Connect with us

Published

4 years ago

on

An Alaska state flag blows in the wind at the Robert B. Atwood Building in Anchorage, Alaska.
David Ryder | Bloomberg | Getty Images

These are tough times in Skagway, Alaska, population 1,183.

“We’re in hard core survival mode,” Mayor Andrew Cremata told CNBC.

In a normal summer, the Southeast Alaska town would be teeming with tourists from the cruise ships sailing the Inside Passage. Residents could drive 15 miles up the Yukon Highway into Canada to run their basic errands, or they could hop on a state-run ferry to the next town over, Haines.

But this year, the cruise ships have just started running again. Cremata is hoping Skagway will see 100,000 passengers this year; in 2019 they had 1.1 million. The border to Canada remains closed to non-essential traffic, and the ferries, part of the Alaska Marine Highway System, are plagued by budget cuts.

“Just getting your family down to go see a dentist or doctor, when that becomes burdensome or overly expensive, there’s a point where people have just had it and move away,” Cremata said.

Multiply Skagway’s situation by thousands of communities and more than 700,000 Alaskans, and you can begin to understand why The Last Frontier finds itself in last place in CNBC’s 2021 America’s Top States for Business rankings.

It is the sixth bottom-state finish for Alaska in 14 years. The state previously achieved the dubious distinction in the first four years of the study between 2007 and 2010, hitting bottom again in 2018.

As difficult as the past year has been in this state and across the country, it presented opportunities that Alaska failed to capitalize on.

Alaska met the pandemic with the best-funded public health system in the nation, according to the United Health Foundation, spending $289 per person per year. That is more than three times the national average. Earlier this year, the state was setting the pace for Covid-19 vaccinations, even in its most remote regions.

As the national economy struggled to regain its footing, Alaska offered a generally business-friendly regulatory climate — its legal system tilts toward business, and the number of state laws and regulations is manageable. The conservative-leaning Tax Foundation ranks Alaska’s tax climate the third-best in the country.

In Skagway, Mayor Cremata said state and federal officials have been extremely helpful through the crisis.

“They are always ready and willing not only to engage us as a community, but individual people and business owners in the community. People that were struggling with problems with unemployment and all these kinds of things,” he said.

And at a time of social upheaval, Alaska offered its relatively diverse population some strong protections against discrimination.

High costs hurt Alaska

So how did Alaska manage to finish No. 50 again in 2021 despite so many advantages going in? In a word: cost.

Cost of Doing Business carries the most weight in this year’s study. As the recovery builds, states are touting low business costs more than any other factor, according to CNBC’s analysis. Alaska is an extremely expensive place to do business.

Even Alaska’s competitive tax climate, which earns points for relatively low property taxes and no personal income tax, includes a top corporate tax rate of 9.4%, among the highest in the country.

A snow covered road with power lines in Kaktovic, Alaska.
David Howells | Corbis Historical | Getty Images

Utility costs are oppressive. Alaskans paid an average of $20.20 per kilowatt hour for electricity last year, according to U.S. Department of Energy data, with even higher rates in remote areas. That was second only to Hawaii, and nearly double the national average. Wages are high thanks to the high cost of living, and office and industrial space — which are in short supply — is pricey.

Cremata said he is worried about how the price of everything seems to be creeping higher.

“Everything’s barged in,” he said. “And so, if the cost of fuel goes up, it affects the rates on the barge and that affects the price of your milk and eggs.”

Indeed, even that high rate of public health funding may be deceiving, because health care in Alaska is so expensive. An office visit to a doctor in Anchorage averaged more than $206 last year, according to the Council for Community and Economic Research, C2ER. That is more than twice the cost in Phoenix, Arizona.

Meanwhile, Alaska’s Covid-19 vaccination rate, once the envy of the nation, has fallen below the national average, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Medical Assistant Julia Naea administers the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine at the Blood Bank of Alaska in Anchorage on March 19, 2021.
Frederic J. Brown | AFP | Getty Images

In March, Alaska became the first state in the nation to make vaccines available to everyone aged 16 and older. Officials theorize that meant those who wanted to be vaccinated were quick to get their shots, leaving vaccine-hesitant residents — many in rural or remote areas — who have proven difficult to convince.

Vaccination rates are a metric in the Top States’ Life, Health and Inclusion category, where Alaska finishes No. 19 this year.

