Alaska State Energy Profile

Alaska Quick Facts

• When federal offshore areas are excluded, Alaska’s crude oil production of 0.5 million barrels per day ranked 

fourth in the nation in 2013.

• The Kenai liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility, which began operations in 1969, was the first LNG export 

terminal in the United States. 

• Alaska’s electricity infrastructure differs from that of the lower 48 states in that most consumers are not linked to 

large interconnected grids through transmission and distribution lines; rural communities in Alaska rely primarily 

on diesel electric generators for power. 

• Alaska ranked second in the United States in 2013 in the share of its electricity that is generated from petroleum 

liquids.

• Alaska was one of only a handful of states in 2013 generating electricity from geothermal energy sources. 

Last Updated: July 17, 2014

Alaska Energy Consumption Estimates, 2013

Coal

Natural Gas

Motor Gasoline excl. Ethanol

Distillate Fuel Oil

Jet Fuel

LPG

Residual Fuel

Other Petroleum

Nuclear Electric Power

Hydroelectric Power

Biomass

Other Renewables

Net Interstate Flow of Electricity

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

Trillion Btu

Source: Energy Information Administration, State Energy Data System

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Alaska Energy Consumption by End-Use Sector, 2013

Alaska Energy Production Estimates, 2012

8.0 %

10.3 %

53.3 %

28.4 %

Residential

Commercial

Industrial

Transportation

Coal

Natural Gas - Marketed

Crude Oil

Nuclear Electric Power

Biofuels

Other Renewable Energy

0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200

Trillion Btu

Source: Energy Information Administration, State Energy Data System

Source: Energy Information Administration, State Energy Data System

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Data

Last Update: June 18, 2015 | Next Update: July 16, 2015

Energy Indicators

Alaska Net Electricity Generation by Source, Mar. 2015

Alaska Price Differences from U.S. Average, Most Recent Monthly

Petroleum-Fired

Natural Gas-Fired

Coal-Fired

Hydroelectric

Other Renewables

0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 275

GWh

Natural Gas - Citygate

Natural Gas - Residential

Electricity - Residential

Electricity - Commercial

Electricity - Industrial

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

Percent

Source: Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly

Source: Energy Information Administration, Petroleum Marketing Monthly; Natural Gas Monthly;

