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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAll Letters of SupportTO; FROM: DATE: RE: ------·------------ UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station MEMORANDUM 'l Alaska Energy Authority ., I r! Cam! E. !.eM•, o.,.,. •mi Direrto< J !/(_{,:;rea zS November 9, 2009 -"' Support letter for Alaska Power & Telephone and Dalson Energy Office of the Dean & Director P.O. Box 757140 Failbanks, Alaska 99775-7140 Phcoe: (907) 474-7083 Fax: (907) 474-6567 ernail: fysnras@uaf.edu This Jetter is in support of the proposal titled "Alaska Biomass CHP Demonstration Pluject," a.~; proposed by Alaska Power & Telephone, and Dalson Energy to the Alaska Energy Authority under the Renewable Energy Fund-Round m. The proposal supports advancing the research, development and implementation of potentially commercial renewabNe energy technologies. The School of Natural Resources and AgricuJtural Sciences and the Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, as a part of their research, education, and outreach in the supply ~•ide of biomass that can be used in energy generation, appreciates the opportunity to support this project and looks forward ro future work with Dalson Energy to as.<>ure that appropriate biomass management is in place that will lead to a continuous supply for the new technology for power generation proposed here. Alaskans experience high energy costs and isolated generation grids. Emerging technologies that may not yet be viable elsewhere should be economical today in rural Alaska. Alaska also has significant renewable energy resources, including woody biomass. In order to make the most effective use of these resources, it is necessary to field test and demonstrate the viability of biomass energy conversion technologies in rural Alaska. The technology must meet the requirements of cold climate operations. and must include heating in addition to electric power generation. This project is designed to demonstrate the operational and financial viability of a gasification system connected to an JC engine with heat capture.lt will be designed to augment or replace existing diesel generation. This project also considers the local social and economic implications of such a project, which are critical to ensuring long-term project success. The proposed project dovetails with a number of ongoing initiatives in Alaska, including assisting with community energy planning in rural communities and assessing existing biomass systems. We hope you will consider funding this project, and are willing to lend whatever resources we can make available to assist the project team. Corporate Members Alaska Housing Finance ARXX Building Products BP Capitol Glass/ Northerm Windows Demilec, LLC DuPont GW Scientific Hebert Homes Hoffer Glass Insulfoam, LLC Maxximum Construction Inc. Pioneer Glass Siemens Spenard Builders Supply Thermo-Kool of Alaska Foundation Members Denali State Bank Hall Quality Homes Heat-Line, A Division of Christopher MacLean Lucky Distributing/ Monitor Products Inc. Mt. McKinley Bank NCP Design/Build, Ltd. Rasmuson Foundation Remote Power Inc. Usibelli Foundation Wallace Research Foundation Wells Fargo Bank Board of Directors Chair N. Claiborne Porter, Jr., AlA Vice-Chair Alan Wilson Treasurer Brent LeValley Secretary Richard Green Members Dave Miller jess Dilts jess Hall Chuck Renfro Kelley Roth Bill Semple john Straube, Ph.D. -~~--~·-------- COLD CLIMATE HOUSING RESEARCH CENTER RC TO: AEA Renewable Energy Fund Round III RE: proposal "Alaska Biomass CHP Demonstration Project" The Cold Climate Housing Research Center (CCHRC) is pleased to express its support of the proposal titled Alaska "Biomass CHP Demonstration Project," as proposed by Alaska Power & Telephone for grant funding to the Alaska Energy Authority. The potential impact this kind of combined heat and power (CHP) can have in rural communities with sustainable biomass resources is profound. Alaska leads the United States in annual heating degree days at 11,584. Many of its rural communities are in crisis situation brought on by the cost of fossil fuels, with some paying in excess of $6.00 per gallon for diesel and $1.00 per kWh for electricity. More than 100 rural communities in Alaska have potential access to biomass, providing extensive markets for CHP systems. Alaska needs to explore and demonstrate biomass CHP systems that can utilize forest and biogenic waste to power and heat rural communities at a lower cost of energy than fossil fuels. These systems produce an additional benefit of creating local jobs and retaining money in the community. The technologies to address the high costs of energy in Alaska are being developed at a rapid pace. It is critically important to test, demonstrate, and deploy the technologies that prove practical in the Alaska environment. The successes of the "Alaska Biomass CHP Demonstration Project," would provide pre-commercial systems that can become operational, affordable, and dependable. There is urgency to finding solutions quickly. The very economic and physical survival for many communities is at stake. Sincerely, Jack Hebert President/CEO P.O. Box 82489, Fairbanks, AK 99708 + 907.457.3454 + Fax: 907.457.3456 www.cchrc.org ACEP .ll,laska