HomeMy WebLinkAboutPart 2-Birch Creek AEA&' ALASKA
Renewable Energy Fund
Grant Application
have solar (Alatna, Ruby, Circle, Arctic Village, Venetie and Huslia). Cold Climate Housing
Research is in the process of analyzing the benefits of solar. What is missing is actual usable
data that is readily accessible to all.
2.5 PROJECT COST AND BENEFIT SUMARY
Include a summary of your project's total costs and benefits below.
2.5.1 Total Project Cost
(including estimates through construction.
$112,200.00
2.5.2 Grant Funds Requested in this application.
$89,600.00
2.5.3 Other Funds to be provided (Project match)
$22,600.00
2.5.4 Total Grant Costs (sum of 2.5.2 and 2.5.3)
$112,200.00
2.5.5 Estimated Benefit (Savings)
$30,0001 ear
2.5.6 Public Benefit (If you can calculate the benefit in terms of
dollars please provide that number here and explain how
you calculated that number in your application.)
$
AEA 09-004 Grant Application Page 4 of 13 913i2008
ALASKA Renewable Energy Fund
WL ENERGY AUTHORITY Grant Application
SECTION 3 -- PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN
Describe who will be responsible for managing the project and provide a plan for successfully
completing the project within the scope, schedule and budget proposed in the application.
3.1 Project Manager
Tell us who will be managing the project for the Grantee and include a resume and references
for the manager(s). If the applicant does not have a project manager indicate how you intend to
solicit project management Support. If the applicant expects project management assistance
from AEA or another government entity, state that in this section.
The project will be managed by Steve Minnema, an electrical administrator who has specific
experience designing and installing solar arrays in villages. Mr. Minnema has his own business
and also serves as the electrical administrator for Interior Regional Housing Authority. In that
capacity, Mr. Minnema has designed and installed solar systems in at least three villages that
are currently operating as expected. He will order the equipment (having already designed the
system) and accept responsibility for the installation and initial start-up operations. He will be
assisted by local labor provided by the Tribal Council.
3.2 Project Schedule
Include a schedule for the proposed work that will be funded by this grant. (You may include a
chart or table attachment with a summary of dates below.) _
Upon notification of a successful grant application, Birch Creek Village Council will order the
equipment. Mr. Minnema has already provided the specifications for the dual solar arrays.
Equipment will be delivered to Fairbanks and stored at Interior Regional Housing Authority
until spring. At that time, the solar equipment will be shipped to Birch creek. Installation will
take no longer than a week and operations will commence immediately.
3.3 Project Milestones
Define key tasks and decision points in your project and a schedule for achieving them.
Secure funding — 2009
Order equipment — 2009
Install equipment/complete project — 2009
The project milestones are relatively straightforward. Once funding is secured, equipment will
be order, shipped and installed. Iffunding is secured early enough in 2009, the solar arrays will
be operational in early summer of 2009. Iffunding is secured later in the year, the same
milestones and schedule will apply with the exception of it occurring in 2010.
3.4 Project Resources
Describe the personnel, contractors, equipment, and services you will use to accomplish the
project. Include any partnerships or commitments with other entities you have or anticipate will
be needed to complete your project. Describe any existing contracts and the selection process
you may use for major equipment purchases or contracts. Include brief resumes and references
for Known, key personnel, contractors, and suppliers as an attachment to your application.
The project is fairly straightforward. For equipment, we will be purchasing two 21 panel Grid
Sell System — AZ225 Tracker. The systems include 21 Kyocera solar panels, one 21 panel dual
axis tracker, one tracker power supply kit, one 8" pipe and foundation and array wiring and
grounding and miscellaneous electrical equipment and one grid -tie Inverter. In addition a 35 kw
generator will be installed in the auxiliary generator building.
AEA 09-004 Grant Application Page 5 of 13 9/3/2008
real,c) ALAS1%
Renewable Energy Fund
Grant Application
Labor will be provided by a licensed electrical administrator. Assistance for the electrical
administrator will be provided through the Birch Creek Village Council employment service.
The Tribe has developed a list of Interior Region residents who are willing work; four are
located in Birch Creek and have already been screened for aptitude. Denduu Corporation, the
Birch Creek tribal corporation, will provide project management and oversight.
3.5 Project Communications
Discuss how you plan to monitor the project and keep the Authority informed of the status.
Birch Creek Village Council will report to AEA on the milestone events — upon ordering
equipment, receipt of equipment at the site and upon completion of installation. In addition,
Birch Creek Village Council will report on a quarterly basis for two years on the operation of
the solar arrays, energy generated, any maintenance issues and specific fuel savings attributed
to the project. Anecdotally, there is a belief in the state that solar is not a viable alternative
energy system because of the limited daylight in the winter. This project, although small, can
serve to either confirm and dispel the notion that solar does/does not work in Interior Alaska.
3.6 Project Risk
Discuss potential problems and how you would address them.
There are minimal risks associated with this project. Other communities in the Interior utilize
solar, although information on the success of those projects is largely anecdotal. The capital
costs of this project are small, and if estimates are correct, it will pay for itself in 2.5 years. The
only risk with this project is that the payback will not occur in the estimated 2.5 years.
SECTION 4 — PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND TASKS
Tell us what the project is and how you will meet the requirements outlined in Section 2 of
the RFA. The level of information will vary according to phase of the project you propose to
undertake with grant funds.
If you are applying for grant funding for more than one phase of a project provide a plan and
grant budget for completion of each phase.
If some work has already been completed on your project and you are requesting funding for
an advanced phase, submit information sufficient to demonstrate that the preceding phases
are satisfied and funding for an advanced phase is warranted.
4.1 Proposed Energy Resource
Describe the potential extentlamount of the energy resource that is available.
Discuss the pros and cons of your proposed energy resource vs. other alternatives that may be
available for the market to be served by your project.
Although at first glance, solar energy in Interior Alaska would appear to be counter -intuitive,
recent installations have proved solar to be a viable alternative energy strategy. Birch Creek
examined the experience of Interior Regional Housing AuthoriLy and other sources. Based on
AEA 09-004 Grant Application Page 6 of 13 9/3/2008