# Alaska's AI Land Rush, Four Rooms, One Open Door

> Alaska got more than 500 public comments on a $10 billion North Slope AI data center. Fewer than a dozen said yes.

Published 2026-07-08 by Alaska AI. 9 slides.
Canonical: https://alaskaaihq.com/archive/2026-07-08/

## What we verified

- More than 500 public comments were submitted to Alaska DNR on the Stak Energy lease before the preliminary deadline. [Northern Journal](https://www.northernjournal.com/data-center-critics-flood-alaska-land-managers-with-opposition-to-north-slope-project/), report, 2026-07-03.
- Fewer than a dozen of the public comments endorsed the Stak project. [Northern Journal](https://www.northernjournal.com/data-center-critics-flood-alaska-land-managers-with-opposition-to-north-slope-project/), report, 2026-07-03.
- DNR extended the ADL 422741 public comment deadline to 4:30 p.m. Alaska Daylight Time on July 17, 2026 (extension notice ID 224224). [Alaska DNR Division of Oil and Gas (Online Public Notices)](https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/View.aspx?id=224224), report, 2026-06-17.
- The original comment deadline on the Stak preliminary decision was 4:30 p.m. on June 15, 2026 (original notice ID 223817, published May 12, 2026). [Alaska DNR Division of Oil and Gas (Online Public Notices)](https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/View.aspx?id=223817), report, 2026-05-12.
- DNR said it extended the comment period because of significant public interest, comment volume, and requests for extension. [Alaska DNR Division of Oil and Gas (Online Public Notices)](https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/View.aspx?id=224224), report, 2026-06-17.
- DNR's Division of Oil and Gas issued a preliminary decision to offer STAK Energy Corporation a 50-year lease. [Alaska DNR Division of Oil and Gas (Online Public Notices)](https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/View.aspx?id=224224), report, 2026-06-17.
- The proposed lease covers a 715.4-acre parcel of state land. [Alaska DNR Division of Oil and Gas (Online Public Notices)](https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/View.aspx?id=224224), report, 2026-06-17.
- The parcel sits adjacent to the Dalton Highway approximately 26 miles south of Deadhorse. [Alaska DNR Division of Oil and Gas (Online Public Notices)](https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/View.aspx?id=224224), report, 2026-06-17.
- The docket is ADL 422741 with applicant STAK Energy Corporation; notice 223817 (published May 12, 2026) is the original preliminary decision notice and notice 224224 (published June 17, 2026) is the extension notice. [Alaska DNR Division of Oil and Gas (Online Public Notices)](https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/View.aspx?id=223817), report, 2026-05-12.
- Stak's John Boyle said the full project would cost more than $10 billion. [Northern Journal](https://www.northernjournal.com/data-center-critics-flood-alaska-land-managers-with-opposition-to-north-slope-project/), report, 2026-07-03.
- Stak estimated approximately $500 million for initial site evaluation, engineering, gravel road and pad construction, and initial camp and support infrastructure. [Northern Alaska Environmental Center](https://northern.org/news/stak-energy-campus-what-the-states-lease-documents-reveal-about-scale-risk-and-unanswered-questions/), report, 2026-05-28.
- Stak proposes 1 to 3 gigawatts of on-site natural gas-fired generation. [Northern Alaska Environmental Center](https://northern.org/news/stak-energy-campus-what-the-states-lease-documents-reveal-about-scale-risk-and-unanswered-questions/), report, 2026-05-28.
- Northern Journal reports that a gigawatt of generation is some 30% more than the peak demand of urban Alaska's entire grid. [Northern Journal](https://www.northernjournal.com/data-center-critics-flood-alaska-land-managers-with-opposition-to-north-slope-project/), report, 2026-07-03.
- Lease documents indicate full simple-cycle operation could consume roughly 350 to 500 million standard cubic feet of gas per day. [Northern Alaska Environmental Center](https://northern.org/news/stak-energy-campus-what-the-states-lease-documents-reveal-about-scale-risk-and-unanswered-questions/), report, 2026-05-28.
