The Alaska Energy Authority announces Round 14 recommendations for its Renewable Energy Fund grant applications. The Renewable Energy Fund helps fund cost-effective renewable energy projects throughout the state, which assists communities in reducing their dependence on fossil fuels to stabilize their costs of heat and electricity. The REF also creates jobs, utilizes local energy resources, promotes statewide technology transfer, keeps money in local economies, and helps foster economic development.
AEA Executive Director Curtis Thayer tells KSRM:
“These are primarily projects in the feasibility stage, which, if it proves to be feasible and the economics work out and engineering or the technical side works, then this puts them in a good spot for additional funding. Maybe not through this program but either through federal or state grants or possibly loaning or going out to the private sector and getting money for some of these projects.”
AEA has advanced these projects to the Alaska State Legislature for FY 2023 funding consideration:
“One thing that we do is we do rounds. We’re at Round 14 where we solicit projects from across the state for funding. This year the governor has set aside $15 million in the budget, which is the largest amount of funding we’ve had in about 8 years. We were able to fund 27 projects this year.”
Several of the projects are located on the Kenai Peninsula:
The REF is a competitive grant program that was established by the Alaska State Legislature in 2008 and is now in its fourteenth funding cycle. As of December 31, 2021, the Legislature appropriated $284 million since the program’s inception. To date, 244 REF grants have been awarded, with over 100 operating projects constructed with REF contributions, collectively saving more than 30 million gallons of diesel each year.
For more information on each individual project, click here.