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HomeMy WebLinkAboutREF Application Review Questions - FINALCan you provide a copy of the TEDC grant application? Yes, please see attached TEDC grant application. Native Village of Mary’s Igloo is the main Tribal Lead and applicant for this proposal, with Kawerak, Inc. acting as a sub-grantee and Deerstone Consulting, LLC as a sub-contractor. Not for online publication. What is the electric load that the geothermal powerplant will meet? The Phase 1 Pilgrim Hot Springs Geothermal Powerplant will meet electrical loads for on-site facilities including trail & building lighting, temperature controls for hot springs pools, staff housing, guest lodging, event center, maintenance and repairs, agricultural activities, potable water pump, and wastewater & sanitation systems. We estimate this will be <200kW. It is important to note that in the longer term, there is significant potential to expand generation based on future commercial/industrial or community loads, either at the site or nearby. In order to establish the potential of the resource to meet expanded future demand, this project is necessary to confirm the resource capability of sustaining up to 5MW of power generation. What are the thermal loads that the study will address? The conceptual design of the Pilgrim Hot Springs Geothermal Powerplant will address thermal loads for radiant space heating in staff lodging, guest lodging, event centers, historical buildings, and domestic hot water heating for all facilities. By utilizing either a direct resource system from surface or subsurface expressions of geothermal water, we can pipe hot water throughout the complex for both space heating and hot water heating purposes. With a natural temperature ranging from 120-190 degrees, the geothermal water resource is ideal for a direct thermal application. A direct-use district heating system was used throughout the historic church mission complex at Pilgrim Hot Springs in the early 1900’s, and an array of original radiators and related parts are still available on site. It will be of great interest to utilize a portion of these historic pieces for a working demonstration display of the historic uses of geothermal direct use heating, compared to the modern district heating system we hope to design and install in the near future. We also will consider using the geothermal fluids to support absorption chilling prior to reinjection. We envision developing a cold storage unit that can store produce grown on site and help maintain its quality for both onsite uses, and for the regional market. What are the current levels of power generation and heating oil use in Pilgrim Hot Springs? Pilgrim Hot Springs is a greenfield. We have no on-site power generation other than portable gasoline generators that are used for intermittent applications such as charging appliances in the on-site staff cabin, or toting around the site on a trailer to use for power tools when doing repairs and site improvements. We also transport the portable generator over to the potable water well to turn-on the in-pipe well pump and resupply our potable water storage tanks. We have a 2200w generator, a smaller 1200w generator, and a large 5500w generator. There is also a small array of solar panels, approximately 120w, that are located on a storage shed near the gardens array that was planned to be used for ground water pumping and to irrigate crops. There is a solar controller system, invertor and battery back-up tied to this system. It is not currently operational. We do not use any heating oil on site. The staff cabin is warmed by a small wood stove that utilizes the abundance of cottonwood and scrap wood scattered around the property. The staff cabin and adjacent bath house use propane appliances, and the three guest cabins have propane heaters and appliances. The changing room near the hot springs pool is lit by natural light from a window, and warmed by the radiant heat from the geothermal well which is safely enclosed in the same structure. This well has a strong artesian flow, and by cracking the well open just a sliver, we can heat our entire bathing pool, year-round, keeping it at approximately 102-108 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature fluctuates daily depending on the weather, sun exposure, and public use. We are currently installing a small solar panel to battery system that controls a zone-valve and digital temperature gauge at the main bathing pool so the water temperature will be automatically controlled year-round. Will power generation for other communities (Nome, Teller, Brevig Mission, etc.) be part of the study? If so, which ones? Not at this time. This Renewable Energy Fund Application proposes ONLY an on-site facility for use by Unaatuq, LLC. However, our longer-term goal is to increase production to accommodate additional commercial/industrial loads at the site, or additional residential/community loads such as development on adjacent Mary’s Igloo Native Corporative Lands, or possibly providing power to Teller and Brevig Mission. It is important to note that in order to determine the larger potential of the resource to supply larger amounts of power, the resource will need to be proven capable of this. The best way to determine the long-term capacity of the reservoir to generate power around ~5MW, is to produce power at a lower output initially and carefully observe reservoir response. This is a major goal for this project. If the project benefits will remain in Pilgrim Hot Springs, what is the year-round current and future resident population that will benefit? The Pilgrim Hot Springs site is a historic site with deep cultural importance across the region. That is why a number of village and regional entities banded together to purchase the site rather than allow ownership to transfer across the region. We believe total benefits must include the greater societal value, economic opportunities developed, and the fact that food production is a mechanism for reducing energy costs for the region as well, while contributing to healthy lifestyles. There is no year-round resident population at the site. Seasonal (6 summer months) residents include 2 (two) staff members – the on-site caretakers – who are responsible for safety, maintenance, repairs, and greeting the many visitors that come to Pilgrim Hot Springs. This year, we saw a total of 928 known visitors between July 2020 and September 2020. These were mainly local visitors from Nome, as we did not have many tourists this year because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Next year, we expect our numbers to double, and are estimating around 2,000 visitors for Summer 2021. We will also have on-site, overnight lodging available for up to 14 guests per night (split between three cabins), as well as tent campsite areas. The tourists and visitors to Pilgrim Hot Springs will be the main beneficiaries of this project. In the future, there is potential for year-round residents on or near the Pilgrim Hot Springs property. The Native Village of Mary’s Igloo has expressed interest in relocating back to their ancestral lands. If this is the case, we estimate their eventual year-round population to include 75-150 people at new Mary’s Igloo village site. As Pilgrim Hot Springs expands its tourism, wellness, and agricultural facilities, we expect year- round staff at the resort & farming facilities to expand to 20-50 people. We estimate a guest capacity of 250-500 people staying in resort lodge (100-200 guests in winter, 400-500 guests in summer), private cabins, wall tents or other “glamping” set-ups, and tent campsite areas. In the near future, within 2-4 years, we hope to provide year-round activities and lodging, thereby increasing visitor numbers and on-site residential staff. The feasibility study scope appears to be heat and power from a Pilgrim Hot Springs powerplant using geothermal, solar, hydro, biomass, and/or wind, possibly distributed through a DC grid, to provide energy for development of a wellness center, tourism, agricultural development, and power exports. Is that correct? Yes, we are proposing a conceptual power plant design for heat and power at Pilgrim Hot Springs utilizing geothermal as the main base load, with the potential to incorporate other renewables throughout the system for added stability. Yes, the energy would be initially used for a wellness center, tourism activities, and agricultural development that addresses increasing food security issues in our region. At this time, we are not planning to export power. We would like all the power to stay on site, with the potential to sell power to on-site concessionaires, vendors, small-businesses, and even year-round residents. The Native Village of Mary’s Igloo has expressed interest in relocating to their ancestral lands, near Pilgrim Hot Springs, and if this move is accomplished in the future – Tribal Members could become year-round, residential customers buying renewable, sustainable geothermal power from the Pilgrim Hot Springs powerplant. This is an idea we will be exploring in our Tribal Energy Development Capacity project, if awarded, with Mary’s Igloo tribe, alongside Unaatuq, and will look further into the details of what those types of agreements may look like. Export of power would occur if future loads are identified in feasibility proximity to the site and this initial phase of geothermal power development demonstrates the potential for more expansive production in the future that would warrant development of transmission lines to support power export.