Internet access remains a challenge

In addition to its cost issues, Alaska ranks No. 49 in the Top States’ Infrastructure category, above only Maine. It is yet another lost opportunity. Alaska might have been able to use the nation’s move toward remote work to partly offset its inherent infrastructure disadvantages, which include its distance from the rest of the country and its vast size.

This year’s Top States study introduced broadband connectivity as an infrastructure metric. But broadband in Alaska is the worst in the nation, according to BroadbandNow Research.

In Skagway, Cremata said internet service is cumbersome and expensive.

“You have to actually have a landline in your house for it to work,” he said. “So, the internet has a pretty substantial price to it, but then you also have a $30 charge because you need a landline for the broadband to work.”

According to BroadbandNow, fewer than 61% of Alaskans have access to broadband at all, and none have access to a low-priced plan, which the organization defines as costing less than $60 per month. The average speed is a paltry 58.6 Mbps, or one-third the speed in the top-ranked state, New Jersey.

Cremata said that early in the pandemic, when he and other local leaders worried the cruise ships could disappear for five years, they convened a task force to consider ways to reinvent the economy. One of the ideas was to make Skagway an internet hub, but it went nowhere.

“You’d have to have really fast internet, obviously, because you probably want to have all of your communications done in the cloud, which is pretty much impossible right now in Skagway,” he said.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, while speaking at a dedication ceremony for a hydroelectric turbine generator in Igiugig, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 16, 2019.
Luis Sinco | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images

In May, Gov. Mike Dunleavy created a task force to recommend ways to improve connectivity in the state.

“On the heels of a global pandemic, now more than ever do we see the critical role that the internet plays in nearly every part of life and the importance of good connectivity for every Alaskan,” Dunleavy said in a statement.

But it is Alaska’s third broadband task force in the last decade, with little to show for the efforts. It is also unclear whether the state can muster the funding needed to bring its service up to date.

In his statement announcing the task force, Dunleavy, a Republican, emphasized the use of federal pandemic relief money to pay for the expansion. And while his administrative order creating the task force also contemplates using state funds, Dunleavy and the state legislature are already locked in a titanic struggle over the budget.

This month, Dunleavy vetoed more than $200 million in state spending approved by the legislature, with cuts aimed at everything from tourism marketing to mental health services.

Dunleavy also vetoed $8.5 million in funding for Alaska’s ferry system known as the Alaska Marine Highway System, a link to the outside world for communities like Skagway. 

And he relentlessly slashed the University of Alaska’s budget, with cuts totaling $70 million over three years. That hurts the state’s ranking in Education, where it finishes No. 47.

Crude oil rebound hasn’t helped Alaska

Hanging over all of Alaska’s business and financial woes is the price of oil, the state’s economic lifeblood. Oil revenues typically account for more than one-third of the state’s budget.

A part of the Trans Alaska Pipeline System is seen on September 17, 2019 in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Joe Raedle | Getty Images

Last year, as weak demand during the pandemic pushed oil prices to historic lows, oil production in Alaska fell to its lowest level in more than 40 years, according to the Energy Department.

This year, prices have rebounded, but production in Alaska has not. Alaska oil producers face much lower cost competition in the lower 48, as well as an intensifying tug-of-war over federal oil leases. Production through April was down nearly 5% from a year ago.

State budget forecasters expect oil production tax revenue will be around $311 million in the 2021 fiscal year that ended on July 1. That would be a 9% increase from 2020, but a 36% decline from the year before.

Those kinds of numbers could make it even harder for Alaska to climb out of the cellar next year.

Cremata said he hopes the crisis will convince Alaska to think beyond its traditional economic drivers including tourism, fishing and oil.

“You can’t think backwards. You have to think forwards,” he said. “Perhaps, this is like a chaos-opportunity moment — where there’s chaos, there’s opportunity, so that people in Alaska, who maybe have been relying on things that aren’t as reliable anymore, maybe try to expand towards some different ideas.”

