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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013 Renewable Energy Atlas Of Alaska 2013-AApril 2013 Why Renewable Energy is Important enewable resources, over the long term, can provide energy at a known cost that can hedge against volatile fuel prices and dampen the effects of inflation. With some of the best renewable energy resources in the country, Alaska has an opportunity to be a leader in their development, save communities millions of dollars in energy costs each year, and bring new revenue streams into the state’s economy. As concerns about rising fossil fuel prices, energy security, and climate change increase, renewable resources play a key role in providing local, clean, and inexhaustible energy to supply Alaska’s growing demand for electricity, heat, and transportation fuel. Because there are limited fuel costs associated with generating electricity and heat from renewable sources, more Alaskans are looking to resources like hydropower, wind, biomass, geothermal, solar, tides, and waves. Alaskans are also increasingly saving heat and electricity through energy efficiency and conservation measures, keeping dollars in the state’s economy, creating more stable and resilient communities, and helping to achieve the state goal of 50% renewable energy by 2025. R he Renewable Energy Atlas of Alaska is designed as a resource for the public, policy makers, advocates, landowners, developers, utility companies and others interested in furthering the production of electricity, heat and fuels from hydro, wind, biomass, geothermal, solar, and ocean power resources. Produced with the use of geographic information system (GIS) technology, this Atlas brings together renewable resource maps and data into a single comprehensive publicly available document. The maps contained in this Atlas do not eliminate the need for on-site resource assessment. However, they do provide an estimate of the available resources. The Atlas is posted on the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) website, akenergyauthority.org, and the Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP) website, realaska.org. The revised map data is expected to be available by December 2013 in interactive format at the State of Alaska’s energy inventory website at akenergyinventory.org. Table of Contents .............................................2 ...............................................................................6 ..........................................................................8 ......................................................................10 ............................................12 ...................................................................................14 ..................................................................................16 ....................................................18 .......................20 ................................................22 ...............................................................26 ................................28 .............................................................................30 .....................................................................32 .........................................................33 ..........................................33 T Photo Credits Above, left to right: Doug Ogden, Jim D. Barr, Michael DeYoung, Danny Daniels, Michael DeYoung, Doug Ogden. Below, left to right: Marsh Creek LLC, Cordova Electric Cooperative, Alaska Energy Authority, Todd Paris/UAF, Alaska Energy Authority, Chena Hot Springs Resort. Photographs by Doug Ogden, Jim D. Barr, Michael DeYoung, and Danny Daniels, © 2013 by the photographers/Alaska Stock. Alaska’s Energy Infrastructure Biomass Geothermal Hydroelectric Ocean and River Hydrokinetic Solar Wind Renewable Energy Fund Renewable Energy Fund Project Highlights Renewable Energy Policies Energy Efficiency Energy Efficiency Program Highlights Glossary Data Sources For More Information Acknowledgments and Thanks P 6 ( $ % ( 5 , 1 * , 6 / $ 1 ' 6 $ / ( 8 7 , $ 1 :UDQJHOO $5&7,&2&($1 *8 /)2 )$/$6 .$ 9DOGH] 8QDODVND'XWFK+DUERU +RPHU .HQDL6ROGRWQD .R GLDN .RW]HEXH 1RPH .HWFKLNDQ 6LWND %DUURZ %HWKHO )D LUEDQNV -XQHDX 3D OPHU$QFKRUDJH *DOHQD 7R N 'LOOLQJKDP :D VLOOD    0LOHV Alaska’s Energy Infrastructure W ith 16% of the country’s landmass and less than 0.3% of its population, Alaska’s unique geography has driven development of its energy supply infrastructure— power plants, power lines, natural gas pipelines, bulk fuel “tank farms” and related facilities. Alaska has more than 150 stand-alone electrical grids serving rural villages, and larger transmission grids in Southeast Alaska and the Railbelt. The Railbelt electrical grid follows the Alaska Railroad from Fairbanks through Anchorage to the Kenai Peninsula and provides 80% of the state’s electrical energy. Powered by wood until 1927, Fairbanks switched to coal after the Railroad provided access to the Nenana and Healy coalfields. The Anchorage area has enjoyed relatively low-cost heating and power since expansion of the Eklutna hydropower plant in 1955 and major Cook Inlet oil and gas discoveries in the 1960s. Completed in 1986, the AEA-owned Willow – Healy Intertie now provides power from diverse energy sources to the six Railbelt electrical utilities. Nearly 75% of the Railbelt’s electricity comes from natural gas. Major power generation facilities along the Railbelt include Chugach Electric Association’s 430 MW natural gas-fired plant west of Anchorage at Beluga, Anchorage Municipal Light and Power’s (ML&P) 266 MW natural gas-fired plant in Anchorage, Golden Valley Electric Association’s 129 MW facility near Fairbanks fueled by naptha from the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, and the 126 MW AEA-owned Bradley Lake hydroelectric plant near Homer. Chugach Electric and ML&P’s new 183 MW natural gas-fired power plant in Anchorage was commissioned in 2013. 2 Homer Electric Association broke ground on a 35 MW steam turbine in Nikiski in 2012, and has plans to build a 50 MW natural gas power plant in Soldotna in the near future. In Palmer, Matanuska Electric Association plans to construct a 171 MW dual fuel generation station near Eklutna that can burn natural gas or diesel. All of these generators will decrease reliance on less efficient 40-year-old gas generators at Beluga. Wind turbines are also sprouting up on the Railbelt, including 17.6 MW at Fire Island near Anchorage, 24.6 MW near Healy and 1.0 MW at Delta. At the end of 2013 a little more than 2,000 MW of installed power generation capacity will exist along the Railbelt, serving an average annual load of about 600 MW and a peak load of more than 800 MW. During the early 1980s, the state completed four hydropower projects to serve Ketchikan, Kodiak, Petersburg, Valdez and Wrangell. At 76 MW, the “Four Dam Pool” projects displace the equivalent of about 20 million gallons of diesel for annual power production. Major hydro facilities in the communities of Juneau and Sitka are now being expanded. With some notable exceptions, most of Alaska’s remaining power and heating needs are fueled by diesel that is barged from Lower 48 suppliers or transported from refineries in Nikiski, North Pole and Valdez. After freeze-up, many remote communities rely on fuel stored in tank farms, or pay a premium for fuel flown in by air tankers. State and federal authorities continue to support programs to fix leaky tanks, improve power generation and generation efficiency, and exploit local renewable energy sources such as wind, biomass, and hydro. P 6 ( $ % ( 5 , 1 * , 6 / $ 1 ' 6 $ / ( 8 7 , $ 1 :UDQJHOO $5&7,&2&($1 *8 /)2 )$/$6 .$ 9DOGH] 8QDODVND'XWFK+DUERU +RPHU .HQDL6ROGRWQD .R GLDN .RW]HEXH 1RPH .HWFKLNDQ 6LWND %DUURZ %HWKHO )D LUEDQNV -XQHDX 3D OPHU$QFKRUDJH *DOHQD 7R N 'LOOLQJKDP :D VLOOD    0LOHV Infrastructure fuel 3 Renewable Energy Atlas of Alaska         0F&DUWK\ &KHQHJD%D\ &KLFNHQ (NOXWQD/DNH 6RORPRQ *XOFK 3RZHU&UHHN  )LUH,VODQG (YD&UHHN +RPHU .HQDL $QFKRUDJH :D VLOOD 3DOPHU (DJOH5LYHU 9DOGH] *OHQQDOOHQ 7R N &RUGRYD &DQWZHOO   &RRSHU /DNH 3HGUR%D\ .R NKDQRN ,JLXJLJ ,OLDPQD 7D]LPLQD &KHQD /LPH9LOODJH 3RUW$OVZRUWK 7H OLGD 1RQGDOWRQ 1HZKDOHQ 6ODQD :KLWWLHU 3D[VRQ 'HOWD-XQFWLRQ 6XVLWQD 5DPSDUW 'RW/DNH 6NZHQWQD 'U\&UHHN 7D QDFURVV /LYHQJRRG )RUW*UHHO\ /DNH/RXLVH /DNH0LQFKXPLQD 0DQOH\ 0LQWR7DQDQD +HDO\/DNH 7H WOLQ 7D WLWOHN &KLVWRFKLQD 1LNRODL 0F*UDWK 7D NRWQD 5XE\ 6HOGRYLD &KLWLQD 0HQWDVWD /DNH 1DQZDOHN 1RUWK3ROH 7D ONHHWQD 6HZDUG 7\RQHN %UDGOH\/DNH +XPSEDFN&UHHN %HOXJD 1LNLVNL )D LUEDQNV (LHOVRQ$)% &OHDU$)% +HDO\& 2 2 .  , 1 / ( 7 35,1&(:,//,$0 6281' *8/)2)$/$6.