- That daily gas burn annualizes to approximately 128 to 183 billion cubic feet per year. [Northern Alaska Environmental Center](https://northern.org/news/stak-energy-campus-what-the-states-lease-documents-reveal-about-scale-risk-and-unanswered-questions/), report, 2026-05-28.
- The project would require roughly 7.1 million cubic yards of gravel fill. [Northern Alaska Environmental Center](https://northern.org/news/stak-energy-campus-what-the-states-lease-documents-reveal-about-scale-risk-and-unanswered-questions/), report, 2026-05-28.
- Plans include a roughly 640-acre gravel pad. [Northern Alaska Environmental Center](https://northern.org/news/stak-energy-campus-what-the-states-lease-documents-reveal-about-scale-risk-and-unanswered-questions/), report, 2026-05-28.
- Plans include a 1.8-mile gravel access road. [Northern Alaska Environmental Center](https://northern.org/news/stak-energy-campus-what-the-states-lease-documents-reveal-about-scale-risk-and-unanswered-questions/), report, 2026-05-28.
- John Boyle said most comments were form letters lacking substance. [Northern Journal](https://www.northernjournal.com/data-center-critics-flood-alaska-land-managers-with-opposition-to-north-slope-project/), report, 2026-07-03.
- John Boyle is Stak's chief strategy officer and previously served as commissioner of Alaska's Department of Natural Resources from 2023 to 2025. [Northern Journal](https://www.northernjournal.com/data-center-critics-flood-alaska-land-managers-with-opposition-to-north-slope-project/), report, 2026-07-03.
- Opposition comments carried subject lines including 'HELL NO! To ANY DATA CENTERS' and 'NO AI'. [Copper River Country Journal (reprinting Herz)](https://www.countryjournal2020.com/2026/07/alaskans-say-no-hell-no-to-north-slope.html), report, 2026-07-06.
- One commenter urged the state to 'incorporate some AI (Alaskan intelligence) into making this decision'. [Northern Journal](https://www.northernjournal.com/data-center-critics-flood-alaska-land-managers-with-opposition-to-north-slope-project/), report, 2026-07-03.
- One commenter noted their message was written 'with my own brain and fingers typing'. [Northern Journal](https://www.northernjournal.com/data-center-critics-flood-alaska-land-managers-with-opposition-to-north-slope-project/), report, 2026-07-03.
- Comments arrived from Kodiak, Kotzebue, Seward, Valdez, and the North Slope village of Nuiqsut. [Northern Journal](https://www.northernjournal.com/data-center-critics-flood-alaska-land-managers-with-opposition-to-north-slope-project/), report, 2026-07-03.
- Formal opposition or concern also came from the Northern Alaska Environmental Center, the Alaska Public Interest Research Group, and the Alaska chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. [Northern Journal](https://www.northernjournal.com/data-center-critics-flood-alaska-land-managers-with-opposition-to-north-slope-project/), report, 2026-07-03.
- According to Stak, average annual temperatures at the proposed site are 12 F. [Northern Journal](https://www.northernjournal.com/data-center-critics-flood-alaska-land-managers-with-opposition-to-north-slope-project/), report, 2026-07-03.
- Stak expects the development to need 10% or less of the water that typical data centers use for cooling. [Northern Journal](https://www.northernjournal.com/data-center-critics-flood-alaska-land-managers-with-opposition-to-north-slope-project/), report, 2026-07-03.
- After the deadline passes, DNR will assess the comments before making a final decision on the lease. [Northern Journal](https://www.northernjournal.com/data-center-critics-flood-alaska-land-managers-with-opposition-to-north-slope-project/), report, 2026-07-03.
- Stak said in a statement that it 'is committed to being a responsible steward of the land entrusted to us'. [Northern Journal](https://www.northernjournal.com/data-center-critics-flood-alaska-land-managers-with-opposition-to-north-slope-project/), report, 2026-07-03.
- The Department of the Air Force is offering approximately 4,700 acres of underutilized land at JBER, Eielson AFB, and Clear Space Force Station for AI data centers. [U.S. Air Force (official release)](https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4456660/daf-takes-steps-for-potential-alaskan-ai-data-centers/), report, 2026-04-10.
