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Assembly backs study of waste‑to‑energy project, directs enterprise funds to feasibility work
Summary
The Anchorage Assembly unanimously approved a resolution supporting exploration of a waste‑to‑energy facility led by Solid Waste Services with support from Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility; initial funding will come from enterprise budgets and an $8 million allocation is expected in an upcoming budget revision to support feasibility work.
The Anchorage Assembly on April 16 adopted a resolution (AR 2025-126) supporting a municipal effort to study a waste‑to‑energy (WTE) facility and directed Solid Waste Services and the Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility to continue feasibility work.
Assembly Member Johnson, sponsor of the motion, said the resolution does not green‑light construction but establishes a path for deeper study of whether a WTE plant is feasible and how it could affect landfill life, energy supply and wastewater sludge disposal. "This is just simply laying a path forward to go forward and then do more to determine the scope and the probability of success here," Johnson said.
Why it matters: Supporters told the assembly the project could have multiple potential upsides — energy generation, landfill-life extension and reduced sludge disposal — but cautioned the effort would be complex and take time. Administration staff emphasized the monies to begin feasibility work would come from enterprise funds (Solid Waste Services and AWU) and would not affect the general fund.
Funding and oversight: Assembly Member Salatow noted roughly $8 million anticipated for the first quarter budget revisions to support early steps on the project and urged the body to track expenditures and timelines tightly as work proceeds. Members also discussed the need for a clear project timeline and the importance of educating the public about potential benefits and tradeoffs, including possible rate or bill impacts if utility rate adjustments follow later policy decisions.
Outcome: The resolution passed unanimously, 12–0. Assembly members said they expected the work to require phased decisions: whether something is possible, whether it is feasible, and if so, whether the municipality should proceed to any construction or implementation steps.
Ending: Supporters described the resolution as the start of a multi‑step process rather than a construction authorization, and urged continued member engagement as feasibility work progresses.