$                $NKLRN .DUOXN $OHQHYD 2OG+DUERU &KLQLDN .R GLDN /DUVHQ%D\ :RPHQV%D\ 2X]LQNLH 3RUW/LRQV 7HUURU/DNH6+(/,.2)675$,74 Infrastructure: Fairbanks to Kodiak Coal; 5.9% Gas; 57.8% Oil; 15.6% Hydro; 20.3% Wind; 0.3% Average Statewide Electrical Generation in Alaska by Energy Source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nfrastructure: Southeast Alaska Average Electrical Generation Electric Transmission Electric Service Areas Major Pipelines MW > 100 kV Anchorage M unicipal Light & Power Chugach E lectric Association Copper Valley Electric Association Golden V alley Electric Association Homer Electric Association Matanuska Electric Association City of Seward Electric < 100 kV GasOil Coal Hydro-electric W ind B io-mass S olar G eo-t hermal < 0.1 0.1 - 1 1 - 10 > 10 Natural Gas Pipelines Trans-Alaska P ipeline Major Transportation Roads Railroad Infrastructure B io-fuel *Statewide wind generation is anticipated to increase to 2% in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laska’s primary biomass fuels are wood, sawmill wastes, fish byproducts and municipal waste. Wood remains an important renewable energy source for Alaskans. More than 100,000 cords of wood are burned in the form of cordwood, chips and pellets annually. Closure of major pulp mills in Sitka and Ketchikan in the 1990s ended large-scale, wood-fired power generation in Alaska. However, the price of oil has raised interest in using sawdust and wood wastes for lumber drying, space heating, and small-scale power production. In 2010 the Tok School installed a chip- fired boiler, displacing approximately 65,000 gallons of fuel oil annually. Also in 2010, Sealaska Corporation installed the state’s first large-scale pellet boiler at its headquarters in Juneau. Additional wood-fired boilers have been installed in: Sitka, Craig, Kasilof, Dot Lake, Tanana, Coffman Cove, and Gulkana. More than 40 other projects are being considered across the state. Interest in manufacturing wood pellets continues to rise. Currently, there are small and large-scale plants operating in Alaska. The largest facility, Superior Pellets, is located in North Pole and is capable of producing an estimated 30,000 tons of pellets per year. A Raw fish oil and fish oil biodiesel from the Unisea plant in Dutch Harbor. 6 Alaska Energy AuthorityBiomass Every year groundfish processors in Unalaska, Kodiak and other locations produce approximately 8 million gallons of Pollack oil as a byproduct of fishmeal plants. The oil is used as boiler fuel for drying the fishmeal or exported to Pacific Rim markets for livestock and aquaculture feed supplements and other uses. In 2001, with assistance from the State of Alaska, processor UniSea Inc. conducted successful tests of raw fish oil/diesel blends in a 2.2 MW engine generator. Today UniSea uses about 1.5 million gallons of fish oil a year to operate their generators, boilers and fishmeal dryers. Many Alaskans use vegetable oils, recycled cooking oils, and other animal fats to manufacture biodiesel engine fuels. In 2010, Alaska Waste opened the state’s first large-scale biodiesel refinery, producing up to 250,000 gallons annually from local restaurant vegetable oil waste. Alaska Waste plans to use the biodiesel to fuel up to 20% of its vehicles. The Alaska Energy Authority is working with the University of Alaska, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and the National Park Service to test biodiesel generators at the UAF campus and Denali National Park. Alaskans generate approximately 650,000 tons of garbage per year. In North Pole, Chena Power is developing a 400 kW power plant that will burn 4,300 tons of waste paper and other biomass annually. In 2012, the Municipality of Anchorage and Doyon Utilities commissioned a 5.6 MW methane power plant at the city’s landfill to provide over 25% of Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson’s electrical load. It is possible that Alaska’s agricultural lands may be used to produce energy crops, such as rapeseed, to produce biodiesel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enewable Energy Atlas of Alaska                                                          % ( 5 , 1 * 6 ( $ , 6 / $ 1 ' 6 $ / ( 8 7 , $ 1 $5&7,&2&($1 *8 /)2 )$/$6 .$ 9DOGH] +RPHU .HQDL6ROGRWQD .R GLDN .RW]HEXH 1RPH .H WFKLNDQ 6LWND %DUURZ %HWKHO )DLUEDQNV -XQHDX :D VLOOD $QFKRUDJH 'LOOLQJKDP *DOHQD 7R N 3D OPHU $NXWDQ 8QDODVND'XWFK+DUERU &KHQD +RW6SULQJV 0RXQW6SXUU %DUDQRI,VODQG  0LOHV laska has four distinct geothermal resource regions: 1) the Interior Hot Springs, running from the Yukon Territory of Canada to the Seward Peninsula, 2) the Southeast Hot Springs, 3) the Wrangell Mountains and 4) the “Ring of Fire” volcanoes, which include the Aleutians, the Alaska Peninsula, and Mt. Edgecumbe on Kruzof Island. Interior and Southeast Alaska have low to moderate temperature geothermal systems with surface expressions as hot springs. The Wrangell Mountains have several active volcanoes with unknown geothermal energy development potential. The Ring of Fire hosts several high-temperature hydrothermal systems, typically seen on the surface as hot springs, geysers, and fumarole fields. Use of geothermal resources falls into two categories: direct use and electricity production. Direct use includes applications such as district heating, greenhouses, absorption chilling and swimming pool heating. Several potential geothermal resources are currently being explored across Alaska. Ongoing studies are underway 80 miles west of Anchorage at Mt. Spurr. In 2008 the State awarded geothermal leases to Ormat Technologies, Inc. After extensive investigations and drilling in 2011, Ormat did not encounter temperatures capable of supporting a power plant.The company is now looking for other drilling targets within the lease area. Akutan in the Aleutians is another potential geothermal site. In 2010, the City of Akutan drilled two exploratory wells at Hot Springs Valley, encountering 359°F water at 585 feet. Exploratory fieldwork continued through 2012 in preparation for additional drilling. A 8 Geothermal Exploration in the 1980s near Mt. Makushin outside of Dutch Harbor indicated that tens of megawatts could be generated from geothermal resources there. In 2012, several exploration wells were completed at Pilgrim Hot Springs on the Seward Peninsula in order to assess the region’s resource potential. A 2011 reconnaissance study has also been examining a potential geothermal resource at Tenakee Inlet Hot Springs in Southeast Alaska. In the Interior, Chena Hot Springs Resort is an example of diverse geothermal energy use - providing heat and power to its facilities, swimming pools, and greenhouses. The resort utilizes organic rankine cycle generators with a total capacity of 680 kW that run on 165°F water, the lowest temperature for an operating geothermal power plant in the world. In 2005, the resort installed a 16-ton absorption chiller and uses geothermal energy to keep an outdoor ice museum frozen year-round. Ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems are another use of geothermal energy. These electrically powered systems tap the relatively constant temperature of surrounding earth or water bodies to provide heating and cooling. More than 50,000 of these systems are installed in the US each year. In Alaska, heat pump systems are used for space heating homes, commercial buildings and public facilities. The Juneau Airport GSHP, in operation since 2011, has saved an estimated $190,000 in displaced diesel fuel. The City & Borough of Juneau also uses a GSHP system to help heat the Dimond Park Aquatic Center. In 2012, the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward installed a system that taps heat from seawater in Resurrection Bay. GSHP systems are most applicable in areas with low electric rates and high heating costs. Geotechnical conditions like permafrost are also a factor.                                                          % ( 5 , 1 * 6 ( $ , 6 / $ 1 ' 6 $ / ( 8 7 , $ 1 $5&7,&2&($1 *8 /)2 )$/$6 .$ 9DOGH] +RPHU .HQDL6ROGRWQD .R GLDN .RW]HEXH 1RPH .H WFKLNDQ 6LWND %DUURZ %HWKHO )DLUEDQNV -XQHDX :D VLOOD $QFKRUDJH 'LOOLQJKDP *DOHQD 7R N 3D OPHU $NXWDQ 8QDODVND'XWFK+DUERU &KHQD +RW6SULQJV 0RXQW6SXUU %DUDQRI,VODQG  0LOHV 9 Geothermal < 55° 55° - 100° 100° - 200° 200° - 300° > 300° Renewable Energy Atlas of Alaska                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6 ( $ % ( 5 , 1 * $ / ( 8 7 , $ 1 , 6 / $ 1 ' 6 $5&7,&2&($1 *8 /)2 )$/$6 .$ 9D OGH] 8QDODVND'XWFK+DUERU +RPHU .HQDL6ROGRWQD .RGLDN .RW]HEXH 1RPH .HWFKLNDQ 6LWND %DUURZ %HWKHO )D LUEDQNV -XQHDX :D VLOOD $QFKRUDJH *DOHQD 7R N 'LOOLQJKDP 3D OPHU  0LOHV ydroelectric power, Alaska’s largest source of renewable energy, supplies 20% of the state’s electricity in an average water year. In 2012, 37 hydro projects provided power to Alaska utility customers, including the 126 MW AEA-owned Bradley Lake project near Homer, which supplies 8% of the Railbelt’s electricity. Most of the state’s developed hydro resources are located in Southcentral, the Alaska Peninsula, and Southeast – mountainous regions with moderate to high precipitation. Outside the Railbelt, major communities supplied with hydropower are: Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Wrangell, Petersburg, Haines, Skagway, Kodiak, Valdez, Cordova and Glennallen. The 6 MW Blue Lake project near Sitka is an example of a project that stores energy by impounding water in a reservoir behind a dam. Sitka plans to raise the 145 foot dam another 83 feet and increase the generators’ capacity to 16.9 MW. This 50% increase will boost Blue Lake’s annual energy generation to 33 GWh. At Terror Lake, Kodiak Electric Association is installing a third 10 MW unit, increasing powerhouse capacity to 30 MW. This added capacity will meet peak load demands without operating diesel generators. Terror Lake also acts as an energy reservoir by collecting inflow for future hydropower generation during times when the 9 MW wind farm at Pillar Mountain is actively producing power. Other projects provide hydro storage without dam construction through the natural impoundment of existing lakes. The 31 MW Crater Lake project, part of H 10 Hydroelectric the AEA-owned Snettisham project near Juneau, includes a “lake tap” near the bottom of the lake that supplies water to a powerhouse at sea level through a 1.5-mile long tunnel. Eklutna Lake, near Anchorage, is also a lake tap system. Still other projects increase annual energy production by diverting rivers to existing hydroelectric storage reservoirs and power plants. These projects allow more efficient use of existing infrastructure, including intake structures and dams, powerhouses and generation equipment, roads and transmission lines. Planned projects like this include the Stetson Creek diversion to Cooper Lake near Kenai and the proposed diversion of Battle Creek to Bradley Lake near Homer. Smaller “run-of-river” projects use more modest structures to divert a portion of the natural river flow through penstocks to turbines making power. The 824 kW Tazimina project near Iliamna diverts water into an intake 250 feet upstream from a 100-foot waterfall through a steel penstock to an underground powerhouse, and then releases it back into the river near the base of the falls. Other run-of-river projects include Falls Creek at Gustavus and Chuniisax Creek in Atka. Projects at Packers Creek in Chignik Lagoon, Waterfall Creek in King Cove and Gartina Falls near Hoonah are under consideration. A major hydroelectric project first proposed in the 1980s is again under consideration. The Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) is pursuing a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license for Susitna- Watana Hydro. The 600 MW hydroelectric storage project at Mile 184 of the Susitna River will provide 2.8 million MWh annually. Susitna-Watana Hydro is a 735-foot dam that will provide more than half the Railbelt’s average annual electric load.