Energy takes center stage in race to represent South Anchorage House district
Candidates Ky Holland and John Boyle offered competing views on data center development as they campaign for an Alaska House seat representing South Anchorage. Holland favors smaller, purpose-built facilities and doubts Alaska can support hyperscale projects, while Boyle supports exploring large data centers, including STAK Energy's proposed 3-gigawatt North Slope development, if environmental and infrastructure impacts are managed.
The South Anchorage House race has highlighted differing views on Alaska's ability to attract data centers amid broader concerns about declining Cook Inlet natural gas supplies and the state's future energy needs. Incumbent Rep. Ky Holland, an independent and House Energy Committee co-chair, said Alaska should pursue smaller, strategic facilities because limited bandwidth, distance from markets and infrastructure constraints make hyperscale projects unrealistic.
Republican challenger John Boyle, chief strategy officer for Anchorage-based STAK Energy and a former Alaska Department of Natural Resources commissioner, said large data centers could create demand that helps support new power infrastructure, particularly on the North Slope where natural gas is available. STAK Energy has proposed a $500 million, 3-gigawatt data center project there. Boyle acknowledged that development must avoid problems seen elsewhere, including competition for land and water, while Holland argued the state should prioritize more modest facilities serving research and regional needs.