Affordable energy in rural Alaska?
Yes affordable energy in rural Alaska is possible, but we need to work together to bring it to each of our communities.
Did you know that up to $124.9 million in Department of Energy federal funding has been made available for five new projects in Northwest Alaska under the Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) Program? Some of these funds are slated for NW District 36!
Thank you to our Congressional delegation, who unanimously supported this effort, the ERA program will benefit rural communities across the country by improving resiliency, reliability, and affordability in energy systems in areas with 10,000 people or less.
While this project was initiated by the Northwest Arctic Borough, we must learn from their forward-thinking plans and adapt, so that we may improve energy costs in all our interior rural communities.
What will be funded under this program?
Clean Energy in the Northwest Arctic - The Borough will be installing over 4 MW of solar PV, over 7.1 MWh of battery storage systems, and approximately 850 heat pumps across the region. They will also be replacing a 10-mile, above ground distribution intertie between the villages of Kobuk and Shungnak.
These solar and battery storage facilities will be owned and maintained by 11 federally recognized Alaska Native Villages, essentially becoming Independent Power Producers (IPP). By being proactive in this effort, these villages will not only be supplying clean affordable energy, but they will be able to sell their energy, raising local funds.
This is a four-year project, and will hopefully save more than 350,000 gallons of diesel fuel annually.
Additional projects include:
A Russian Village Solar Array - Image credit https://www.pv-magazine.com/
Thayer Creek Hydroelectric Project - Angoon
Alaskan Tribal Energy Sovereignty - This project is led by the Tanana Chiefs Conference, and will include Nulato, Huslia, Minto, Kaltag, Grayling, Anvik, Shageluk, and Holy Cross. This project will utilize high-penetration solar PV and battery storage systems that will be incorporated into local energy grids that currently rely 100% on diesel for electricity. These rural villages are largely inaccessible by road and have exceptionally high local electricity costs. This grant will be administered collaboratively with the Alaska Village Electric Cooperative. In addition to developing affordable energy, the project will entail upgrading the existing electric grid infrastructure and it will provide job training! As with the Northwest Arctic project, this project will be a part of the new tribally owned and operated IPP. As currently outlined, the project will hopefully reduce the reliance on diesel fuel by 40% over the project’s 25yr lifespan.
Old Harbor Hydroelectric Project - Old Harbor
Chignik Hydroelectric Dam and Water Source Project - Chignik Bay
While this grant funding will set up new energy infrastructure and provide new sources of affordable energy, we have to be real about what this means for our rural areas. As with new highway construction, maintence is always brutal on the pocket-book. We know that batteries and anything with moving parts don’t last forever, so long-term plans will be critical. Equipment maintenance, replacement, and disposal costs will be hefty when the time comes.
Another big elephant in the room is solar input. While the arctic may have plenty of daylight during summer months, the sun spends half of the year lighting up the other end of the Earth.
While it is exciting to see what’s happening in this Arctic Region, we are excited to move forward with long-term energy planning for all of District 36. This will entail development and maintenance of a broad range of energy production capabilities. By encouraging and supporting private and tribal energy cooperatives, we can help rejuvenate rural Alaska by reigning in high energy costs!
I will work hard to establish new opportunities for reliable, efficient and affordable energy solutions for all of District 36. Together, we can move the Interior forward!
Our kids deserve this!