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6 ( $ % ( 5 , 1 * $ / ( 8 7 , $ 1 , 6 / $ 1 ' 6 $5&7,&2&($1 *8 /)2 )$/$6 .$ 9D OGH] 8QDODVND'XWFK+DUERU +RPHU .HQDL6ROGRWQD .RGLDN .RW]HEXH 1RPH .HWFKLNDQ 6LWND %DUURZ %HWKHO )D LUEDQNV -XQHDX :D VLOOD $QFKRUDJH *DOHQD 7R N 'LOOLQJKDP 3D OPHU  0LOHV 11 Hydroelectric Renewable Energy Atlas of Alaska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laska has thousands of miles of coastline, providing vast potential for tidal and wave energy development. Alaskan rivers can also be a potential resource, using river in-stream and tidal energy technologies that could supply some of Alaska’s energy needs. Tidal and river in-stream energy can be extracted using hydrokinetic devices. These devices are placed directly into a river or tidal current and are powered by the kinetic energy of moving water. The available power is a function of the water current’s speed. In contrast, traditional hydropower uses a diversion structure or a dam to supply a combination of hydraulic head and water volume to a turbine generating power. Hydrokinetic devices require a minimum current and water depth to operate. Speeds of 2-4 knots are the minimum required, while 5-7 knots provide for optimum operation. Ideal locations for hydrokinetic devices provide significant flow throughout the year and are not susceptible to serious flood events, turbulence, debris or extended periods of low water. Tidal energy is a concentrated form of the gravitational energy exerted by the moon and, to a lesser extent, the sun. Cook Inlet, with North America’s second largest tidal range, has attracted interest as an energy source for the Railbelt. To quantify this, the Alaska Energy Authority is partnering with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to create a model of Cook Inlet’s tidal energy potential. Results should be available in late 2013. In addition, Ocean Renewable Power Company, LLC (ORPC) 12 Ocean and River Hydrokinetic A was awarded grant funding for the planned installation of a 150kW pilot project off the coast of Nikiski. Construction is planned for 2014. In 2012, ORPC installed the nation’s first commercial grid-tied tidal power project in northern Maine. Wave energy is the result of wind acting on the ocean surface. Alaska has one of the strongest wave resources in the world, with parts of the Aleutian Islands coast averaging more than 50 kW per meter of wave front. The challenge is lack of energy demand near the resource. Much of Alaska’s wave energy is dissipated on remote, undeveloped shorelines. Other substantial wave energy areas include the southern side of the Alaska Peninsula and coastlines of Kodiak and Southeast Alaska. The best prospect for wave energy development in Alaska may be at Yakutat, where studies for a 750 kW pilot project will soon be underway. Many rural Alaskan communities situated along navigable waterways have the potential to host river in-stream hydrokinetic installations. The University of Alaska is completing a statewide assessment of in-stream hydrokinetic potential in rural Alaska, and systems have been tested on the Yukon River near Ruby and Eagle. Additional tests are planned in the Kvichak and Tanana Rivers. While there are clearly many opportunities, significant environmental and technical challenges remain for the widespread commercial deployment of wave, tidal, and in-river devices. However, these technologies are evolving rapidly and are being demonstrated at more sites around the world each year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cean and River Hydrokinetic 1500 - 1700220 - 450 50 - 220 600 - 900 Identified Wave Power Density < 10 10 - 20 20 - 30 1.3 - 25 25 - 100 100 - 220 30 - 40 40 - 50 50 - 60 Renewable Energy Atlas of Alaska                     % ( 5 , 1 * $5&7,&2&($1 6 ( $ $ / ( 8 7 , $ 1 , 6 / $ 1 ' 6 *8 /)2 )$/$6 .$ 9DOGH] +RPHU .HQDL6ROGRWQD .RGLDN .RW]HEXH 1RPH .HWFKLNDQ 6LWND %DUURZ %HWKHO )DLUEDQNV -XQHDX :D VLOOD $QFKRUDJH 'LOOLQJKDP *DOHQD 7R N 3DOPHU 8QDODVND'XWFK+DUERU  0LOHV Solar laska’s high latitude presents the challenge of having minimal solar energy during long winter months when energy demand is greatest. However, solar energy plays an important role in small, off-grid power generation and low-power applications such as remote communications sites. In Alaska, careful building design and construction can minimize the use of heating fuel. “Passive solar” design includes proper southern orientation and the use of south-facing windows that transfer the sun’s energy into the building through natural processes of conduction, convection, and radiation. Passive solar design employs windows, thermal mass and proper insulation to enable the building itself to function as a solar collector. “Solar thermal” heating systems use pumps or fans to move energy to a point of use, such as a domestic hot water tank. Typical homes demand a large amount of fuel year-round for domestic hot water, so using the sun to heat water for even seven or eight months a year saves significant amounts of energy. A larger role for solar thermal hot water A 14 systems in Alaska is emerging as heating systems advance – allowing solar-heated fluid to supply in-floor systems currently heated by fuel boilers. Solar thermal heating demonstration projects have been completed in Nome, Kotzebue and in McKinley Village, and are providing performance and economic data. During long summer days, photovoltaic (PV) panels can be the ideal power source for remote fish camps, lodges and cabins in stand-alone systems with relatively low power demand. Increased worldwide demand and larger scale production of panel components have cut solar panel costs by 80% over the last five years. Even though the longest day is in June, the greatest amount of solar energy that can be harnessed in Alaska is in March, April and May, when panels receive direct sunlight in addition to snow-reflected light. Coupled with cool temperatures that reduce electrical resistance, PV systems can actually exceed their rated output during this time of year.                     % ( 5 , 1 * $5&7,&2&($1 6 ( $ $ / ( 8 7 , $ 1 , 6 / $ 1 ' 6 *8 /)2 )$/$6 .$ 9DOGH] +RPHU .HQDL6ROGRWQD .RGLDN .RW]HEXH 1RPH .HWFKLNDQ 6LWND %DUURZ %HWKHO )DLUEDQNV -XQHDX :D VLOOD $QFKRUDJH 'LOOLQJKDP *DOHQD 7R N 3DOPHU 8QDODVND'XWFK+DUERU  0LOHV * *Insolation is a measure of the amount of solar radiation received on a given surface area. Solar < 2.0 2.0 - 2.5 2.5 - 3.0 3.0 - 3.5 3.5 - 4.0 4.0 - 4.5 4.5 - 5.0 5.0 - 5.5 5.5 - 6.0 6.0 - 6.5 15 Renewable Energy Atlas of Alaska                     % ( 5 , 1 * $5&7,&2&($1 6 ( $ $ / ( 8 7 , $ 1 , 6 / $ 1 ' 6 *8 /)2 )$/$6 .$ 9DOGH] +RPHU .HQDL6ROGRWQD .R GLDN .R W]HEXH 1RPH .HWFKLNDQ 6LWND %DUURZ %HWKHO )DLUEDQNV -XQHDX :D VLOOD $QFKRUDJH 'LOOLQJKDP *DOHQD 7R N 3DOPHU 8QDODVND'XWFK+DUERU  0LOHV A Wind power technologies that are used in Alaska range from small systems at off-grid homes and remote camps, to medium-sized wind-diesel hybrid power systems in isolated villages, to large industrial turbines on the Railbelt and in towns like Kodiak and Kotzebue. On the Railbelt, utilities and independent power producers have installed three wind projects to diversify the region’s energy mix and provide a hedge against rising fossil fuel prices. Those projects are a 17.6 MW wind farm near Anchorage on Fire Island, Golden Valley Electric Association’s 24.6 MW Eva Creek wind farm near Healy, and a 1 MW wind farm near Delta Junction that is slated to nearly double its size in 2013. At the end of 2012, Alaska had a total installed wind capacity of 63.8 MW. Rural Alaska, which is largely powered by expensive diesel fuel, has seen rapid development of community-scale wind-diesel systems in recent years. In 2009, Kodiak Electric Association (KEA) installed the state’s first megawatt-scale turbines and then doubled the size of its wind farm in 2012. The project’s six 1.5 MW turbines now supply more than 18% of the community’s electricity. Combined with the Terror Lake hydroelectric project, KEA can now shut off their diesel generators almost all year. Alaska Village Electric Cooperative has wind- diesel hybrid systems installed in 10 of the 55 Western and Interior villages it serves, and