Alaska's unique take on innovation is driven by its vast geography and harsh climate. For a technology to be useful here, it must perform well in remote and harsh conditions, be easy to repair and solve a real problem. This unfussy approach to innovation is at the heart of the state's emerging entrepreneurial ecosystem, where entrepreneurs, researchers, policy wonks and technologists are tackling on some of the world’s most challenging problems in the energy sector. 

The chase is on among states to become the economic and technology hub of the growing microgrid industry. California and the Northeast states are neck-and-neck. But watch for a spoiler – Alaska.