Electric Power Monthly

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Energy Indicators

Demography Alaska Share of U.S. Period

Population 0.7 million 0.2% 2014 

Civilian Labor Force 0.4 million 0.2% Apr-15 

Economy Alaska U.S. Rank Period

Gross Domestic 

Product 

$ 59.4 billion 44 2013 

Gross Domestic 

Product for the 

Manufacturing Sector 

$ 1,753 million 49 2013 

Per Capita Personal 

Income 

$ 50,032 10 2013 

Vehicle Miles Traveled 4,848 million miles 50 2013 

Land in Farms 0.8 million acres 44 2012 

Prices

Petroleum Alaska U.S. Average Period find more

Domestic Crude Oil 

First Purchase 

$ 40.44 /barrel $ 42.66 /barrel Mar-15 

Natural Gas Alaska U.S. Average Period find more

City Gate $ 6.86 /thousand cu ft $ 4.33 /thousand cu ft Mar-15 find more

Residential $ 9.72 /thousand cu ft $ 9.26 /thousand cu ft Mar-15 find more

Coal Alaska U.S. Average Period find more

Average Sales Price W $ 37.24 /short ton 2013 

Delivered to Electric 

Power Sector 

-- $ 2.25 /million Btu Mar-15 

Electricity Alaska U.S. Average Period find more

Residential 19.64 cents/kWh 12.35 cents/kWh Mar-15 find more

Commercial 17.57 cents/kWh 10.58 cents/kWh Mar-15 find more

Industrial 14.62 cents/kWh 6.79 cents/kWh Mar-15 find more

Reserves & Supply

Reserves Alaska Share of U.S. Period find more

Crude Oil 2,898 million barrels 8.7% 2013 find more

Dry Natural Gas 7,316 billion cu ft 2.2% 2013 find more

Expected Future 

Production of Natural 

Gas Plant Liquids 

288 million barrels 2.4% 2013 find more

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Energy Indicators

Recoverable Coal at 

Producing Mines 

54 million short tons 0.3% 2013 find more

Rotary Rigs & Wells Alaska Share of U.S. Period find more

Rotary Rigs in 

Operation 

9 rigs 0.5% 2013 

Natural Gas Producing 

Wells 

152 wells * 2013 find more

Production Alaska Share of U.S. Period find more

Total Energy 1,563 trillion Btu 2.0% 2012 find more

Crude Oil 15,839 thousand barrels 5.4% Mar-15 find more

Natural Gas - Marketed 338,182 million cu ft 1.3% 2013 find more

Coal 1,632 thousand short tons 0.2% 2013 find more

Capacity Alaska Share of U.S. Period

Crude Oil Refinery 

Capacity (as of Jan. 1) 

291,735 barrels/calendar day 1.6% 2014 

Electric Power Industry 

Net Summer Capacity 

2,545 MW 0.2% Mar-15 

Net Electricity 

Generation

Alaska Share of U.S. Period find more

Total Net Electricity 

Generation 

528 thousand MWh 0.2% Mar-15 

Net Electricity 

Generation (share of 

total)

Alaska U.S. Average Period

Petroleum-Fired 14.4 % 0.3 % Mar-15 find more

Natural Gas-Fired 46.3 % 30.5 % Mar-15 find more

Coal-Fired 10.5 % 33.5 % Mar-15 find more

Nuclear 0 % 19.9 % Mar-15 find more

Hydroelectric 25.1 % 7.6 % Mar-15 find more

Other Renewables 3.7 % 7.4 % Mar-15 

Stocks Alaska Share of U.S. Period find more

Motor Gasoline 

(Excludes Pipelines) 

865 thousand barrels 4.9% Mar-15 

Distillate Fuel Oil 

(Excludes Pipelines) 

1,121 thousand barrels 1.2% Mar-15 find more

Natural Gas in 

Underground Storage 

38,587 million cu ft 0.7% Mar-15 find more

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Energy Indicators

Petroleum Stocks at 

Electric Power 

Producers 

26 thousand barrels 0.1% Mar-15 find more

Coal Stocks at Electric 

Power Producers 

0 thousand tons 0.0% Mar-15 find more

Production Facilities Alaska

Major Coal Mines None find more

Petroleum Refineries BP Exploration Alaska (Prudhoe Bay), Conoco Phillips Alaska (Prudhoe 

Bay), Flint Hills Resources (North Pole), Petro Star (North Pole), Petro 

Star (Valdez), Tesoro Alaska Petroleum (Kenai)

find more

Major Non-Nuclear 

Electricity Generating 

Plants 

Beluga (Chugach Electric Assn Inc) ; George M Sullivan Generation Plant 

2 (Anchorage Municipal Light and Power) ; Southcentral Power Plant 

(Chugach Electric Assn Inc) ; North Pole (Golden Valley Elec Assn Inc) ; 

Bradley Lake (Homer Electric Assn Inc)

Nuclear Power Plants None find more

Distribution & Marketing

Distribution Centers Alaska

Petroleum Ports Ketchikan, Valdez, Anchorage, Nikishka, Homer, Iliuliuk Harbor, Unalaska 

Island.

