Tom Atkinson, head of the Kotzebue Electric Association in Alaska, is in Washington, D.C., seeking Senate support to restore funding for energy projects crucial for his community. Under the Trump administration, financial support for renewable energy initiatives, initially promised by the Energy Department, has been halted, significantly impacting rural areas reliant on funding for climate resilience. Atkinson's appeal signifies broader concerns among leaders from various states who urge lawmakers to protect investments promised under climate legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act, reflecting the urgent need for sustained commitment to renewable energy solutions.
"As far as we're concerned, energy shouldn't really have a political stripe attached to it. It's just for the benefit of all of our members and our cooperative," he adds.
"It's extremely frustrating," Atkinson, who runs the Kotzebue Electric Association, says before he's ushered into Murkowski's office.
Kotzebue is one of scores of communities caught up in a funding freeze as the Trump administration looks to boost the fossil fuel industry while rolling back climate and environmental initiatives.
Atkinson was part of a group of about 50 leaders from rural communities... who travelled to Washington last week to urge lawmakers to preserve funding for climate and environmental projects that is threatened by the Trump administration.
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