Guiding Documents

DOE Arctic Strategy

Advancing Arctic energy, science and security is the goal of the U.S. Department of Energy's Arctic Strategy. The Strategy outlines DOE’s coordination with Arctic stakeholders from Indigenous Peoples to international partners to grasp Arctic challenges, ensure energy equity, and work together to apply solutions. DOE’s Arctic Energy Office leads this coordination to address these challenges. 

For economic, cultural, environmental, geopolitical, equity, and security reasons, DOE and the nation’s commitment to science-informed and evidence-based decisions and investments is essential to the entire region’s future. 

Implementation Plan for the 2022 National Strategy for the Arctic Region

On October 7, 2022, President Biden issued the National Strategy for the Arctic Region (NSAR 2022), updating the NSAR issued in 2013. This Implementation Plan1 sets forth the methodology, process, and approach for executing the NSAR 2022. This Implementation Plan complements and builds upon existing initiatives by Federal, State, local, and Tribal authorities, the private sector, and international partners, and focuses efforts where opportunities exist and action is most needed.

This Implementation Plan follows the four pillars of NSAR 2022 and is consistent with the five guiding principles of NSAR 2022. The four pillars are:

  • Security: Develop Capabilities for Expanded Arctic Activity
  • Climate Change and Environmental Protection: Build Resilience and Advance Adaptation, while Mitigating Emissions
  • Sustainable Economic Development: Improve Livelihoods and Expand Economic Opportunity
  • International Cooperation and Governance: Sustain Arctic Institutions and Uphold International Law
Arctic Strategy Report Cover
U.S. policy goals for the Arctic are a secure and stable region where U.S. interests are safeguarded, the U.S. homeland is protected, and Arctic states work cooperatively to address shared challenges.
Report Cover of the National Strategy for the Arctic Region
The United States seeks an Arctic region that is peaceful, stable, prosperous, and cooperative. The National Strategy for the Arctic Region articulates an affirmative U.S. agenda over the next ten years, from 2022 to 2032, to realize this vision.

Fact Sheets

A peek at the Arctic Energy Office factsheet, available for download on energy.gov.

🖇️ Arctic Energy Office fact sheet on our goals, projects, and team.

🖇️ White House fact sheet on how the Inflation Reduction Act is delivering affordable clean energy for Alaska.

 

Reports

Achieving an 80% Renewable Portfolio in Alaska’s Railbelt: Cost Analysis

Achieving an 80% Renewable Portfolio in Alaska’s Railbelt: Cost Analysis is a report released by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in March 2024. This study examines the system-level costs and benefits of increased renewable energy deployment in the Railbelt grid,1 in the context of a proposed 80% renewable portfolio standard (RPS). This work studies the period from 2024 to 2040 and uses a model that simulates the planning, evolution, and operation of the power system to identify the mix of resources that maintains system reliability at the lowest electricity system cost over the period of analysis. 

Report Cover for the NREL Feasibility Study for Renewable Energy Resources in Alaska's Offshore Waters
The study assesses the feasibility of ocean-based renewable energy sources that may be available to help Alaska decarbonize its energy supply, increase coastal resilience, and build energy security and independence.

Feasibility Study of Renewable Energy Resources in Alaska Offshore Waters (NREL and BOEM)

This study was conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) under an interagency agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy, and released in March 2024. The study assesses the feasibility of ocean-based renewable energy sources that may be available to help Alaska decarbonize its energy supply, increase coastal resilience, and build energy security and independence. 

Alaska's Outer Continental Shelf holds an estimated 3,800 gigawatts of potential wind, wave, and tidal energy resource capacity, more than three times the current total generation capacity of the U.S. Read the report to learn more. 

Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs Reports

Visit the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs' Resource Library and filter by "Alaska" to see documents about energy issues in Alaska.

Additional Reports and Strategies

Topic Link Publication Date
DOE Arctic Strategy https://www/https://cms.doe.gov/sites/default/files/2022-11/Arctic Strategy_1.pdf 11/18/2022
National Strategy for the Arctic Region https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/National-Strategy-for-the-Arctic-Region.pdf 10/7/2022
Arctic Research Plan 2022-2026 https://www.iarpccollaborations.org/plan/index.html#download-plan 12/15/2021
Arctic Energy Fact sheet https://www.energy.gov/artic-energy-office/downloads/arctic-energy-office-energy-office-factsheets-science 9/20/2021
Loss of Arctic Sea Ice https://www.energy.gov/science/ber/articles/future-loss-arctic-sea-ice-cover-could-contribute-substantial-decrease 12/21/2021
Marine Pollution https://www.pame.is/document-library/desktop-study-on-marine-litter-library/impact-of-marine-litter 1/17/2021
New perspectives into Arctic Clouds and Phases https://www.energy.gov/science/ber/articles/new-perspectives-arctic-cloud-phases 6/21/2021
NOAA Arctic Report Card https://arctic.noaa.gov/Report-Card 12/20/2021
OSC Communiques on arctic issues https://www.energy.gov/science/downloads/communique-march-30-2020 3/21/2021
Policy: Canada https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1560523306861/1560523330587 11/19/2021
Policy: Denmark https://um.dk/en/foreign-policy/the-arctic/ 8/11/2021
Policy: European Union https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/20956/arctic-short-introduction_en_en 5/21/2021
Policy: Finland https://julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi/handle/10024/163247 6/21/2021
Policy: Greenland https://www.highnorthnews.com/en/greenland-will-develop-arctic-strategy-its-own 6/21/2021
Policy: Iceland https://www.government.is/media/utanrikisraduneyti-media/media/nordurlandaskrifstofa/A-Parliamentary-Resolution-on-ICE-Arctic-Policy-approved-by-Althingi.pdf 3/11/2021
Policy: Norway https://www.regjeringen.no/en/dokumenter/arctic_policy/id2830120/ 1/21/2021
Policy: Russia http://www.arctis-search.com/tiki-index.php?page=Russian%20Federation%20Policy%20for%20the%20Arctic%20to%202020 3/9/2021
Policy: Scotland https://www.gov.scot/publications/arctic-connections-scotlands-arctic-policy-framework/ 9/23/2019
Policy: Sweden https://www.government.se/information-material/2020/11/swedens-strategy-for-the-arctic-region-2020/> 11/20/2021
Strategy: Arctic Council https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/handle/11374/2601 5/21/2021
Strategy: US Air Force https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2281305/department-of-the-air-force-introduces-arctic-strategy/ 7/21/2021
Strategy: US Army https://www.army.mil/article/244261/army_announces_release_of_arctic_strategy 3/21/2021
Strategy: US Coast Guard https://www.uscg.mil/arctic/ 1/21/2021
Strategy: US Depart of Defense https://media.defense.gov/2019/Jun/06/2002141657/-1/-1/1/2019-DOD-ARCTIC-STRATEGY.PDF 6/19/2021
Strategy: US Dept. of Homeland Security https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/21_0113_plcy_dhs-arctic-strategy_0.pdf> 1/21/2021
Strategy: US Navy https://news.usni.org/2021/01/05/new-arctic-strategy-calls-for-regular-presence-as-a-way-to-compete-with-russia-china 1/21/2021
US Arctic Strategy https://www.energy.gov/arctic-energy-office/downloads/arctic-energy-office-energy-office-factsheet-science 9/17/2020

Maps

🗺️ State and Community Energy Projects Project Map for Alaska

One of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) primary forums for helping state and local governments implement cost-effective and productive energy systems for American homes, communities, businesses, and industries is the Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP). Check out their summary page here of projects going on in the 49th State.