Sitka's Energy History

For over a century, Sitka has been powered by hydroelectric electricity. Originally built because of the plentiful resource of rain, Sitka had a fortunate head start when it comes to renewable energy but as electrification continues and loads increase Sitka is once again at decision point to determine what comes next in terms of energy. Fortunately, we can learn a lot from the past as we ask ourselves what we want for the future.

What Can we Learn from Sitka's Century of Hydroelectric History?

Sitka has made large investments into hydroelectricity as it grown and approached its generation capacity.

However, the annual load growth is not tied to population. Even though Sitka's population is decreasing today, its annual load grows about 2% each year.

Sitkans Value the Benefits of Hydroelectricity, Despite High Upfront Costs.

Sitka's Energy History has Repeated Itself, but it Doesn't Have to.
The Community Has an Active Role in Shaping Sitka's Energy Future.

As Sitka continues to electrify and becomes more reliant on its renewable energy infrastructure and climate change makes rainfall more unpredictable, Sitka's energy future could become more uncertain. Fortunately, the energy landscape has changed a lot in 100 years; new technology and materials means we can use electricity more efficiently and we have more options for additional generation than ever. As a municipally-owned, islanded microgrid, the community has a much more active role to play in how Sitka's energy future looks than in most of the world.

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This page was last updated December, 2025