- Twelve parcels have been identified for potential development under the program. [U.S. Air Force (official release)](https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4456660/daf-takes-steps-for-potential-alaskan-ai-data-centers/), report, 2026-04-10.
- The Air Force announced the Alaska AI data center Enhanced Use Lease opportunity on April 10, 2026. [U.S. Air Force (official release)](https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4456660/daf-takes-steps-for-potential-alaskan-ai-data-centers/), report, 2026-04-10.
- The Air Force released its Request for Lease Proposal on June 5, 2026. [Alaska's News Source](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/06/09/us-military-plans-lease-alaska-land-ai-data-centers-community-responds/), report, 2026-06-08.
- Developer lease proposals were due June 29, 2026. [Fairbanks Daily News-Miner](https://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/proposed-air-force-data-center-land-leases-raise-some-concerns/article_98cbed0c-6574-464a-8097-c054c46cb699.html), report, 2026-06-11.
- The RFLP identifies five potential parcels in the Eielson AFB area. [Fairbanks Daily News-Miner](https://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/proposed-air-force-data-center-land-leases-raise-some-concerns/article_98cbed0c-6574-464a-8097-c054c46cb699.html), report, 2026-06-11.
- Four parcels are under consideration around Clear Space Force Station, including one that would connect to the GVEA grid from the Parks Highway. [Fairbanks Daily News-Miner](https://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/proposed-air-force-data-center-land-leases-raise-some-concerns/article_98cbed0c-6574-464a-8097-c054c46cb699.html), report, 2026-06-11.
- One Eielson-area parcel is less than a mile from North Pole Middle School. [Fairbanks Daily News-Miner](https://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/proposed-air-force-data-center-land-leases-raise-some-concerns/article_98cbed0c-6574-464a-8097-c054c46cb699.html), report, 2026-06-11.
- Resident Sarah Hollister said living near data centers is described as like having a vacuum cleaner running around the clock. [Alaska's News Source](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/06/09/us-military-plans-lease-alaska-land-ai-data-centers-community-responds/), report, 2026-06-08.
- Sarah Hollister raised concern about data center heat discharge affecting permafrost. [Alaska's News Source](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/06/09/us-military-plans-lease-alaska-land-ai-data-centers-community-responds/), report, 2026-06-08.
- Hollister pointed out that three of the proposed sites would be expected to use the GVEA grid and asked whether that would affect members' bills. [Alaska's News Source](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/06/09/us-military-plans-lease-alaska-land-ai-data-centers-community-responds/), report, 2026-06-08.
- JBER commander Col. Lisa Mabbutt said Alaska is expected to receive up to $8 billion in Air Force investments over the next five years. [ExecutiveGov](https://www.executivegov.com/articles/matthew-lohmeier-air-force-visit-alaska-jber-eielson), report, 2026-06-26.
- Under Secretary of the Air Force Matthew Lohmeier toured JBER and Eielson AFB June 22 through 24, 2026. [ExecutiveGov](https://www.executivegov.com/articles/matthew-lohmeier-air-force-visit-alaska-jber-eielson), report, 2026-06-26.
- GVEA recommended that any major loads be connected to its 138-kilovolt line. [Fairbanks Daily News-Miner](https://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/proposed-air-force-data-center-land-leases-raise-some-concerns/article_98cbed0c-6574-464a-8097-c054c46cb699.html), report, 2026-06-11.
- The Air Force plans to choose proposals that minimize and mitigate impact and risk to the surrounding community, with utilities remaining accessible and affordable. [Air & Space Forces Magazine](https://www.airandspaceforces.com/usaf-land-ai-data-centers-three-alaska-bases/), report, 2026-04-11.
- GVEA's board will weigh whether to invest in a fuel-based generator during an executive session on July 13, 2026. [Fairbanks Daily News-Miner](https://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/gvea-board-to-weigh-heavy-purchase-decision-in-july-as-members-raise-concerns/article_c8b5ce9d-5c3a-46bf-b261-436ea4abe02b.html), report, 2026-06-28.