find more

Natural Gas Market 

Hubs 

None

Major Pipelines Alaska find more

Crude Oil BP Pipeline, Alpine Transportation, Kuparuk Transportation, ENI US 

Operating, Alyeska Pipeline

Petroleum Product None

Natural Gas Liquids None

Interstate Natural Gas 

Pipelines 

None

Fueling Stations Alaska Share of U.S. Period

Motor Gasoline 220 stations 0.2% 2012 

Liquefied Petroleum 

Gases 

7 stations 0.3% 2013 

Compressed Natural 

Gas 

1 stations 0.1% 2013 

Ethanol 0 stations 0.0% 2013 

Other Alternative Fuels 4 stations * 2013 

Consumption & Expenditures

Summary Alaska U.S. Rank Period

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Energy Indicators

Total Consumption 637 trillion Btu 39 2012 find more

Total Consumption per 

Capita 

873 million Btu 2 2012 find more

Total Expenditures $ 7,656 million 40 2012 find more

Total Expenditures per 

Capita 

$ 10,484 1 2012 find more

by End-Use Sector Alaska Share of U.S. Period

Consumption 

 » Residential 55 trillion Btu 0.3% 2012 find more

 » Commercial 70 trillion Btu 0.4% 2012 find more

 » Industrial 324 trillion Btu 1.0% 2012 find more

 » Transportation 189 trillion Btu 0.7% 2012 find more

Expenditures 

 » Residential $ 819 million 0.3% 2012 find more

 » Commercial $ 900 million 0.5% 2012 find more

 » Industrial $ 897 million 0.4% 2012 find more

 » Transportation $ 5,040 million 0.7% 2012 find more

by Source Alaska Share of U.S. Period

Consumption 

 » Petroleum 43.1 million barrels 0.6% 2013 find more

 » Natural Gas 332.6 billion cu ft 1.3% 2013 find more

 » Coal 1.0 million short tons 0.1% 2013 find more

Expenditures 

 » Petroleum $ 5,759 million 0.7% 2013 find more

 » Natural Gas $ 496 million 0.3% 2013 find more

 » Coal $ 73 million 0.2% 2013 find more

Consumption for 

Electricity Generation

Alaska Share of U.S. Period find more

Petroleum 137 thousand barrels 7.5% Mar-15 find more

Natural Gas 2,443 million cu ft 0.3% Mar-15 find more

Coal 43 thousand short tons 0.1% Mar-15 find more

Alaska U.S. Average Period

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Energy Indicators

Energy Source Used 

for Home Heating 

(share of households)

Natural Gas 49.7 % 48.3 % 2013 

Fuel Oil 30.4 % 5.5 % 2013 

Electricity 10.6 % 37.4 % 2013 

Liquefied Petroleum 

Gases 

1.4 % 4.8 % 2013 

Other/None 7.9 % 3.9 % 2013 

Environment

Special Programs Alaska find more

Clean Cities Coalitions None

Alternative Fuels Alaska Share of U.S. Period find more

Alternative Fueled 

Vehicles in Use 

3,146 vehicles 0.3% 2011 find more

Ethanol Plant Operating 

Capacity 

0 million gal/year 0.0% 2015 find more

Ethanol Consumption 528 thousand barrels 0.2% 2013 find more

Total Emissions Alaska Share of U.S. Period find more

Carbon Dioxide 38.0 million metric tons 0.7% 2012 

Electric Power 

Industry Emissions

Alaska Share of U.S. Period find more

Carbon Dioxide 4,304,761 metric tons 0.2% 2012 

Sulfur Dioxide 2,704 metric tons 0.1% 2012 

Nitrogen Oxide 17,008 metric tons 0.8% 2012 

Analysis

Last Updated: June 19, 2014

Overview

The oil and natural gas industry dominates Alaska's economy. The state's natural 

resources have more than justified the $7.2 million the United States paid Russia 

for Alaska in 1867. The North Slope contains more than a dozen of the 100 largest 

oil fields in the United States and several of the 100 largest natural gas fields. 

Alaska's Prudhoe Bay field is one of the largest oil fields in the country, although 

production has fallen to less than 300,000 barrels per day from its peak of 1.6 

million barrels per day in 1988.

Alaska's energy 

demand per 

person is third 

highest in the 

nation.

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In recent years, Alaska has experienced warmer temperatures for longer periods of time during the year. This 

temperature change reduces the amount of time energy companies can explore for onshore oil. Ice roads and drilling 

pads can be used only during the coldest months of the year when the frozen land is less damaged by equipment. 