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Environment

Save $300 on new Anker eufy E15 & E18 robot mowers, NIU KQi 200F e-scooter at $699 in pre-sale, EGO pressure washer, more

Published

2 hours ago

on

April 11, 2025

By

Save 0 on new Anker eufy E15 & E18 robot mowers, NIU KQi 200F e-scooter at 9 in pre-sale, EGO pressure washer, more

We’re closing out this week’s Green Deals with two new arrivals onto the market, leading with the $300 discounts on Anker’s new, advanced eufy E15 and E18 Robot Lawn Mowers that require no boundary wires or RTK stations and are starting from $1,300. Right behind is NIU’s pre-sale offer on its latest KQi 200F Electric Scooter for $699 and also coming with some free gear ahead of its future shipping date. We also spotted the popular EGO Power+ 56V 3,200 PSI Cordless Pressure Washer alongside two 6.0Ah batteries hitting a new $699 low, as well as Amazon undercutting Anker’s Easter Sale pricing on the SOLIX C200 60,000mAh Power Station to $110, along with its 90,000mAh counterparts. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals are in the links at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s Rad Power Earth Day e-bike Sale kickoff, the exclusive refurbished Anker SOLIX F3800 power station deal, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Take $300 off Anker’s new eufy E15 and E18 robot lawn mowers that require no wires or RTK station from $1,300

Anker’s official sub-brand, eufy is now offering the best savings yet on its new E15 Robot Lawn Mower for $1,299.99 shipped, as well as its counterpart E18 Robot Lawn Mower at $1,699.99 shipped, after using the promo code RTLM200 for either at checkout. These models just recently hit the market a few days ago for $1,600 and $2,000, respectively, with some places like Amazon currently offering $200 off the price, but you can score an additional $100 here direct from the brand by replacing the on-page coupon with the code. This knocks a total of $300 off the going rate, giving you one of the most advanced autonomous mowing solutions at the best current prices we can find.

These advanced eufy robot lawn mowers require no boundary wires or RTK station to stay on track, instead utilizing pure vision FSD tech with high-precision cameras and advanced AI to guide itself around your yard, with the E15 model covering up to 0.2 acres on a charge and the E18 model bumping that up to 0.3 acres. The brand promises a quick “5-minute setup” right out of the box, all done through its companion app, where you’ll also have a wide array of smart controls to monitor its progress, adjust settings, and manage multi-zone areas with the 3D maps that it creates as it works.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

The 3D perception system on eufy’s robot lawn mowers detect and avoid collisions with everyday obstacles that it may come across, even in complex garden environments, while the smart coverage detection “guarantees no area is left uncut.” Those with pets or regular wildlife running around can also rest assured, as its systems will ensure their safety while in operation. You’ll be able to set its cutting height between 25mm to 75mm, with it operating at a quieter 56dB level and able to handle up to 40% inclines without concern. Beyond the controls you’ll have through your smartphone, the robot can also detect rainfall and/or when the sun sets, activating its automatic station return function. On top of that, there’s even the security system that activates an alarm when removed from its set work area while providing you with GPS tracking to hunt it down.

NIU KQi 200F electric scooter

Commute around town for up to 34 miles on NIU’s latest KQi 200F electric scooter at $699 with free gear while in pre-sale

NIU is currently taking up to 41% off a collection of its e-scooters led by a pre-sale deal on its latest KQi 200F Electric Scooter for $699 shipped with some additional free gear. This new model is slated to begin shipping on April 25 carrying a $799 price tag, but you can score the first cash savings here today while this deal lasts. Not only are you getting $100 shaved off the tag, but you’ll also be getting a free phone holder and Halo drawstring bag (valued at $52) on top of that. Head below to learn more about what this new commuting solution offers while also checking out the other models benefitting from price cuts.

A solid choice for commuters who want the option to go further than their usual cruising grounds, the NIU KQi 200F electric scooter has been given a 350W motor that peaks to 700W in order to tackle up to 20% inclines at speeds up to 20 MPH, as well as a 365Wh battery that provides you with up to 33.6 miles of travel on a full charge. There are four riding modes to choose from – e-save, sport, custom, and pedestrian – plus, the scooter comes with an IPX5 rating to protect against splashes, light rain, and even low-pressure water from any direction.

There are some solid features added in too that only further heighten the riding experience, especially the dual braking system that has a 75mm integrated drum brake in the front and a regenerative brake in the rear to recycle kinetic energy upon slowing or braking to extend travel times. There’s also the brand’s BMS system with 14 types of protection, front suspension, 10-inch tubeless pneumatic tires, wider handlebars that can fold while also offering turn signal functionality, a Halo headlight, an integrated taillight with brake lighting, a 265-pound rider payload, swappable griptape, a mechanical bell, and a LED display. What’s more, there are some app-supported smart controls, including customizable performance settings, charging limitations, and the option to lock your scooter for added security, among others.