- A new LM6000 unit would cost GVEA about $120 million. [Fairbanks Daily News-Miner](https://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/gvea-board-to-weigh-heavy-purchase-decision-in-july-as-members-raise-concerns/article_c8b5ce9d-5c3a-46bf-b261-436ea4abe02b.html), report, 2026-06-28.
- An LM6000 can generate between 45 and 58 megawatts depending on the model. [Fairbanks Daily News-Miner](https://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/gvea-board-to-weigh-heavy-purchase-decision-in-july-as-members-raise-concerns/article_c8b5ce9d-5c3a-46bf-b261-436ea4abe02b.html), report, 2026-06-28.
- Costs to construct a new gas turbine power plant jumped 195% from 2019 to 2026, per a Bloomberg News report cited by the News-Miner. [Fairbanks Daily News-Miner](https://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/gvea-board-to-weigh-heavy-purchase-decision-in-july-as-members-raise-concerns/article_c8b5ce9d-5c3a-46bf-b261-436ea4abe02b.html), report, 2026-06-28.
- Turbine order waitlists have pushed into the early 2030s, per a Bloomberg News report cited by the News-Miner. [Fairbanks Daily News-Miner](https://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/gvea-board-to-weigh-heavy-purchase-decision-in-july-as-members-raise-concerns/article_c8b5ce9d-5c3a-46bf-b261-436ea4abe02b.html), report, 2026-06-28.
- Demand for the turbine units has increased due to a surge in large data centers that require a guaranteed power supply, per a Bloomberg News report. [Fairbanks Daily News-Miner](https://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/gvea-board-to-weigh-heavy-purchase-decision-in-july-as-members-raise-concerns/article_c8b5ce9d-5c3a-46bf-b261-436ea4abe02b.html), report, 2026-06-28.
- At its April 2026 board meeting, GVEA approved $50,000 to reserve an order spot for an LM6000 combined-cycle turbine. [Fairbanks Daily News-Miner](https://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/gvea-board-to-weigh-heavy-purchase-decision-in-july-as-members-raise-concerns/article_c8b5ce9d-5c3a-46bf-b261-436ea4abe02b.html), report, 2026-06-28.
- GVEA's fuel and purchased power charge rose by about 61 percent effective June 1, 2026. [KUAC](https://fm.kuac.org/energy-and-the-environment/2026-05-28/gvea-plans-extraordinarily-large-increase-in-co-op-fuel-charge), report, 2026-05-28.
- The increase costs the average residential member nearly $46 more per month. [KUAC](https://fm.kuac.org/energy-and-the-environment/2026-05-28/gvea-plans-extraordinarily-large-increase-in-co-op-fuel-charge), report, 2026-05-28.
- GVEA's power plant fuel prices roughly doubled from about $2.50 to $5.10 per gallon. [KUAC](https://fm.kuac.org/energy-and-the-environment/2026-05-28/gvea-plans-extraordinarily-large-increase-in-co-op-fuel-charge), report, 2026-05-28.
- House-Senate conference committee members unveiled a draft compromise AKLNG tax bill on Thursday, July 2, 2026. [Alaska Beacon via Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/alaska-legislature/2026-07-06/alaska-lawmakers-roll-out-draft-compromise-tax-cut-bill-for-the-proposed-aklng-gas-line), report, 2026-07-06.
- The draft compromise would replace the state's property tax with a volumetric tax on gas after five years of operation or once flow reaches 500 million cubic feet per day, whichever comes first. [Alaska Beacon via Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/alaska-legislature/2026-07-06/alaska-lawmakers-roll-out-draft-compromise-tax-cut-bill-for-the-proposed-aklng-gas-line), report, 2026-07-06.
- The draft extends the construction completion deadline for the gas line and phase one from 2032 to December 31, 2034. [Alaska Beacon via Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/alaska-legislature/2026-07-06/alaska-lawmakers-roll-out-draft-compromise-tax-cut-bill-for-the-proposed-aklng-gas-line), report, 2026-07-06.
