The Alaska Energy Authority announced that it is seeking applications for Renewable Energy Fund grants to help Alaskans reduce the cost of energy through the development of renewable energy projects. The AEA will evaluate the applications received and will consult with the REF Advisory Committee before submitting final recommendations to the Legislature. AEA then will submit a report summarizing each application and make recommendations for the Fiscal Year 2023 funding. All funding decisions will be made by the Governor and the Legislature.
AEA Executive Director Curtis Thayer told KSRM:
“The Renewable Energy Fund was started close to fifteen years ago, and what the whole program was is to help identify renewable projects in Alaska primarily in rural Alaska that needed the feasibility money to take the to the next step. And the state has invested over 300 million dollars to date, just 20 million alone in the last year. And that 20 million right there has identified 38 projects both in rural and urban Alaska. And overall we have 100 operating projects that this is generated over the years. And it has saved approximately rural Alaska alone 30 million gallons of diesel fuel a year. So, it’s had a huge impact and it helps leverage additional Federal dollars in private dollars to theses communities for these projects.”
Thayer explains who can apply:
“It’s primarily open to communities and to utilities, independent power producers. Kind of a broad path of folks who has a project that they would like to bring forward that is renewable and that going benefit a community. Again the focus has been primarily on rural Alaska, but we do have urban projects. Down on the Kenai Peninsula we recently funded Homer Electric from some wind study, in addition to the methane gas at the local landfill to decide if that is a commercial viable project.”
Thayer encourages participation in the grant process:
“The real key is that if you think you have project that is viable or communities do, please apply. It’s just really imperative, because what we are trying to do is, were looking for the projects that are in the infancy and determining the feasibility. Not all projects are going to be feasible, but until there is acutely do diligence done, we don’t know that. And people might be surprised on what we are going to do and what we might fund.”
To learn more about the Renewable Energy Fund and to apply for a Round 15 grant, visit Renewable Energy Fund, then click on the 2022 REF Application. Applications are due by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, December 5, 2022. Applicants who need assistance are encouraged to contact AEA Grants Coordinator by email at [email protected] or by phone at (907) 771 – 3081.
