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Governor Dunleavy and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to Kick Off Third Annual Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference

Mar 28, 2024

Governor Mike Dunleavy is excited to welcome world-renowned experts, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and researchers from across the energy spectrum to the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage May 21-23 for the third annual Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference.

“The past two years have established the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference as a can’t-miss event for anyone who wants to envision the future of energy not only in Alaska, but across the globe,” said Governor Mike Dunleavy. “Alaska’s legacy of responsibly developing natural resources paired with the unique energy needs for remote communities across the state makes Alaska the ideal setting for implementing sustainable energy solutions for the future.”

Underscoring the theme “Transforming Energy Now for the Next 50 Years,” the 2024 Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference will focus on a wide range of topics including the future of oil and gas, mining and critical minerals, renewable energy advancements, hydrogen and advanced nuclear potential, CCUS (carbon capture, utilization, and storage), AI integration, and more.

The Department of Energy Arctic Energy Office will host Governor Dunleavy and Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta, during the pre-conference opening lunch on May 20 to kick off “Connecting the Arctic – Joining Forces to Secure Energy Solutions.” The pre-conference event will continue that afternoon featuring the new Arctic Ambassadors selected by the Arctic Energy Office representing the 12 regions under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, followed by a reception hosted by Launch Alaska at Williwaw.

For the main conference May 21-23, Governor Dunleavy is pleased to welcome a powerhouse lineup of speakers including Martina Strong, U.S. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates; Dr. Jeff Waksman of the Department of Defense; Rachel Jacobson, Assistant Secretary of the US Army; Martin Keller, Director of the National Renewable Energy Lab; Walt Hufford, REPSOL Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs; Jeff Mikulina, Executive Director of the Hawaii Climate Coalition, and many more.

New this year, the first-ever Alaska Sustainable Home Show will debut on May 23 in conjunction with the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference. This free public event will showcase hardware and services offering everything needed to live efficiently in Alaska’s unique conditions.

To register, view the latest agenda, learn more about the speakers, sponsor or exhibit, and sign up for email updates, please visit

Featured Speakers:
Danielle Smith
Premier of Alberta and Minister of Intergovernmental Relations
Danielle Smith was sworn in as Premier of Alberta and Minister of Intergovernmental Relations on October 11, 2022. Ms. Smith has had a lifelong interest in Alberta public policy and finding the right balance between free enterprise and individual freedom, and the role of government.
Martina A. Strong
U.S. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates,
U.S. Department of State
Ambassador Martina Strong leads the U.S. Mission to the United Arab Emirates. A career Senior Foreign Service Officer, Ambassador Strong previously served as Chargé d’Affaires in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as Deputy Chief of Mission in Bulgaria. Her diplomatic career has spanned 27 years and included two assignments in Iraq. Earlier in her career, Ambassador Strong spent two years as Director of the National Security Council at the White House, where she headed the U.S. government’s multi-agency effort to organize the 2004 G-8 Summit in Sea Island, as well as two other G-8 Summits and various multilateral meetings. Ambassador Strong is the recipient of the Meritorious Presidential Rank Award, numerous Department of State awards, and both the Meritorious Civilian Service Award and the Superior Civilian Service Award for her service in Iraq.
Dr. Jeff Waksman
Program Manager, Department of Defense
Dr. Waksman is a Program Manager at the Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO), where he leads Project Pele, the military’s first advanced mobile nuclear reactor, and Project TRISO. Before arriving at SCO, he worked for NASA as a Senior Policy Adviser, where he advised on policy and technical issues while also serving as the first Executive Secretary of the National Space Council Users’ Advisory Group.
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Media Contact: Grant Robinson, grant.robinson@alaska.gov (907) 444-5168
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