- Phase one of the project is an 807-mile gas line from the North Slope to Cook Inlet. [Alaska Beacon via Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/alaska-legislature/2026-07-06/alaska-lawmakers-roll-out-draft-compromise-tax-cut-bill-for-the-proposed-aklng-gas-line), report, 2026-07-06.
- Glenfarne owns 75% of the Alaska LNG project. [Alaska Beacon via Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/alaska-legislature/2026-07-06/alaska-lawmakers-roll-out-draft-compromise-tax-cut-bill-for-the-proposed-aklng-gas-line), report, 2026-07-06.
- Lawmakers are tentatively planning House and Senate floor votes on the compromise bill for Thursday, July 16, 2026. [Alaska Beacon via Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/alaska-legislature/2026-07-06/alaska-lawmakers-roll-out-draft-compromise-tax-cut-bill-for-the-proposed-aklng-gas-line), report, 2026-07-06.
- Lawmakers are in a second special session called by Gov. Mike Dunleavy, scheduled to end July 19, 2026. [Alaska Beacon via Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/alaska-legislature/2026-07-06/alaska-lawmakers-roll-out-draft-compromise-tax-cut-bill-for-the-proposed-aklng-gas-line), report, 2026-07-06.
- Dunleavy has called the corporate income tax provision a 'poison pill' and pledged to veto any bill that includes it. [Alaska Beacon via Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/alaska-legislature/2026-07-06/alaska-lawmakers-roll-out-draft-compromise-tax-cut-bill-for-the-proposed-aklng-gas-line), report, 2026-07-06.
- The governor and the developer have said the S corp tax in the draft will hurt the project's ability to secure financing. [Alaska Beacon via Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/alaska-legislature/2026-07-06/alaska-lawmakers-roll-out-draft-compromise-tax-cut-bill-for-the-proposed-aklng-gas-line), report, 2026-07-06.
- On the Wood River, an automated drone emerges from its box at exactly 8:30 a.m. and takes off on an automated flight path. [Alaska Public Media / KDLG](https://alaskapublic.org/news/environment/2026-07-08/ai-drones-and-salmon-what-new-technology-could-mean-for-bristol-bay-sockeye-counts), report, 2026-07-08.
- The team expects to need several thousand drone images for the computer-vision model to learn to reliably identify a fish. [Alaska Public Media / KDLG](https://alaskapublic.org/news/environment/2026-07-08/ai-drones-and-salmon-what-new-technology-could-mean-for-bristol-bay-sockeye-counts), report, 2026-07-08.
- Alaska Fish and Game has been tracking salmon escapement since 1955. [Alaska Public Media / KDLG](https://alaskapublic.org/news/environment/2026-07-08/ai-drones-and-salmon-what-new-technology-could-mean-for-bristol-bay-sockeye-counts), report, 2026-07-08.
- Tower technicians count each passing salmon with a hand-clicker in 10-minute intervals. [Alaska Public Media / KDLG](https://alaskapublic.org/news/environment/2026-07-08/ai-drones-and-salmon-what-new-technology-could-mean-for-bristol-bay-sockeye-counts), report, 2026-07-08.
- Tower crews rotate through continuous shifts over 24 hours. [Alaska Public Media / KDLG](https://alaskapublic.org/news/environment/2026-07-08/ai-drones-and-salmon-what-new-technology-could-mean-for-bristol-bay-sockeye-counts), report, 2026-07-08.
- Most escapement counts across Bristol Bay currently come from nine Fish and Game counting tower sites. [Alaska Public Media / KDLG](https://alaskapublic.org/news/environment/2026-07-08/ai-drones-and-salmon-what-new-technology-could-mean-for-bristol-bay-sockeye-counts), report, 2026-07-08.
- The pilot is run with the University of Washington's Fisheries Research Institute, the Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association, and the Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation. [Alaska Public Media / KDLG](https://alaskapublic.org/news/environment/2026-07-08/ai-drones-and-salmon-what-new-technology-could-mean-for-bristol-bay-sockeye-counts), report, 2026-07-08.