NIU’s full lineup of KQi e-scooter deals:

EGO Power+ 56V 3,200 PSI cordless electric pressure washer

Connect a hose or siphon with EGO’s 56V 3,200 PSI cordless pressure washer kit (two 6.0Ah batteries) at new $699 low

Amazon is now offering the EGO Power+ 56V 3,200 PSI Cordless Pressure Washer with two 6.0Ah batteries at $699 shipped. Back during July we saw this model fall from its original $899 MSRP to its new $800 rate, where it stayed put except for a short-lived $50 discount in mid-December and a drop to $700 during Amazon’s previous Big Spring Sale last month. The deal that’s coming in today takes things $1 under our previous mention, giving you $101 in savings at a new all-time low price. If you already have a stockpile of EGO batteries, you can score the pressure washer alone for $499 instead.

Sporting EGO’s peak power tech that utilizes two batteries at once for longer performance, this cordless electric pressure washer will run for up to 60 minutes with the two included 6.0Ah models here, which can easily be swapped out for any of the brand’s other ARC batteries. It delivers some powerful pressure at up to 3,200 PSI with a flow rate ranging from 1.2 to 2.0 GPM and three operating modes: Eco, High, and Turbo.

Its versatile design sports three connection points – one for your garden hose to attach, one for the wand, and then a third that can be utilized by an included siphon hose that you can drop into any fresh water source if you’re not around any spigots. You’ll also be getting five varying nozzles, a 25-foot high-pressure hose, a foam cannon, and a filter – plus, there’s an integrated display on the wand so you can keep track of battery levels as you work.

We recently spotted EGO’s advanced 56V 22-inch Select Cut Self-Propelled Cordless Lawn Mower coming with a 10.0Ah and 5.0Ah battery at a new $1,000 low, which saves you $998 from purchasing the combination separately.

Anker SOLIX C200 60,000mAh power station

Amazon undercuts Anker’s Easter Sale on the SOLIX C200 60,000mAh power station at $110

By way of its official Amazon storefront, Anker is undercutting its own Easter Sale pricing on the SOLIX C200 60,000mAh Power Station at $109.99 shipped. Normally going for $170 at full price since it released back at the tail-end of August, we’ve mainly been seeing it fall to either $110 or the $100 low at Amazon since Black Friday, with the brand’s ongoing direct Easter Sale currently offering it at $10 higher. With the deal here, you’re getting a solid $60 slashed from the going rate, giving you the second-lowest price we have tracked. Be sure to head below to check out more on this model, as well as the deals on the larger 90,000mAh counterparts.

Anker’s newer SOLIX C200 DC power station comes in a more compact form factor built upon the success of the C300 DC and AC models, with a 60,000mAh/192Wh LiFePO4 capacity. The unit provides up to 300W of power output to connected devices through its five ports – two USB-As, one 140W USB-C, one 15W USB-C, and a car port – which covers your personal devices while out and on the go. The power station’s battery can be recharged by three different means, with either the 100W maximum solar input or the car port providing you with an 80% battery in 1.6 hours and its 140W USB-C port reaching the same amount a little faster at 1.3 hours.

Of course, if you want to go bigger you can currently find the SOLIX C300 DC and SOLIX C300 AC power stations down at $170 and $219, respectively, with the former matching Anker’s direct sale while the latter comes in $1 under that sale’s pricing. They both provide 90,000mAh LiFePO4 capacities to cover device charging needs, with up to 300W outputs and some port differences and variations of built-in lighting while your out camping in the wilds. The DC model sports seven ports (two 140W USB-Cs, one 100W USB-C, one 15W USB-C, two 12W USB-As, and one 120W car port) while the AC model has eight ports (three 300W ACs, two 140W USB-Cs, one 15W USB-A, one 12W USB-A, and one 120W car port).

Be sure to check out the full, massive lineup of deals from Anker’s SOLIX Easter Sale that is running through April 20, with up to 54% off in initial discounts and some free gear going along with select model purchases. We also just secured an exclusive $680 in savings on the brand’s refurbished SOLIX F3800 power station at $1,999 while it lasts.

Best New Year EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Want to trade in your Tesla? Here are 4 good conquest rebates

Published

3 hours ago

on

April 11, 2025

By

Want to trade in your Tesla? Here are 4 good conquest rebates

conquest rebates

Thinking about trading in your Tesla (or any other EV) for something new? This month, automakers are handing out up to $5,000 in conquest rebates to lure you over to their side. Even better: these offers usually stack with other discounts. Here are four of the best deals worth checking out.