However, the warmer temperatures reduce floating ice packs, making offshore oil exploration easier.

Alaska also has other energy resources. Its many rivers offer some of the highest hydroelectric power potential in the

nation, and large swaths of the Alaskan coastline offer significant wind and geothermal energy potential. Because of its 

small population, Alaska's total energy demand is below the national median; however, the state's per person energy 

consumption is third highest in the nation after Wyoming and Louisiana.

Petroleum

Although Alaska's oil production has declined steadily as the state's oil fields have matured, it is still one of the top crude 

oil producers in the nation. Most of Alaska's oil production takes place on the North Slope. There are large areas of the 

state that remain unexplored. Oil exploration and drilling are prohibited in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and in other 

environmentally sensitive areas in the state.

The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System transports crude oil from the frozen North Slope to the warm-water port at Valdez, on 

Alaska's southern coast. The pipeline can carry over 2 million barrels per day, but actual deliveries have been less than 1 

million barrels per day since 2003. Alaskan crude oil is transported by tanker primarily to refineries in Alaska, California, 

Hawaii, and Washington. On March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez tanker struck Bligh Reef and spilled 257,000 barrels of 

oil into the Prince William Sound. As a result, improvements were made in tanker construction and navigation 

technology, as well as crew training.

Total demand for finished petroleum products in Alaska is low compared to demand in most states. Motor gasoline 

demand is primarily met by oil refineries in Kenai and near Fairbanks. Alaska is a leader in total jet fuel consumption and 

is the top jet fuel consuming state on a per capita basis. It is a major fueling stop for military aircraft and for commercial 

passenger and cargo flights between the United States and Asian countries. Alaska also consumes a large amount of 

petroleum for electricity generation. Alaska's energy exports include refined petroleum products, most of which are

shipped to Canada.

Natural gas

Alaska is the second leading natural gas producer (in terms of gross withdrawals) 

in the United States, but most of the state's production is not brought to market, 

because natural gas volumes far exceed local demand. Also, there is insufficient 

pipeline capacity to transport the natural gas to distant markets. Large volumes of 

Alaskan natural gas are extracted during oil production, but most of that natural 

gas is reinjected into existing oil fields to provide pressure to maintain oil 

production rates. About three-fourths of Alaska's natural gas withdrawals are 

consumed at the production site.

To date, it has not been considered commercially feasible to build a pipeline 

linking natural gas produced in Alaska's North Slope with markets in the Lower 48 

states, especially with lower natural gas prices in recent years. Despite the 

economic considerations, several major pipeline project applications have been 

filed with the state of Alaska.

Until 2012, the Kenai liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in the Cook Inlet, which 

began operating in 1969, was the only terminal in the United States authorized to export LNG produced from domestic 

natural gas. The terminal has exported LNG to Japan. Four major oil companies are interested in jointly building a new 

LNG export terminal in the Valdez area that could eventually ship up to 2.4 billion cubic feet of LNG per day.

Most of Alaska's 

natural gas 

production is 

reinjected into 

oil fields for 

pressure to 

maintain oil 

production 

rates.

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Coal

Coal mines have operated in Alaska since 1855. Substantial deposits of 

bituminous, subbituminous, and lignite coal are found in the north, south, and 

central portions of the state, but most of Alaska's coal resources remain unmined. 

Alaska has only one operating surface coal mine, the Usibelli mine, which 

produces about 2 million tons of coal per year. The majority of Alaska's coal 

production is exported to countries in Asia and South America.

Electricity

Unlike most electricity infrastructure in the United States, Alaskan transmission lines are not linked to large, 

interconnected grids. Although an interconnected grid exists in the more populated areas from Fairbanks to south of 

Anchorage, that grid is not connected to the electric grids in Canada and the Lower 48 states. About 90% of the state's 

communities rely on consumer-owned electric cooperatives for their power, and many rural areas use diesel electric 

generators. This diesel use contributed to Alaska's ranking among the top states in the total amount of electricity 

generated from petroleum liquids.