is developing projects in at least five other communities. Unalakleet Valley Electric Cooperative added a 600 kW wind farm in 2009. That same year a private for-profit corporation funded the installation of an 18-turbine 1.17 MW wind farm in Nome. Kotzebue added two 900 kW turbines in 2012, more than doubling its wind capacity. laska has abundant wind resources available for energy development. Increased costs associated with fossil fuel-based generation and improvements in wind power technology make this clean, renewable energy resource attractive to many communities. The wind map on these pages shows the potential for wind energy development. The colors represent the estimated Wind Power Class in each area, with Class 1 being the weakest and Class 7 the strongest. The quality of a wind resource is key to determining the feasibility of a project, but other important factors to consider include the size of a community’s electrical load, the price of displaced fuels such as diesel, turbine foundation costs, the length of transmission lines and other site-specific variables. Alaska’s best wind resources are largely located in the western and coastal portions of the state. In parts of Southwest Alaska turbines may actually need to be sited away from the strongest winds to avoid extreme gusts and turbulence. While average wind speeds tend to be much lower in the Interior, areas such as Healy and Delta Junction have strong wind resources. The quality of the wind resource is very site specific so it is critical to measure the wind resource before starting development. Site specific wind resource data from around the state has been collected through the Alaska Energy Authority’s anemometer loan program and is available on AEA’s website akenergyauthority.org. 16 Wind                     % ( 5 , 1 * $5&7,&2&($1 6 ( $ $ / ( 8 7 , $ 1 , 6 / $ 1 ' 6 *8 /)2 )$/$6 .$ 9DOGH] +RPHU .HQDL6ROGRWQD .R GLDN .RW]HEXH 1RPH .HWFKLNDQ 6LWND %DUURZ %HWKHO )DLUEDQNV -XQHDX :D VLOOD $QFKRUDJH 'LOOLQJKDP *DOHQD 7R N 3DOPHU 8QDODVND'XWFK+DUERU  0LOHV Wind Poor Marginal Fair Good Excellent Outstanding Superb < 200 200 - 300 300 - 400 400 - 500 500 - 600 600 - 700 > 800 Wind Power Class Resource Potential Wind Power Density at 50mWatts/m2 17 Renewable Energy Atlas of Alaska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laska’s Renewable Energy Fund (REF) was created by the Alaska Legislature in 2008 with the intent to appropriate $50 million a year for five years to develop renewable energy projects across the state, particularly in areas with the highest energy costs. In 2012 the Legislature extended the program for another 10 years, until 2023. The REF is administered by the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) and has been a major stimulus for renewable energy projects across Alaska. Since 2008, the Legislature has appropriated $202.5 million for 227 qualifying projects. Grants have been awarded for reconnaissance and feasibility studies, as well as design and construction projects covering a wide range of technologies and geographic areas – from wind turbines in Quinhagak to a hydroelectric project in Gustavus to a ground source heat pump system at the Juneau airport to a heat recovery system in North Pole. The program is helping communities stabilize energy prices by reducing their dependence on costly diesel fuel for power generation and space heating. By fall 2012, 22 projects had displaced more than 4.8 million gallons of diesel fuel worth nearly $20 million. These numbers are expected to increase dramatically in 2013 as many more projects become operational. Newer projects include the Eva Creek wind farm near Healy, Nome’s Banner Peak wind expansion, the Alaska SeaLife Center’s seawater heat pump and Thorne Bay School’s wood fired boiler. Renewable Energy Fund 18 A third-party evaluation of the program in 2012 estimated that the first 62 projects funded will ultimately provide a net present value benefit of more than $1 billion over their lifetimes. These projects cost $508 million, of which $112 million came from the REF, with the balance of financing coming from state and other federal and private sources. Through partial funding from the REF the community of Atka completed the Chuniisax Creek Hydroelectric Project in 2012. This 284 kW hydroelectric project will provide most of Atka’s current electricity needs, including a portion of the energy Atka Pride Seafoods uses to operate its fish processing facility. The project is expected to save the community more than $180,000 annually and has the potential to provide additional future savings with the installation of dispatchable electric boilers. In 2012 Alaska’s first landfill-gas-to-energy project opened at Join Base Elmendorf Richardson (JBER) in Anchorage. With partial funding from the REF, this 5.6 MW project uses four GE Jenbacher J420 Gas Engines to utilize methane gas from the Anchorage Regional Landfill and provide 25% of JBER’s annual electric needs. The project is expected to generate more than $50 million in savings during its lifetime. To qualify for funding, project developers must submit applications to AEA, which ranks them based on economic and technical feasibility, local support, matching funding and the community’s cost of energy. These rankings are submitted to the Legislature, which approves the projects and appropriates funding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enewable Energy Fund 19 Renewable Energy Atlas of Alaska Projects Completed/ Under Development Biomass Biofuel Geothermal Heat Recovery Hydro Ocean / River Solar / Thermal Tr ansmission Wind                  P    P    6 ( $ % ( 5 , 1 * $ / ( 8 7 , $ 1 , 6 / $ 1 ' 6 $5&7,&2&($1 *8 /)2 )$/$6 .$ 9DOGH] +RPHU .HQDL6ROGRWQD .RGLDN 1RPH .HWFKLNDQ 6LWND %DUURZ )DLUEDQNV :D VLOOD *DOHQD 'LOOLQJKDP 3D OPHU .R W]HEXH $QFKRUDJH%HWKHO 8QDODVND'XWFK+DUERU 4XLQKDJDN 8QDODNOHHW -XQHDX*XVWDYXV &RUGRYD *XONDQD 7RN 1RUWK3ROH &RIIPDQ&RYH  0LOHV Renewable Energy Fund Project Highlights 20 Eva Creek Wind RE Fund Grant $1,463,200 (plus $10 million legislative appropriation) Total Project Cost $93,000,000 Est Fuel Displaced/yr 4,200,000 gal Unalakleet Wind RE Fund Grant $4,000,000 Total Project Cost $6,000,000 Est Fuel Displaced/yr 65,000 gal Quinhagak Wind Farm RE Fund Grant $3,882,243 Total Project Cost $4,313,603 Est Fuel Displaced/yr 48,300 gal Pillar Mountain Wind Phase 1 & 2, and Battery, Kodiak RE Fund Grant $11,800,000 Total Project Cost $46,550,000 Est Fuel Displaced/yr 1,900,000 gal                  P    P    6 ( $ % ( 5 , 1 * $ / ( 8 7 , $ 1 , 6 / $ 1 ' 6 $5&7,&2&($1 *8 /)2 )$/$6 .$ 9DOGH] +RPHU .HQDL6ROGRWQD .RGLDN 1RPH .HWFKLNDQ 6LWND %DUURZ )DLUEDQNV :D VLOOD *DOHQD 'LOOLQJKDP 3D OPHU .R W]HEXH $QFKRUDJH%HWKHO 8QDODVND'XWFK+DUERU 4XLQKDJDN 8QDODNOHHW -XQHDX*XVWDYXV &RUGRYD *XONDQD 7RN 1RUWK3ROH &RIIPDQ&RYH  0LOHV Renewable Energy Fund Project Highlights 21 Falls Creek Hydroelectric, Gustavus RE Fund Grant $750,000 Total Project Cost $10,153,000 Est Fuel Displaced/yr 140,000 gal Juneau Airport Ground Source Heat Pump RE Fund Grant $513,000 Total Project Cost $1,076,000 Est Fuel Displaced/yr 29,500 gal Renewable Energy Atlas of Alaska Anchorage Landfill Gas Electricity RE Fund Grant $2,000,000 Total Project Cost $3,423,886 Est Fuel Displaced/yr 3,000,000 gal Gulkana Community Wood-Fired Boiler RE Fund Grant $500,000 Total Project Cost $500,000 Est Fuel Displaced/yr 7,000 gal North Pole Heat Recovery RE Fund Grant $840,000 Total Project Cost $1,050,000 Est Fuel Displaced/yr 61,500 gal Humpback Creek Hydroelectric, Cordova RE Fund Grant $8,000,000 Total Project Cost $21,300,000 Est Fuel Displaced/yr 275,800 gal North Prince of Wales Intertie, Coffman Cove & Naukati RE Fund Grant $3,752,181 Total Project Cost $6,155,019 Est Fuel Displaced/yr 111,000 gal Tok School Wood-Fired Boiler RE Fund Grant $3,245,349 Total Project Cost $3,805,349 Est Fuel Displaced/yr 51,800 gal to sell excess power they produce back into the grid. More than 40 states, including Alaska, Washington DC and the U.S. Virgin Islands offer some form of net metering. Different rules in each state determine the maximum amount of power an individual can sell back to the utility, the price at which the utility must purchase the power, and the length of time an individual producer can “bank” the power they produce before a “net” bill must be calculated. Alaska’s net metering regulations, promulgated in 2010, apply to renewable energy systems of 25 kW or less, and require large utilities to purchase up to 1.5% of the utility’s average load from customers who build projects. In addition, some utilities have their own incentive programs that allow individuals to sell power back to the grid. Fairbanks’ Golden Valley Electric Association’s Sustainable Natural Alternative Power (SNAP) program allows customers to support small-scale renewable energy development by contributing to a fund that is held in escrow by the utility company. Individuals in the utility’s service area that sell renewable electricity into the grid are paid from the escrow fund in proportion to the amount of power they produce, plus the utility’s avoided fuel cost. Renewable Portfolio Standards Twenty-nine states, Washington DC and two U.S. territories have a policy known as a renewable portfolio standard (RPS). An additional eight states have renewable portfolio goals. In 2010 Alaska set a non-binding goal to generate 50% of the state’s electricity from renewable sources by 2025. An RPS is a state law requiring utility companies to generate a specified percentage of their electricity from renewable resources by a certain date. For example, Nevada law