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Logo Department Name Agency Organization 1 Organization 2
United States
Department of
Agriculture
Forest
Service
Pacific Northwest Region
1220 SW Third Avenue (97204)
P.O. Box 3623
Portland, OR 97208-3623
Region 10
Alaska Region
161 E 1st Avenue, Door 8
Anchorage, AK 99501
File Code: 3000
Date: September 17, 2020
Alaska Energy Authority
Renewable Energy Fund
813 W. Northern Lights Blvd
Anchorage, AK
RE: Letter of Commitment - Walter Northway School Woodchip Heating Project – Alaska Gateway School District
application
Dear REF Review Committee:
I am writing to express support and commitment for the Alaska Gateway School District’s REF
application to utilize local biomass to heat the Walter Northway School. As the Wood Biomass and Forest
Stewardship Coordinator for the United States Forest Service in Alaska, I am confident in the Alaska
Gateway School Districts ability to successfully implement this project. The long track record of
successful installations at the Tok School and Mentasta district heating system show their commitment
and experience to biomass technologies.
Along with the Alaska Energy Authority, the USFS funds the Alaska Wood Energy Development Task
Group (AWEDTG), a group of approximately 18 governmental, nonprofit, and NGOs working to increase
the utilization of wood for energy and biofuels production in Alaska. The group has conducted biomass
prefeasibility studies for nearly 200 communities throughout the state and supports communities through
the biomass development process with educational opportunities. The Alaska Gateway School District
has been an important partner in this educational work by providing numerous tours of their operating
facilities in Mentasta and Tok to future biomass system operators. Future operators are able to talk with
the experienced personnel at the Alaska Gateway School District and understand the reality of owning a
wood energy system.
The United States Forest Service also provides technical support for the development of wood heating
systems throughout the United States through the Wood Education and Resource Center. This Woody
Biomass Technical Support Team helps public and private sector facility owners evaluate and develop
community-scale projects that use woody biomass for heat energy or for both heat and power throughout
the United States. We commit to providing up to 40 hours of technical support to the owner at a value of
$5,600. The technical support will include items such as review of wood fuel specifications, review of
boiler and handling system proposals and layouts, and other support as appropriate to help ensure the
system meets the owner’s goals.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions. I can be reached at 252-725-7524.
Sincerely,
/s/
PRISCILLA R MORRIS PHD
Wood Biomass & Forest Stewardship Coordinator US Forest Service State & Private Forestry
September 9, 2020
Alaska Energy Authority
Renewable Energy Fund
813 W. Northern Lights Blvd
Anchorage, AK
RE: Alaska Gateway School District’s Application for the Walter Northway School Woodchip Heating Project
Dear REF Review Committee:
Please consider this a letter of support for the Alaska Gateway School District’s REF application to heat the Walter
Northway School with local woodchips. I chair the Alaska Wood Energy Development Task Group (AWEDTG),
which is a group of approximately 18 governmental, nonprofit, and NGOs working to increase the utilization of
wood for energy and biofuels production in Alaska. This group has conducted biomass prefeasibility studies for
nearly 200 communities throughout the state, and the Northway School was one of them
As the facilitator of the AWEDTG, I have been involved with the development of wood heating projects in the
Upper Tanana Valley for the last 10 years. The Alaska Gateway School District has been a powerful leader of
biomass development throughout Alaska by willing providing tours of their operating facilities in Mentasta and Tok
to future biomass system operators. They have also partnered with training sessions offered in Alaska.
Biomass systems in Alaska help to promote and provide a market for locally harvested woody biomass, while
supporting the need for wildfire mitigation. Additionally, these systems keep money in the local communities and
offer part time jobs through wood harvest and system operation. A woodchip heating system in Northway is the
logical next steps to expand biomass use in the Upper Tanana Valley. With full confidence, I support this
application, knowing that it will result in another successful biomass system.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions. I can be reached at (907) 401-3234
Sincerely,
Karen Petersen
Southeast Conference
Energy Coordinator
P.O. Box 19515
Thorne Bay, AK 99919
*The Alaska Wood Energy Development Task Group consists of a coalition of federal and state agencies and other not -for-profit organizations
that have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore opportunities to increase the utilization of wood for energy and biofuels
production in Alaska. These organizations include: the Alaska Energy Authority; Alaska Village Initiatives; Denali Commission; National
Renewable Energy Lab; State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry , State of Alaska Department of Commerce,
Community and Economic Division, Division of Economic Development; USDOC Economic Development Administration: USDA Forest Service,
Alaska Region & Pacific Northwest Research Station; The Nature Conservancy; Tanana Chiefs Conference; USDA Farm Service Agency, Alaska;;
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; USDA Rural Development, Alaska; USDI Bureau of Indian Affairs, Alaska; USDI Bureau of Land
Management, Alaska; Southeast Conference, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service .
Tanana Chiefs Conference is a non-profit organization that works toward meeting the health and social service
needs for more than 10,000 Alaska Natives spread across a region of 235,000 square miles in Interior Alaska.