Acura ZDX conquest rebate deal

If you drive a competing EV, Acura’s ready to tempt you with $4,000 off the all-electric 2024 ZDX. Some buyers are reportedly snagging discounts of up to 40% off the MSRP of $64,500 in certain parts of the US. The national conquest deal runs through the end of April.

Click here to find a local dealer that may have the Acura ZDX in stock. –trusted affiliate link

BMW i5, i7, iX conquest rebate deal

BMW-i5-Touring

If you’re driving an EV or plug-in hybrid from a rival brand like Tesla, Rivian, or Mercedes, you can score a $1,000 conquest bonus from BMW when you switch to an all-electric i5, i7, or iX. The deal is available US-wide through April 30.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Click here to find a local dealer that may have the BMW i5 in stock. –trusted affiliate link

Hyundai IONIQ 5 competitive owner coupon

Hyundai-$20-billion-EVs-US

If you own or lease a non-Hyundai vehicle, you can cash in on a special Competitive Owner Coupon when you lease or buy a 2025 IONIQ 5, and this deal stacks. This conquest cash incentive ranges from $500 to $2,500 depending on the model you purchase or lease, and whether you purchase or lease. The offer’s live now on both coasts and runs through April 30.

Click here to find a local dealer that may have the Hyundai IONIQ 5 in stock. –trusted affiliate link

Polestar 3 Tesla conquest bonus

Polestar-3-delivered

If you’re ready to jump ship from your Tesla, Polestar’s got a seriously tempting offer: Switch to a 2025 Polestar 3 and pocket $5,000. Lease it, and things get even sweeter – you can stack that with Polestar’s $15,000 lease cash for a wild $20,000 off. The deal’s good nationwide through April 30.

Thanks to CarsDirect

If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them. 

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

BYD is about to launch another low-cost EV: Here’s our first look at the e7 electric sedan

Published

3 hours ago

on

April 11, 2025

By

BYD is about to launch another low-cost EV: Here's our first look at the e7 electric sedan

BYD-e7-affordable-EV

Another day, another BYD EV? The world’s largest EV maker is on a roll, seemingly launching a new model every day. After unveiling its new midsize electric sedan, the e7, BYD gave us our first official look at yet another stylish EV.

BYD reveals new e7 electric sedan

BYD is on an EV launch spree. After taking the global auto market by storm last year, the company has even bigger plans for 2025.

In the past month, BYD launched a new electric car across a few key segments as it looks to extend its lead. Two midsize BYD models, the Qin L EV sedan and the Sealion 05 SUV, hit the market. Both are equipped with BYD’s “God’s Eye” smart driving system and start under $17,000 in China.

BYD also launched its first ultra-luxury electric sedan, the Yangwang U7, last month, with prices starting under $90,000.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Earlier this week, the company launched its first EV models, the Han L sedan and Tang L SUV, based on its new ultra-fast charging Super e-platform. The new models can add nearly 250 miles of driving range in 5 minutes, and both can be bought for under $30,000 in China.

BYD-e7-affordable-EV
BYD e7 midsize electric sedan (Source: BYD)

Now, BYD is preparing to launch another midsize pure electric sedan. This week, BYD revealed the first official images of the e7, which is expected to be another affordable EV option.

The e7’s wheelbase is 2,820 mm, which is about the same as that of a Tesla Model 3, which is 2,875 mm. Although no other details were shared, other than the company saying it can’t wait to unlock “a new driving experience for everyone,” a few design clues give us an idea of what to expect when it launches.

BYD-e7-affordable-EV
BYD-e7-affordable-EV

Unlike many of its new models with flush door handles, the e7 is shown with traditional ones. It also has split head and rear taillights rather than the popular full-length light bar that appears on other BYD EVs.

According to CarNewsChina, BYD’s e-series models are affordable cars, many of which are used for taxi services.

BYD-e7-affordable-EV
BYD-e7-affordable-EV

However, it’s now part of its Ocean lineup, which includes a few EVs you may be familiar with, like the Dolphin, Seal, and Seal-U. Although no date has been set, the e7 will join the lineup soon.

Official data released in China revealed the e7 is 4,780 mm long, 1,900 mm wide, and 1,515 mm tall, or about the same size as the Tesla Model 3 (4,720 mm long, 1,933 mm wide, and 1,441 mm tall). We’ll have to wait for an official driving range, but we do know it will use a lower-cost LFP battery.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Trending