mandates investor-owned utilities in that state produce 25% of their electricity from renewables by 2025. The percentage and end date vary widely from state to state. Utilities are typically given interim milestones, and must Renewable Energy Policies S tate and federal policies that encourage renewable energy projects play a crucial role in their development. The federal production tax credit (PTC) has been the primary incentive tool in the United States. Congress passed the PTC in 1992 to even the playing field between the renewable energy industry and the fossil fuel and nuclear industries. Since then the credit has been authorized one or two years at a time, creating some uncertainty in the industry about the future of the PTC. The current iteration of the credit allows the owners of qualifying wind, geothermal and biomass projects to take 2.2 cents off their tax bill for every kilowatt-hour generated during the first ten years of the project. Other qualifying renewable energy technologies are allowed a 1.1 cent/kWh tax reduction. In January 2013, Congress passed an extension of the PTC for all projects that start construction prior to January 1, 2014. Alternatively, wind and solar projects can choose to take advantage of a 30% federal investment tax credit (ITC) or grant for facilities placed in service by 2016, if construction begins before 2014. Because of the ambiguity surrounding federal policy, individual state policies have historically been the primary drivers of renewable energy development in the United States. The four primary policies used across the country are net metering, renewable portfolio standards, renewable energy funds and feed-in tariffs. Net Metering State net metering rules provide an incentive for individuals and businesses to invest in their own small renewable energy systems by allowing them This home in Kasilof is one of the early members of Homer Electric Association net metering program. 22Emily BinnianAlaska Energy AuthorityRenewable energy creates jobs for Alaskans. pay a fine if they do not reach those milestones. Most states allow utilities to purchase renewable energy credits (RECs) to meet these standards and avoid paying fines. The RPS approach forces different entities and renewable energy resources to compete to meet the standard. Bills have been proposed in Congress to create a mandatory national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES), but so far all have failed to pass both the House and Senate. Clean Energy Funds Public Benefit Funds which are supported through small, mill rated utility surcharges called system benefit charges exist in fifteen states, Washington DC and Puerto Rico. These Funds are also known as Clean, or Renewable, Energy Funds. Those 15 state funds are expected to collect $7.7 billion for renewable energy and energy efficiency by 2017. Clean Energy Funds support the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency by helping remove market barriers, lowering financing costs, developing infrastructure, and educating the public. For example, system benefit charges in Oregon are deposited into the independent Energy Trust of Oregon to fund eligible efficiency, wind, solar electric, biomass, small-scale hydro, tidal, geothermal, and fuel cell projects through grants, loans, rebates, equity investments, and other financing mechanisms. Terms of these funds vary. Some states have funds scheduled to last only five years while others have open-ended funds. Longer-term funds provide greater stability for renewable energy developers. Alaska’s Renewable Energy Grant Fund was established in 2008 to support renewable energy development and is funded through year-to-year legislative appropriations, with legislative intent to fund at $50 million per year through 2023. At 60,007 MW generation capacity, US wind power accounted for 6% of the nation’s total electricity generation in 2012. The US was second only to China in the amount of total installed wind generation. 23 Renewable Energy Atlas of Alaska National Renewable Energy Laboratory utilities trying to meet state RPS requirements, and a growing number of federal agencies, municipalities and corporations committed to supporting increased renewable energy production. For example, Intel Corporation, Whole Foods, Staples and the City of Austin, Texas all purchase RECs to offset 100% or more of their electricity use. Electricity Feed Laws and Advanced Renewable Tariffs Electricity feed laws and advanced renewable tariffs (ARTs) are used in a number of countries and are considered to be the world’s most successful policy mechanisms for stimulating rapid renewable energy development. They give renewable energy producers guaranteed access to the electric grid at a price set by the regulatory authority, providing producers the contractual certainty needed to finance renewable energy projects. They also enable homeowners, farmers, cooperatives, and others to participate on equal footing with commercial renewable energy developers. Performance-based payment levels give producers incentive to maximize the overall output and efficiency of each project. Renewable Energy Policies In states with both a RPS and a Clean Energy Fund, the two policies work together to stimulate the renewable energy market. RPS standards “pull” renewable energy technologies into a state by providing long-term market certainty that reduces investment risk and levels the playing field for developers. Clean Energy Funds “push” clean energy technologies by lowering market barriers through direct investment incentives and supporting the infrastructure needed to develop renewable energy. As a result, Clean Energy Funds also help states meet their RPS requirements. Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) Utilities recognized years ago that there was a market demand for clean, renewable energy when customers agreed to pay more for resources like wind. Today, rather than charging a premium for renewable power, most utilities sell the social and environmental attributes of renewable energy separate from the actual electrons. Also known as “green tags,” renewable energy certificates (RECs) are essentially the bragging rights created when renewable energy is produced. Each REC represents the production of one megawatt hour of renewable energy and the displacement of approximately 1,400 pounds of CO2 emissions. Buyers of RECs include Steam vent on Kiska Volcano in the Aleutian Islands. Several communities in the Aleutians are considering developing their geothermal resources. 24REAP Alaska Volcano ObservatoryKodiak Electric Association installed three 1.5 MW wind turbines on Pillar Mountain in 2009 and then doubled the size of the wind farm in 2012. The project now supplies more than 18% of the community’s electricity. Combined with the Terror Lake hydroelectric project, KEA can shut off their diesel generators almost all year. ARTs are the modern version of Feed Laws, although they differ from simpler feed laws in several important ways. Tariffs are differentiated by technology, project size, or, in the case of wind energy, by resource productivity. Tariffs for new projects are also subject to periodic review to determine if the program is sufficiently robust, and prices paid for renewable electricity are often reduced over time as technologies mature. The Canadian province of Ontario enacted North America’s first comprehensive program of Advanced Renewable Tariffs in 2009, and revised it in 2010. The program offers 20- to 40-year contracts to producers of wind, hydro, biomass, landfill gas, and solar photovoltaic energy at prices ranging from 10 to 80 cents/kWh. Contracts differentiate between small and large energy producers, and are available to homeowners, businesses and commercial energy producers. Additional financial incentives are offered for projects developed by First Nations, farmers, cooperatives, and community groups. In 2009 Vermont adopted a modest version of an Advanced Renewable Tariff. The program is currently capped at 50 MW and offers 25-year contracts for renewable energy producers, with prices varying from 11.8 to 27.1 cents/kWh. The town of Gainesville, Florida also generated widespread publicity in 2009 for adopting a feed-in-tariff to spur installation of solar photovoltaic systems. The tariff offers 20- year contracts that pay between 15 and 21 cents/ kWh, depending on the size and configuration of the system. Installations of solar in Gainesville have increased from less than 350 kW in 2009 to over 7,000 kW today. Several other American jurisdictions have enacted some form of feed-in tariff, and feed-in tariff legislation is being debated in several states. Alaska 2008 was a landmark year for renewable energy and energy efficiency in Alaska. The Cold Climate Housing Research Center published the first of two reports outlining recommended state programs, initiatives, and goals to reduce end-use energy demand and keep hundreds of millions of dollars in the State’s economy each year, and the State Legislature appropriated $360 million for home weatherization and rebate programs. 