The Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) was awarded $1.6 million from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program, a funding opportunity from the Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) at the United States Department of Energy. In addition to this award, AEA will contribute $1.4 million from State Energy Program funds to establish the Renewable Energy Village Energy Efficiency Program (RE-VEEP), making $3 million available for carbon-reduction projects across the state.
Using the Village Energy Efficiency Program framework, AEA will subgrant funds to eligible local governments to finance building-scale renewable energy, energy efficiency, and conservation projects in public buildings and facilities located in rural Alaska.
As a result of these projects, small high-cost communities will be able to reduce their energy consumption and costs. RE-VEEP will be open to local governments ineligible for direct formula grant funding under the EECBG Program.
Alaska is among the first of over 2,700 eligible states, territories, local governments, and Tribes to receive a portion of the EECBG Program funding to help meet the unique energy needs in communities that serve more than 250 million Americans. Applicants were evaluated based on their project impact, their plans for community engagement and expected community benefits — particularly for lower-income and energy-burdened Americans — the viability of their plans, and the strength of their team.
AEA will administer RE-VEEP according to federal applicant and project eligibility requirements. It is anticipated that a Request for Applications will be issued in early 2024.