Natural gas accounts for just over half of Alaska's electricity generation, and hydroelectric power supplies more than onefifth. More than 50 hydroelectric power plants supply Alaskan communities with electricity. Petroleum liquids and coal 

combined account for about one-fifth of electricity generation.

Renewable energy

Alaska uses a wide variety of renewable energy resources. In addition to 

hydropower, Alaska was one of eight states in 2012 with power plants generating 

electricity from geothermal sources. A 400-kilowatt geothermal power plant 

installed in 2006 at Chena Hot Springs was the first geothermal project to be 

completed in Alaska. Its generating capacity has since been increased to 730 

kilowatts. Several other geothermal projects are in development. Small wind 

energy facilities, with a total of more than 5 megawatts of generating capacity, 

provide power to rural communities throughout the state.

Alaska's biomass fuels include wood, sawmill wastes, fish byproducts, and 

municipal waste. The first large-scale biodiesel plant in the state opened in 2010 

and can produce 250,000 gallons of biodiesel annually with waste vegetable oil 

gathered from local restaurants. Wood is another important renewable energy 

source for Alaskans, with over 100,000 cords burned every year for residential space heating. About 8 million gallons of 

fish oil are produced annually as a byproduct at Alaskan fish meal plants; some of the fish oil is used as boiler fuel.

Most of Alaska's 

coal exports go 

to Asia and 

South America.

Alaska is one of 

eight states with 

power plants 

generating 

electricity from 

geothermal 

sources.

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Energy on Tribal Lands

More than 220 tribal groups live in Alaska, and although the state has the greatest number of 

acres held as tribal lands in the nation—more than 44 million acres—almost all Alaskan tribal 

land is owned outright by the tribes. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act passed by the 

U. S. Congress in 1971 divided Alaska into 12 geographic regions of common heritage and 

interests. Under the act, tribal lands do not have the sovereign status of reservations, like in 

the Lower 48 states. The land is owned by the Native Alaskans, allowing them to benefit from 

the resources on their lands. The Native Alaskans in each region organized regional native 

corporations to hold these resources. These corporations are the largest private landowners 

in the state. 

Alaska's tribal lands have abundant crude oil and natural gas resources and contain one of 

the world's largest bituminous coal deposits. Almost one-fourth of Alaska's 129 million acres 

of forested land is controlled by native corporations, providing the tribes with vast biomass 

resource potential. Revenue earned from timber and subsurface resources by each regional 

corporation is divided among the 12 geographic regions in proportion to their native 

populations. A significant portion of the revenue is then redistributed to smaller village 

corporations in each region. The corporations have formed many business subsidiaries that 

involve Native Alaskans in the development of their energy resources, including the 

development of their crude oil and natural gas resources and oil refining. One corporation 

manages a commercial-scale wind farm and an underground coal gasification project. 

Last Updated: October 16, 2014

Other Resources

Energy-Related Regions and Organizations

• Coal Region: Western

• Petroleum Administration for Defense District (PADD): 5

Other Websites

• Alaska Energy Data Gateway

• Alaska Energy Authority

• Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission

• Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) Alternative Energy and Energy Efficiency

• Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Division of Public Assistance Heating Assistance Program

• Alaska Community Development Corporation, Weatherization Assistance Program 

• Benefits.Gov Energy Assistance (105)

• DSIRE - Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency

• National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC)

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• National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO)

• National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)-Issues and Research - News Highlights: Issues and Research 

- Energy

• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)-Dynamic Maps, Geographic Information System (GIS) Data and 

Analysis Tools - Maps

• U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Maps, Imagery, and Publications - Maps

• Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission

• Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

• Regulatory Commission of Alaska

• Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

• Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Oil and Gas

• Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicle Data Center - Federal and State Incentives and Laws

• United States Department of Health and Human Services - Administration for Children and Families - Low Income

Home Energy Assistance Program

Email suggestions for additional Alaska website resources to: states@eia.gov.

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