2008 also saw the passage of HB 152, which established the Renewable Energy Fund (REF) administered by the Hydrogen filling station in Reykjavik, Iceland. Iceland gets 99% of its electricity and over 90% of heat for buildings from its geothermal and hydroelectric resources. The government’s goal is to be the first nation in the world to replace its use of fossil fuels in autos and boats with hydrogen fuel. Alaska Energy Authority (AEA). Through the first five rounds of funding, the State Legislature has appropriated $202 million for 227 renewable energy projects across the state. In 2012 the Legislature extended the Fund for ten more years, until 2023. In 2010, the Alaska State Legislature passed two other important bills – SB 220 and HB 306. House Bill 306 established goals to produce 50% of the state’s electricity from renewable resources by 2025 and reduce energy use 15% per capita by 2020. Among other provisions, SB 220 mandated that 25% of the state’s public buildings be energy retrofitted by 2020 and created a $250 million revolving loan fund administered by the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) to help finance that work. Senate Bill 220 also established the Emerging Energy Technology Fund (EETF), which is aimed at supporting the development of new technologies not funded under the REF. Administered by AEA, with financial support from the Legislature and the Denali Commission, the EETF awarded its first round of grants in 2012, for a range of projects that use technologies not yet tested in Alaska as well as technologies that are still in development but could be commercially viable within five years. 25 Chris Rose, REAPRenewable Energy Atlas of Alaska                                                                                                                                                                                     % ( 5 , 1 * $5&7,&2&($1 6 ( $ $ / ( 8 7 , $ 1 , 6 / $ 1 ' 6 *8 /)2 )$/$6 .$ 9D OGH] +R PHU .H QDL6ROGRWQD .R GLDN .R W]HEXH 1R PH .H WFKLNDQ 6LWND %DUURZ %HWKHO )D LUEDQNV -XQHDX :DVLOOD $QFKRUDJH 'LOOLQJKDP *DOHQD 7R N 3DOPHU 8QDODVND'XWFK+DUERU  0L OHV Energy Efficiency nergy efficiency is a common-sense first step in realizing sustainable energy goals. Energy efficient-buildings, lighting, heating systems and appliances provide the same level of service as less efficient ones but use fewer kilowatt hours and BTUs. Energy efficiency is typically the least expensive, most cost effective and fastest energy improvement that can be made. In 2010, the State adopted a goal to reduce per capita energy consumption 15% by 2020. With the same legislation the State also declared that by 2025 50% of power should come from renewable energy sources. Improving efficiency not only saves energy and money, it allows generated energy to stretch further. Energy efficiency creates a strong foundation for renewable energy. Each year Alaska’s residential and commercial sectors use an estimated 118 trillion BTUs of energy for power and space heat. Of this, 45% is used in residential buildings and 55% is used in public and private commercial buildings/ facilities. Reducing energy use in these two sectors by 15% would save nearly 18 trillion BTUs annually. At $4/gallon for diesel fuel, a 15% energy efficiency improvement in residential, commercial and public buildings would keep $500 million in the state’s economy each year. Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) administers two residential energy efficiency programs for the State. Since 2008 the Home Energy Rebate and Weatherization programs have provided efficiency improvements to more than 28,000 households across Alaska, resulting in an average energy savings of 30%, the creation of more than 4,000 jobs, and an estimated $37 million in energy savings to Alaskans per year. In 2011 and 2012, Alaska Energy Authority’s (AEA’s) Alaska Commercial Energy Audit program provided rebates of up to $7,000 for commercial energy audits on 146 buildings, representing nearly 2.5 million square feet. These audits showed potential savings of about 30%, with an average payback of just over six years. If all private commercial buildings were audited and the identified efficiency measures were implemented, Alaska businesses could save roughly $400 million in energy costs every year. In 2010, the Alaska Legislature established the $250 million Alaska Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan program for public buildings owned by state and local governments, the University of Alaska, school districts and regional education attendance areas. In 2012, AHFC performed investment grade audits on 327 public buildings and found average potential energy savings of up to $25,000 per building, or $125 million per year for all public buildings combined. In 2011 and 2012, the Village Energy Efficiency Program (VEEP) and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG) administered by AEA paid for energy efficiency projects in 109 communities with funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Combined, the two programs touched more than 300 buildings and implemented efficiency measures with expected annual energy savings of over $1.5 million. Over the next decade this work will save nearly 390 million BTUs, or the equivalent of 2.8 million gallons of diesel worth $15.9 million dollars. E 26                                                                                                                                                                                     % ( 5 , 1 * $5&7,&2&($1 6 ( $ $ / ( 8 7 , $ 1 , 6 / $ 1 ' 6 *8 /)2 )$/$6 .$ 9D OGH] +R PHU .H QDL6ROGRWQD .R GLDN .R W]HEXH 1RPH .H WFKLNDQ 6LWND %DUURZ %HWKHO )D LUEDQNV -XQHDX :DVLOOD $QFKRUDJH 'LOOLQJKDP *DOHQD 7R N 3DOPHU 8QDODVND'XWFK+DUERU  0L OHV Energy Efficiency Energy Eciency Pr ograms Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) Alaska Commercial Energy Audit (ACEA) Village Energy Efficiency Program (VEEP) 27 Renewable Energy Atlas of Alaska E Energy Efficiency Program Highlights nergy efficiency improvements help individuals, businesses and governments use less energy, save money, and strengthen local economies. Efficiency measures also help achieve the state’s energy efficiency and renewable energy goals. While the availability of natural resources used to generate electricity and heat varies by region, energy efficiency is available in every corner of the state. Residential Energy Efficiency Case Study Homeowners at the Villa Gastineau Condo Association in Juneau took advantage of the Home Energy Rebate Program to improve insulation in common and individual areas and replace old, inefficient boilers. Efficiency improvements were made to the 11 townhouse-style condos, resulting in roughly $15,000 of annual energy savings and displacing about 4,000 gallons of heating oil per year. These savings allowed the Association to reduce condo fees $110 per month and make other, non- energy related improvements on the grounds. Commercial Energy Efficiency Case Study The Aurora Animal Clinic in Fairbanks received an energy audit through the Alaska Commercial Energy Audit program. The 4,768 square foot veterinary clinic was built in 1975, and the building envelope, lighting and mechanical systems were in very good condition at the time of the audit. The clinic was paying about $21,000 a year on energy bills, with roughly 27% of this spent on fuel oil and 73% spent on electricity. The energy auditor identified actions that would cut the clinic’s energy costs by one-third. The leading recommendations were to improve the efficiency of an outdoor business sign and other outdoor lighting. In both cases, inefficient light bulbs have been replaced and light sensors have been installed to insure that lights are only on when needed. By spending $14,831 to implement the recommended efficiency upgrades the clinic can save $6,831 on its annual energy bills – a payback time of just over two years. Rural Alaska Case Study In 2008, AEA and several project partners undertook an intensive energy efficiency improvement effort in the small, rural community of Nightmute. An extension of VEEP, the “Whole Village Retrofit” included energy efficient lighting and weatherization upgrades in 13 community buildings and four teacher- housing units. The effort was intended to maximize possible energy savings and mitigate the effects of rising heating oil prices. The project reduced electricity use by an estimated 59% and displaced nearly 5,000 gallons of heating oil. As a result, Nightmute is expected to save an estimated $31,911 per year. Employing local workers to implement the efficiency upgrades also brought the additional benefits of jobs and training opportunities to the community. Data Collection and Management The Alaska Retrofit Information System (ARIS) is a database managed by the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) to store energy audit and consumption information for both residential and commercial buildings. Maintaining building characteristic and energy use information in ARIS allows researchers and energy specialists to more 28 Energy Efficiency Program Highlights accurately study the impacts of different programs, evaluate technology performance in cold climates and identify opportunities to decrease energy use through efficiency. Data showing community energy savings for AHFC, AEA and other partner programs is maintained by AEA and displayed on a GIS map at www.akenergyefficiencymap.org. Energy Efficiency Public Education and Outreach AEA leads a statewide public outreach campaign to promote the adoption of energy efficiency technology and conservation behavior in Alaska. Aspects of the sustained, year-round campaign include organizing the collaborative Energy Awareness Month initiative each October; managing the Alaska Energy Efficiency Partnership and the collaborative website www.akenergyefficiency.org; and producing and distributing print materials and paid advertising. Alaska Energy Efficiency Partnership The Alaska Energy Efficiency Partnership is a group of more than 40 stakeholders who meet quarterly to create collaborative opportunities and synergy among energy efficiency professionals and interested parties throughout the state. The Partnership’s mission is “To improve the coordination of efforts promoting the adoption of greater end-use energy efficiency measures and energy conservation behaviors in Alaska through information sharing and integrated planning so that Alaska may become the most energy efficient state in the nation.” 