, Ocean Conservancy, Westwind Foundation, Educational Foundation of America, and the Rasmuson Foundation. ¹¹