- Norm Van Vactor is a project lead on the drone counting pilot. [Alaska Public Media / KDLG](https://alaskapublic.org/news/environment/2026-07-08/ai-drones-and-salmon-what-new-technology-could-mean-for-bristol-bay-sockeye-counts), report, 2026-07-08.
- In the project's next phase, the crew will test their models against Fish and Game tower counting data. [Alaska Public Media / KDLG](https://alaskapublic.org/news/environment/2026-07-08/ai-drones-and-salmon-what-new-technology-could-mean-for-bristol-bay-sockeye-counts), report, 2026-07-08.
- BBRSDA's drone salmon-monitoring project received a $70,000 Seafood Industry Climate Award grant from the Acme Smoked Fish Foundation. [Acme Smoked Fish Foundation (funder)](https://acmesmokedfish.com/pages/seafood-and-climate-initiatives), report, 2026-01-26.
- According to the funder, the drone project enables managers to detect salmon run timing up to 24 hours earlier. [Acme Smoked Fish Foundation (funder)](https://acmesmokedfish.com/pages/seafood-and-climate-initiatives), report, 2026-01-26.
- The 2026 preseason forecast expects a Bristol Bay total run of 44.05 million sockeye. [KDLG Bristol Bay Fisheries Report](https://www.kdlg.org/show/bristol-bay-fisheries-report/2026-07-02/fish-numbers-july-2-2026), report, 2026-07-02.
- The Bristol Bay run had reached 17,011,218 sockeye through July 1, 2026, as reported July 2. [KDLG Bristol Bay Fisheries Report](https://www.kdlg.org/show/bristol-bay-fisheries-report/2026-07-02/fish-numbers-july-2-2026), report, 2026-07-02.
- Wood River tower crews counted 123,489 sockeye on Wednesday, July 1, bringing their cumulative count to 1,884,747 fish. [KDLG Bristol Bay Fisheries Report](https://www.kdlg.org/show/bristol-bay-fisheries-report/2026-07-02/fish-numbers-july-2-2026), report, 2026-07-02.
- Alaska's 2026 primary election is August 18, 2026. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Alaska_gubernatorial_election), report.
- Incumbent Gov. Mike Dunleavy is term-limited and ineligible to seek a third consecutive term. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Alaska_gubernatorial_election), report.
- Alaska saw over 9,000 lightning strikes in a single day in late June 2026, amid a week of prolific lightning. [Alaska Wildland Fire Information (interagency)](https://akfireinfo.com/2026/06/26/air-resources-assist-with-several-new-lightning-fires-managed-by-u-s-wildland-fire-service/), report, 2026-06-26.
- A U.S. Forest Service Uncrewed Aircraft System module from Boise, Idaho was assigned to fly reconnaissance, mapping, and infrared missions on the Polly Fire. [Alaska Wildland Fire Information (interagency)](https://akfireinfo.com/2026/06/26/air-resources-assist-with-several-new-lightning-fires-managed-by-u-s-wildland-fire-service/), report, 2026-06-26.
- The Cecil Fire is approximately 724 acres and 100% contained, with 18 personnel assigned, as of July 6, 2026. [Alaska Wildland Fire Information (interagency)](https://akfireinfo.com/2026/07/06/cecil-fire-reaches-full-containment-big-fire-at-70-as-work-nears-end/), report, 2026-07-06.
- A UAS drone flight on July 6, 2026 detected no remaining heat on the Cecil Fire. [Alaska Wildland Fire Information (interagency)](https://akfireinfo.com/2026/07/06/cecil-fire-reaches-full-containment-big-fire-at-70-as-work-nears-end/), report, 2026-07-06.
- A permafrost digital twin under a Utqiagvik road embankment was built from a pair of one-kilometer fiber-optic cables that collected temperature and seismic data from September 2021 to June 2024. [Penn State University (news release)](https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/digital-twins-could-help-melt-mystery-alaskas-thawing-permafrost), report, 2026-06-16.
- The digital twin approach more accurately predicted the embankment permafrost's unfrozen water content, ground temperature changes, and heat movement. [Penn State University (news release)](https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/digital-twins-could-help-melt-mystery-alaskas-thawing-permafrost), report, 2026-06-16.

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