Chugach Electric Association is continuing its tradition of supporting local non-profits over the holidays by donating 450 turkeys to nine local non-profits. The holiday turkey delivery is underway this week.

“Chugach is committed to supporting our members and the communities we serve,” said Chugach CEO Lee Thibert. “We are very pleased to continue what is now two decades of helping to make the holidays a little brighter for Anchorage families.”

This is the 20th year Chugach has donated turkeys to local non-profits to help fill the need for holiday meals and food baskets throughout the local area. The turkeys are purchased from Carrs/Safeway and distributed by Chugach to the charities. The organizations receiving the turkeys include:

• AWAIC
• Bean’s Cafe
• Boys & Girls Club Alaska
• Catholic Social Services’ St. Francis House Food Pantry
• Covenant House Alaska
• Food Bank of Alaska
• Lutheran Social Services of Alaska
• New Hope Compassionate Ministries
• The Salvation Army Alaska’s McKinnell House

Chugach celebrated National Drive Electric Week (NDEW) by hosting the northernmost NDEW event on Oct. 1 on our South Campus.

With more than 250 in-person and online events throughout 44 states, the goal of NDEW is to celebrate the benefits of electric vehicles (EVs). Chugach promoted information about EVs on social media and reached out to local EV owners to participate in an EV car show for Chugach members.

An estimated 100 members attended to see different EV options and ask questions of dozen local EV owners who participated in the event. There were a variety of EVs on display, including models from Tesla, Audi, Volvo, Chevy, and Volkswagen.

Chugach staff and board members discussed the Fire Island Wind (FIW) project with U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm last month. Sec. Granholm was touring Alaska looking at renewable energy projects that could benefit from federal funding when she included a visit to Kincaid Park with an across Cook Inlet view of Fire Island.

Chugach Executive Vice President of Regulatory and External Affairs Arthur Miller, Board Chair Rachel Morse, Board Vice-Chair Bettina Chastain, and CIRI President & CEO Sophie Minich gave the Secretary an overview of the wind project and its role in the overall energy portfolio. FIW supplies roughly 2% of Chugach’s total retail load, and the annual energy output is equivalent to the energy use of about 6,500 homes.

Chugach employees continue to support local non-profits through our Employee Volunteer Program. Cortney Bramwell, a member services representative, has been volunteering with Alaska's Long Term Care Ombudsman program. Cortney helps by listening to residents and working with staff to solve problems. Chugach offers up to 16 hours a year for full-time employees to volunteer at a favorite non-profit during the normal workday.