Energy innovation drives Architect Aaron Cooke’s work at NREL’s Cold Climate Housing Research Campus in Fairbanks. In designing resilient buildings for extreme climates, Cooke provides expertise that’s transforming remote U.S. communities. Soon, he will extend his expertise to another Arctic nation through the Embassy Science Fellow program.

In May, he travels to Iceland to spend 60 days working with the U.S. Embassy Reykjavik, the Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network and University of Akureyri, North Iceland as the first DOE fellow to enhance U.S.-Icelandic energy research ties. He will develop a roadmap that identifies shared Arctic energy policy priorities, future energy demand and security, sustainable resource use, energy conversion and increased energy technology R&D. The embassy hopes that Cooke’s energy roadmap will further Iceland’s goals to secure major investments in energy production and electricity infrastructure.

AEO looks forward to the insight that Cooke brings back about Iceland’s energy priorities and how its partnership with the United States will further both Arctic countries’ energy goals. Read more in our blog.

_{Photo of Aaron Cooke above is courtesy of Molly Rettig, NREL.}

Beginning with a prayer and a dedication to Inupiat leader and long-time AFN Board member, Dr. Oliver Aveogan Leavitt, the conference kept the focus on Alaska Natives’ contributions, traditions and priorities. It ended with a special dance performance from Yees Ku.oo (meaning “new people/new beginning”) comprised of many indigenous nations including Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian. With the permission of tribal elders, AFN members presented Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan and three Air Force generals with warrior names memorializing their ancestors.

Learn more about AFN about its history as the largest statewide Native organization in Alaska or watch a video about AFN's Land Claims Foundation. 

AEO’s new director, Dr. Erin Whitney, joined Alaska federal colleagues in shedding insight into the federal funding process during a panel presentation on March 31 at the Arctic Encounter Symposium, the largest annual Arctic policy event in the United States. For the last 10 years, the event has confronted the United States and global partners’ shared Arctic interests and concerns.

Led by the Denali Commission’s Director of Programs, Jocelyn Fenton, the panel also included the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s Amy Holman, EPA's Tami Fordham, the Department of the Interior’s Raina Thiele, and USDA-Rural Development-Alaska Director Julia Hnilicka. Together, they discussed ideas for on Federal agency coordination and support for Sustainable Arctic communities. (See details on the March 31 panel on page 36 in this agenda link).

Another Arctic Encounter highlight was DOE Under Secretary for Science and Innovation, Dr. Geraldine Richmond (on the left in the above photo), serving on an “Innovating Now for the Future” panel on March 29 moderated by Launch Alaska CEO Isaac Vanderburg. (See page 7 in the Arctic Encounter agenda.) Dr. Richmond joined a distinct international group including Dr. Jennifer Spence, Senior Fellow of the Arctic Initiative; Matt Perkins, CEO of Alaska Renewables; Kiera O’Brien, Public Policy Representative from TOTAL Energies; and Gwen Holdmann, Associate Vice Chancellor of Research at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Together, they discussed innovations in energy, industry, policy, and decarbonization for the Arctic region. This included insights into how to balance environmental protection with diverse resource development in the region.

See highlights of the 2023 event on the Arctic Encounter YouTube channel. 

What is Alaska’s potential for critical minerals mining and carbon management? This is the question explored by industry stakeholders and government leaders at two DOE workshops on Feb. 21 and 22 at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage.

AEO Director Dr. Erin Whitney joined Brad Crabtree, DOE’s Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), in leading both workshops. Their goals were to underscore DOE’s commitment to helping Alaska and the Arctic region capitalize on energy and mineral resources and address climate challenges, while advancing the nation’s energy security and climate goals.

During the workshops, industry, tribal, academic and government stakeholders learned about current DOE commitments that include the Carbon Ore Rare Earth and Critical Minerals (CORE-CM) Initiative. This initiative, jointly funded with the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, includes 13 projects and $19 million to assess critical mineral and rare earth element capacity across Alaska and various other basins.  

Additionally, DOE has partnered with Alaska’s only operating coal mine—Usibelli Coal Mine--to develop a business plan to co-produce rare earth elements and critical minerals.

Read more about DOE’s FECM programs here. See the agenda and Carbon Management workshop materials. See the agenda and Critical Mineral workshop materials.