HomeMy WebLinkAboutACEP Support letter FinalAC P
Alaska Center for Energy and Power
August 5, 2013
To The Alaska Energy Authority
813 West Northern Lights Blvd
Anchorage, Alaska 99503
Alaska Center for Energy and Power
University of Alaska Fairbanks
814 Alumni Dr. I PO Box 755910
Fairbanks, AK 99775-5910
(907) 474-5402 main
(907) 474-5475 fax
www.uaf.edu/acep
As the cost is energy increases, biomass energy can play an important role in rural Alaska. The coastal
community of Yakutat with a low average annual temperature heats homes and buildings year round.
Heating fuel currently costs $5.50 per gallon, and the community is actively seeking the best alternative
fuel for heating. As an initial step toward moving to more cost-effective energy, the City and Borough of
Yakutat (CBY) is proposing to install a biomass -fired district heating loop to heat three buildings owned
by the CBY and the Yak -Tat Kwaan ANCSA Corporation. This project will benefit the CBY, the Yakutat
Tlingit Tribe, and the Yak -Tat Kwaan through the expected savings by using locally harvested cord wood
to offset approximately 7700 gallons of heating fuel annually. The proposed project includes the potential
for job creation, and the creation of a local industry in supplying cordwood.
The Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP) plans to conduct research in conjunction with this
proposed project by monitoring the efficiency of the installed biomass boiler and the heat delivery system
to each building in the system. Through the use of in -line BTU flow monitoring devices and by
collaborating with the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation and the Environmental Protection Authority
on emissions resulting from this heating system, ACEP will be monitoring the overall success of the
project.
ACEP is in support of the CBY's application for the Round 7 Renewable Energy Fund Grant for this
district heating project, and looks forward to working with the community of Yakutat throughout this and
future projects.
Sincerely,
Gwen Holdmann, Director
Alaska Center for Energy and Power
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Gwen.Holdmann@alaska.edu
(907) 590-4577