Center -~,.r Energy and Power November 1, 2009 To: From: Re: Alaska Energy Authority Renewable Energy Fund Review Committee Gwen Holdmann, Director, Alaska Center for Energy and Power Proposal "Alaska Biomass CHP Demonstration Pro}ect" To Whom It May Concern: Please accept this letter in support of the Alaska Power & Telephone proposal titled "Alaska Biomass CHP Demonstration Project," which they are submitting under Round Ill ofthe Renewable Energy Fund. Biomass CHP projects such as the one proposed by AP&T afford the best opportunity for medium sized communities to displace diesel fuel for both heating and electricity. While CHP projects have been developed in many other places in the world, they hav'e not recently been demonstrated in Alaska. The technology proposed by AP&T, including installation of a biomass gasification system connected to an internal combustion engine with heat capture wil.l allow maximum system efficiency, using off--the-shelf components. In addition, by installing the system on the road system and having a well- organized utility such as AP&T manage the project will give this technology the best chance at a successful pilot project. A large number of communities in Alaska have been identified as having economically developable biomass resources by the Alaska Energy Authority. Should this project prove successful, it could be duplicated in other regions. Sincerely, Gwen Holdmann Director, Alaska Center for Energy and Power University of Alaska Fairbanks gwen.holdmann@alaska.edu 907.590.0879 ' . ~ **~IBE~ * * Af:~Sb lndll!ltriod Oe\•elopmm and Export Authority July 24, 2009 Robert Grimm President and CEO Alaska Power & Telephone Company POBox3222 Port Townsend, WA 98368 Dear Mr. Grimm: The Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) is pleased to affirm our SUJ)pOlt for your proposed biomass-fired combined heat and power facility at Tok. · As lead state agency for energy planning and development, AEA recognizes the potential benefits that biomass and other renewable energy sources can provide--lower~cost and stably-priced energy~ local economic development, and reductions in gr~~enhouse gas· production. Given .AP &T' s track record as 1m innovative and capable utility, ample and accessible biomass resource in the Tok area, high community support, and favorable economics, we feel that the project holds substantial promise. We note that the proposed facility is consistent with Tok-area findings in the State's Energy Plan Guide 1 and the Governor's stated intent ofrenewables producing 50% of Alaska's power by 2025. Rural Alaska serves as an important demonstration ground for small-scale renewable · distributed generation .. Depending on future diesel prices and system cost!perfon:D.ance assumptions, we estimate that biomass-fired CHP is economically feasible in 7 to 46 rural Alaskan communities2. · Please let me know if I can provide additional infor.rn8.tion to individuals reviewing. yom proposal. Pet Crimp Program Manager Alternative: Energy and Energy Efficiency 1 http://www .!lkenergyautborltv.orWPDF%20:files/ AKo/o20Energyo/o20Fina1.pdf 2 http://www.iser.uaa.alaska.edu/Publications/AES Crimp Colt Fost:er.pdf 813 West Northern Lights Boulevard • Anchorage, Alaska 99503-2495 www.aidea.org • 907/771-3000 • FAX 9071771-3044 •Toll Free (Alaska Only) 888/300-8534 • www.akenergyautholity.org .6J...'t:& •• ~···!a=· ••• I"~-- National Renewable Energy laboratory Alaska Energy Authority 813 W. Northern Lights Blvd Anchorage, AK 99503 September 21, 2012 RE: AP&T Round 6 Renewable Energy Fund Grant Application, AEA-13-006, Upper Tanana Biomass CHP Project--Design and Permitting Dear AEA: Please accept this letter of support for Alaska Power and Telephone (AP&T) Renewable Energy Fund grant application referenced above. AP&T has been a statewide leader in developing innovative renewable energy solutions and their efforts to develop biomass CHP for the Upper Tanana region is another example of this initiative. This project has undergone substantial scrutiny and represents an important local fuels and cost saving opportunity for their customers and residents of the region. This area in particular has both a biomass energy resource and a hazardous fuels challenge, both of which can be addressed through this biomass CHP proposal. As well, the local economic multipliers that will result from harvesting local biomass are additional benefits for the region and the state. As currently configured, this project is also considering a district heating loop. This is an important element to manage the te:chnical reality that a CHP system produces significant heat relative to electricity and this heat must be used effectively for the project to be feasible. I encourage you to support this proposal for AP&T and for the residents of the Upper Tanana region. Please contact me at your convenience if you have any questions or would like additional information. Sincerely, Brian Hirsch, PhD Senior Project Leader-Alaska The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is a government-owned-contractor-operated facility managed and operated by Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC ("Alliance") under U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Contract No. DE-AC36- 08G028308.