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ACEP welcomes solution-forward, policy-passionate ARCTIC program architect Jus Tavcar

November 21, 2025

Jus Tavcar joined ACEP as its ARCTIC program architect in October.

He supports program operations for ARCTIC, short for, program. He coordinates reporting, facilitates decision makers, communicates internally and externally and supports the principal investigator to keep the program running smoothly.

“Jus stood out for his expertise in the Alaska energy policy landscape, his experience in D.C. and his ability to build coalitions and create a strong network of partners working towards a common goal,” said Leasi Vanessa Lee Raymond, ACEP’s deputy director for strategic initiatives.

Tavcar’s M.A. thesis in Arctic and Northern studies at UAF explored strategies for advancing a just energy transition in Alaska. His academic work supports the work of ARCTIC to connect technical work to the needs and priorities of Alaska communities.

During and even before his studies at UAF, Tavcar crossed paths many times with ACEP through its researchers’ publications and news.

“Given my background, ACEP felt like a natural fit,” he said.

Prior to his master’s degree work in Alaska, Tavcar worked in Washington, D.C., lobbying congressional offices on climate and energy legislation, training grassroots advocates and writing publicly circulated policy updates.

He moved to Fairbanks in 2023 and spent his first summer in the state assisting with political campaigns through management of volunteers, press relations and operations.

“My professional goal is to ensure the success and longevity of the Alaska energy economy that is focused on community-level solutions as well as local and global leadership,” he said. His work at ACEP with the ARCTIC program will play an important part in achieving that goal, he said.

“Jus is a leader in the energy resilience space,” Raymond said. “His work with ARCTIC will bring richness and depth to our work as a capacity-building program for the state as well as Arctic and Pacific regional partners”

Born and raised in the small European country of Slovenia, and having spent time in the U.S., a totally different society, since his undergraduate days, Tavcar’s interest in policy making grew naturally. His articles on energy, infrastructure and electoral policy have appeared in The Anchorage Daily News, The Alaska Beacon and The Progressive, a monthly magazine on politics and culture.

His interest in policy-making also goes beyond the energy sector. He especially enjoys learning about transportation policy, calling himself a “public transit nerd.”

He also loves traveling with his family and friends, particularly to coastal towns, to look for places with his favorite food — oysters.