122 1st Avenue, Fairbanks, AK 99701
907.452.8251
www.tananachiefs.org
September 25, 2020
Alaska Energy Authority
Renewable Energy Fund
813 West Northern Lights Blvd.
Anchorage, AK 99503
Re: Alaska Gateway School District Application for the Northway School Woodchip Heating
Project
Dear Ms. St. Clair,
Tanana Chiefs Conference is the inter-tribal consortium representing 37 federally recognized
tribes across Alaska’s interior. For the past 40 years, TCC has been a voice advocating for tribal
sovereignty, tribal unity and the priorities of interior villages. As part of our commitment to
supporting our communities TCC is proud to support Alaska Gateway School District’s application
to the 2020 Alaska Energy Authority Renewable Energy Fund for the woodchip heating system
for Walter Northway School.
The TCC energy program has worked closely with all of our communities for the past 10 years
and these communities have our full support for their diesel reduction goals. It has been
demonstrated multiple times that Alaska Native villages face precedent setting energy costs, and
challenges. This proposed project would contribute a great deal to reducing heating fuel
consumption, as well as reducing costs associated with providing heat and energy to residents.
The TCC energy program is successful because it works with its tribal members and acts on their
directives. The TCC energy program is the ‘go to’ entity for any tribe that requests assistance with
energy projects in the interior. Our program has significant and specialized experience working
with rural energy projects in this region including the management of more than $4M in ongoing
projects and assisting with many Renewable Energy Fund grants. We have full confidence that
the Alaska Gateway School District can successfully implement this project, and we offer our
support to meet this goal.
Sincerely,
Dave Messier
TCC Rural Energy Manager
122 1st Ave Suite 600
907-452-8251 ext 3479
Subregions
Upper Kuskokwim
McGrath
Medfra
Nikolai
Takotna
Telida
Lower Yukon
Anvik
Grayling
Holy Cross
Shageluk
Upper Tanana
Dot Lake
Eagle
Healy Lake
Northway
Tanacross
Tetlin
Tok
Yukon Flats
Arctic Village
Beaver
Birch Creek
Canyon Village
Chalkyitsik
Circle
Fort Yukon
Venetie
Yukon Koyukuk
Galena
Huslia
Kaltag
Koyukuk
Nulato
Ruby
Yukon Tanana
Alatna
Allakaket
Evansville
Fairbanks
Hughes
Lake Minchumina
Manley Hot
Springs
Minto
Nenana
Rampart
Stevens Village
Tanana
Regarding a biomass boiler/heating system for the village of Northway, Alaska
September 23, 2020
To Alaska Energy Authority
Logging and Milling Associates, a sawmill and logging operation in Interior Alaska is
highly in favor of a biomass heating system for the village and or school system in
Northway, AK. These heating systems have proven to be highly effective in the rural
towns of Delta Junction, Tok, Galena and Dry Creek.
The local systems are utilizing waste materials from local sawmills such as sawdust,
planer shavings and slabs. Any wood that is not suitable for lumber is chipped and used
to provide heat. Tree tops that are too small for sawlogs and trees and brush that are
harvested for fire breaks and fire protection projects have also been used extensively for
fuel for these rural heating systems.
Other benefits of these projects include lessening a village’s dependence on fossil fuels
and providing work for rural citizens in remote areas where jobs are hard to come by.
Citizens of these remote communities have been successfully trained to operate the
equipment necessary for these operations.
All in all, these biomass heating systems have been a win/win for the towns and villages
of rural Alaska. I believe that all involved have been very pleased with the results.
Tommy Geyer, on behalf of Logging and Milling Associates
17015 Nickleen Street
Anchorage, AK. 99615
Phone (907) 602 6574
www.plenergysolutions.com
September 25, 2020
Alaska Energy Authority
813 W. Northern Lights Blvd.
Anchorage, AK 99503
RE: Alaska Gateway School District Letter of Support for the Northway School
Dear Ms. St. Clair,
Please accept this letter of support for the Renewable Energy Program application for the
Alaska Gateway School District’s Walter Northway School Wood Chip Heating System. The
Alaska Gateway School District is proposing the construction of a wood chip system to heat
the school and garage, displacing approximately 23,000 gallons of imported heating fuel.
Plenergy Solutions is a subcontractor to the United State Forest Service providing technical support
for the development of biomass heating system in Alaska. Our staff will provide technical and start-
up support as in-kind match as this project moves forward.
The Alaska Gateway School District is making significant strides in their vision to reduce the risk of
disastrous wildfire and to use the hazardous fuels as a heating fuel to reduce energy costs in the
region. This is an effort that improves safety, creates economic development opportunities, increases
employment in an area of high poverty. The Northway School wood chip heating project will be an
important step in the region continued implementation of this regional strategy.
It is an honor to be working with this highly motivated team that has a vision to improve the safety
and sustainability upper Tanana region. Please let me know if I can provide any additional
information or answer any questions.
Sincerely,
Devany Plentovich
President, Plenergy Solutions