29 Energy Efficiency Policy Recommendations In 2012, AEA commissioned a study to provide energy efficiency policy recommendations for the State of Alaska. The report does not reflect the official position of AEA or the State of Alaska. The top six recommendations in that report are: 1. Continue to fund, support and strengthen existing energy efficiency programs. 2. Establish a comprehensive statewide building code that includes energy efficiency standards for all building retrofits and new construction. 3. Establish a comprehensive and coordinated approach to educate Alaskans on the benefits of energy efficiency and conservation, and provide technical assistance as needed. 4. Instruct the Regulatory Commission of Alaska to require utilities to identify and complete all feasible, cost-effective forms of demand-side management prior to approval of supply-side projects. 5. Create an independent, statewide Alaska Energy Efficiency Utility to provide efficiency and conservation programs, and increase energy efficiency through coordinated outreach, education, and technical assistance. 6. Establish policies that mandate energy efficiency measures in all departments of state government including building operations, workforce scheduling, and life- cycle cost analysis in procurement decisions. Renewable Energy Atlas of Alaska Absorption Chiller - A device that uses heat energy rather than mechanical energy to cool an interior space through the evaporation of a volatile fluid. Active Solar - A solar water or space- heating system that use pumps or fans to circulate the heat transfer medium (water, air or heat-transfer fluid like diluted antifreeze) from the solar collectors to a storage tank subsystem or conditioned space. Alternative Fuels - A term for “non- conventional” transportation fuels derived from natural gas (propane, compressed natural gas, methanol, etc.) or biomass materials (ethanol, methanol, or biodiesel). Anemometer - An instrument for measuring the velocity of wind; a wind gauge. ASTM - Abbreviation for the American Society for Testing and Materials, which is responsible for the issue of many standard methods used in the energy industry. Availability - It refers to the number of hours that a power plant is available to produce power divided by the total hours in a set time period, usually a year. Avoided Cost - The incremental cost to an electric power producer to generate or purchase a unit of electricity or capacity or both. Biodiesel - A domestic, renewable fuel for diesel engines derived from natural oils like fish and vegetable oil; produced by a chemical process that removes the glycerin from the oil and meets a national specification (ASTM D 6751). Biomass - Organic matter that is available on a renewable basis, including agricultural crops and agricultural wastes and residues, wood and wood wastes and residues, animal wastes, municipal wastes, and aquatic plants. Bioenergy – Electrical, mechanical, or thermal energy or fuels derived from biomass. Capacity Factor - The ratio of the average power output of a generating unit to the capacity rating of the unit over a specified period of time, usually a year. Co-firing - Using more than one fuel source to produce electricity in a power plant. Common combinations include biomass and coal, biomass and natural gas, or natural gas and coal. Cogeneration - The generation of electricity and the concurrent use of rejected thermal energy from the conversion system as an auxiliary energy source. Conduction - The transfer of heat through a material by the transfer of kinetic energy from particle to particle; the flow of heat between two materials of different temperatures that are in direct physical contact. Convection - The transfer of heat by means of air or fluid movement. Dam - A structure for impeding and controlling the flow of water in a water course that increases the water elevation to create hydraulic head. The reservoir creates, in effect, stored energy. District Heating System - Local system that provides thermal energy through steam or hot water piped to buildings within a specific geographic area. Used for space heating, water heating, cooling, and industrial processes. A common application of geothermal resources. Distributed Generation - Localized or on- site power generation, which can be used to reduce the load on a transmission system by generating electricity close to areas of customer need. Distribution Line - One or more circuits of an electrical distribution system on the same line or poles or supporting structures, usually operating at a lower voltage than a transmission line. Domestic Hot Water - Water heated for residential washing, bathing, etc. Electrical Energy - The amount of work accomplished by electrical power, usually measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). One kWh is 1,000 watt hours and is equal to 3,413 Btu. Energy - The capability of doing work; different forms of energy can be converted to other forms, but the total amount of energy remains the same. Energy Conservation - Reducing energy consumption by changing a behavior or level of service. Energy Crop - A plant grown with the express purpose to be used in biomass electricity or thermal generation. Energy Efficiency - Applying better technology and practices to get the same level of service while using less energy. Energy Storage - The process of converting energy from one form to another for later use. Storage devices and systems include batteries, conventional and pumped storage hydroelectric, flywheels, compressed gas, hydrogen, and thermal mass. Ethanol - A colorless liquid that is the product of fermentation used in alcoholic beverages, in industrial processes, and as a fuel. Feedstock - A raw material that can be converted to one or more products. Fossil Fuels - Fuels formed in the ground from the remains of dead plants and animals, including oil, natural gas, and coal. It takes millions of years to form fossil fuels. Fuel - Any material burned to make energy. Fuel Oil - Any liquid petroleum product burned for the generation of heat in a furnace or firebox, or for the generation of power in an engine. Domestic (residential) heating fuels are classed as Nos. 1, 2, 3; Industrial fuels as Nos. 4, 5, and 6. Generator - A device for converting mechanical energy to electrical energy. Geothermal Energy - Energy produced by the internal heat of the earth; geothermal heat sources include: hydrothermal convective systems; pressurized water reservoirs; hot dry rocks; thermal gradients; and magma. Geothermal energy can be used directly for heating and cooling or to produce electric power. Head – A measure of fluid pressure, commonly used in water pumping and hydro power to express height that a pump must lift water, or the distance water falls. Total head accounts for friction and other head losses. Heat Pump - An electricity powered device that extracts available heat from one area (the heat source) and transfers it to another (the heat sink) to either heat or cool an interior space or to extract heat energy from a fluid. Hybrid System - An energy system that includes two different types of technologies that produce the same type of energy; for example, a wind turbine and a diesel system combined to meet electric power demand. Hydroelectric Power Plant - A power plant that produces electricity by the force of water moving through a hydro turbine that spins a generator. Hydrogen - A chemical element that can be used as a fuel since it has a very high energy content. Although it is often thought of as a fuel, hydrogen is better classified as an energy storage medium because it requires energy, typically from electricity or natural gas, to produce it. Insolation - A measure of the amount of solar radiation energy received on a given surface area. Landfill Gas - Naturally occurring methane produced in landfills that can be burned in a boiler to produce heat or in a gas turbine or engine-generator to produce electricity. Large-scale or Utility-scale - A power generating facility designed to output enough electricity for purchase by a utility. Load - Amount of electricity required to meet customer demand at any given time. Meteorological (Met) Tower - A structure instrumented with anemometers, wind vanes, and other sensors to measure the wind resource at a site. Glossary 30 Ocean Energy Systems - Energy conversion technologies that harness the energy in tides, waves, and thermal gradients in the oceans. Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) – A closed system that uses an organic working fluid instead of water to spin a turbine, and therefore can operate at lower temperatures and pressures than a conventional steam process. Panel (Solar) - A term applied to individual solar collectors, and typically to solar photovoltaic collectors or modules. Passive Solar Design - Construction of a building to maximize solar heat gain in the winter and minimize it in the summer without the use of fans or pumps, thereby reducing the use of mechanical heating and cooling systems. Peak load – The amount of electricity required to meet customer demand at its highest. Penstock - A component of a hydropower plant; a pipe that delivers water to the turbine. Photovoltaics (PV) - Devices that convert sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductor materials. Most commonly found on a fixed or movable panel; also called solar panels. Power - Energy that is capable of doing work; the time rate at which work is performed, measured in horsepower, Watts, or Btu per hour. Production Tax Credit (PTC) – An incentive that allows the owner of a qualifying energy project to reduce their taxes by a specified amount. The federal PTC for wind, geothermal, and closed-loop biomass is 1.9 cents per kWh. Radiation - The transfer of heat through matter or space by means of electromagnetic waves. Railbelt - The portion of Alaska near the Alaska Railroad, including Fairbanks, Anchorage, and the Kenai Peninsula. Renewable Resource - Energy sources which are continuously replenished by natural processes, such as wind, solar, biomass, hydroelectric, wave, tidal, and geothermal. Run-of-River Hydroelectric - A type of hydroelectric facility that uses a portion of the river flow with minimal impoundment of the water. Small-scale or Residential-scale - A generating facility designed to output enough electricity to offset the needs of a residence, farm or small group of farms, generally 250 kW or smaller. Solar Energy - Electromagnetic energy transmitted from the sun (solar radiation). The amount that reaches the earth is equal to one billionth of total solar energy generated, or the equivalent of about 420 trillion kilowatt-hours. Solar Radiation - A general term for the visible and near visible (ultraviolet and near-infrared) electromagnetic radiation that is emitted by the sun. It has a spectral, or wavelength, distribution that corresponds to different energy levels; short wavelength radiation has a higher energy than long- wavelength radiation. Tidal Power - The power available from either the rise and fall or flow associated with ocean tides. Transmission Grid - The network of power lines and associated equipment required to deliver electricity from generating facilities to consumers through electric lines at high voltage, typically 69kV and above. Turbine - A device for converting the flow of a fluid (air, steam, water, or hot gases) into mechanical motion. Wave Energy - Energy derived from the motion of ocean waves. Wind Energy - Energy derived from the movement of the wind across a landscape caused by the heating of the atmosphere, earth, and oceans by the sun. Wind Turbine - A device that converts energy in the wind to electrical energy, typically having two or three blades. Windmill - A device that converts energy in the wind to mechanical energy that is used to grind grain or pump water. Wind Power Class - A class based on wind power density ranging from 1 (worst) to 7 (best). Wind Power Density - The amount of power per unit area of a free windstream. Wind Resource Assessment - The process of characterizing the wind resource and its energy potential, for a specific site or geographical area. UNITS Ampere - A unit of measure for an electrical current; the amount of current that flows in a circuit at an electromotive force of one Volt and at a resistance of one Ohm. Abbreviated as amp. Amp-Hours - A measure of the flow of current (in amperes) over one hour. Barrel (Petroleum) - Equivalent to 42 U.S. gallons (306 pounds of oil, or 5.78 million Btu). British Thermal Unit (Btu) - The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit; equal to 252 calories. Cord (of Wood) - A stack of wood 4 feet by 4 feet by 8 feet. Gigawatt (GW) - A unit of power equal to 1 billion watts, 1 million kilowatts, or 1,000 megawatts. Gigawatt-hour (GWh) - One million kilowatt- hours or 1 billion watt-hours. Hertz - A measure of the number of cycles or wavelengths of electrical energy per second; U.S. electricity supply has a standard frequency of 60 hertz. Horsepower (hp) - A measure of time rate of mechanical energy output; usually applied to electric motors as the maximum output; 1 electrical hp is equal to 0.746 kilowatts or 2,545 Btu per hour. Kilowatt (kW) - A standard unit of electrical power equal to one thousand watts, or to the energy consumption at a rate of 1000 Joules per second. Kilowatt-hour (kWh) - A common measurement of electricity equivalent to one kilowatt of power generated or consumed over the period of one hour; equivalent to 3,412 Btu. Megawatt (MW) - One thousand kilowatts or 1 million watts; standard measure of electric power plant generating capacity. Megawatt-hour (MWh) - One thousand kilowatt-hours or 1 million watt-hours. Mill - A common monetary measure equal to one-thousandth of a dollar or a tenth of a cent. Quad - One quadrillion Btu. Therm - A unit of heat containing 100,000 British thermal units (Btu). Terawatt (TW) - A unit of electrical power equal to one trillion watts or one million megawatts. Tonne - A unit of mass equal to 1,000 kilograms or 2,204.6 pounds, also known as a metric ton. Volt (V) - A unit of electrical force equal to that amount of electromotive force that will cause a steady current of one ampere to flow through a resistance of one ohm. Voltage - The amount of electromotive force, measured in volts, that exists between two points. Watt (W) - Instantaneous measure of power, equivalent to one ampere under an electrical pressure of one volt. One watt equals 1/746 horsepower, or one joule per second. It is the product of Voltage and Current (amperage). Watt-hour - A unit of electricity consumption of one Watt over the period of one hour. Watts per Square Meter (W/m2) - Unit used to measure wind power density, measured in Watts per square meter of blade swept area. 31 Renewable Energy Atlas of Alaska Data Sources References Common Map Layers Communities: Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. Community Database Online. www.commerce.alaska.gov/dca/ commdb/CF_COMDB.htm Lakes, Streams, and Glaciers: Alaska Department of Natural Resources. www.asgdc.alaska.gov Grayscale Elevation Hillshade Image: Resource Data Inc. The elevation image was developed using a 300 meter digital elevation model from U.S. Geological Survey EROS Alaska Field Office. agdc. usgs.gov/data/usgs/erosafo/300m/dem/ metadata/dem300m.html Canada and Russia: Alaska Departmentof Natural Resources. www.asgdc.alaska.gov Infrastructure Coal, Gas Turbine, Hydro, and Diesel Sites*: Average generation from Alaska Energy Statistics, 1960-2008, University of Alaska Anchorage Institute of Social and Economic Research, 2011. www. iser.uaa.alaska.edu/Publications/ AlaskaEnergyStatistics2011.pdf Average oil, gas, and hydroelectrical generation data augmented via personal communication with AEA staff, operating utilities, Alaska Energy Statistics 1960- 2011, preliminary tables. Pie chart from: Non Utility Data: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Admisnistration, Form 923 Data File F923 www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia923/ Existing Utility Hydroelectric sites: Alaska Energy Authority hydroelectric database. Spatial location and attribute data updated by HDR Alaska Inc. in 2006 and AEA in 2013. Wind Sites*: Average wind generation from the Statistical Report of the Power Cost Equalization Program, FY2011 and augmented by AEA. Includes projects currently under commissioning and expected to be in operation by the end of 2012. http://www.akenergyauthority.org/ PDF%20files/FY11PCEreport.pdf Electrical Interties: Interties aggregated from data provided by Alaska Electric Light & Power Company, Alaska Power & Telephone Company, Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, Chugach Electric Association, City of Sitka Electric Department, Copper Valley Electric Association, Four Dam Pool Association, Golden Valley Electric Association, Homer Electric Association, Naknek Electric Association, Nushagak Cooperative, and AEA. Natural Gas Pipelines: ENSTAR Natural Gas Company. Electric Service Areas: Chugach Electric Association. Trans-Alaska Pipeline: Alaska Department of Natural Resources. www.asgdc.alaska.gov Roads: Alaska Department of Natural Resources & Alaska Department of Transportation. www.asgdc.alaska.gov Energy Efficiency From www.akenergyefficiencymap.org, a project of Alaska Energy Authority. Map currently depicts only three projects funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, 2010 – 2012. Estimated statewide energy use comes from the 2010 Energy Information Administration. Biomass USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis, Remote Sensing Applications Center 2008 based on J.A. Blackard, et.al. Mapping U.S. forest biomass using nationwide forest inventory data and moderate resolution information. Remote Sensing of Environment 112:1658-1677 fsgeodata.fs.fed.us/rastergateway/biomass/ Shore-based Seafood Processors*: Alaska Department of Fish and Game. 2010 Commercial Operators Annual Report, data compiled by the Alaska Fisheries Information Network (AKFIN). www.akfin.org Class I Landfills*: Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. Sawmills*: Alaska Wood Products Manufacturers Directory, September 2004. Juneau Economic Development Council Wood Products Development Service. Dataset augmented via personal communication with Dan Parrent, USFS. http://jedc.org/wood.shtml Geothermal Volcanic Vents Wells and Springs by Temperature and Potential Geothermal Resources: Geothermal Resources of Alaska, Motyka, R.J., Moorman, M.A., and Liss, S.A., 1983, Geothermal Resources of Alaska: Miscellaneous Publication MP 8, Alaska, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska – USA www.dggs.dnr.state.ak.us/pubs/ pubs?reqtype=citation&ID=671 Wells and Springs by Temperature: Kolker, Amanda, Stelling, Pete, and Cummming, William. Geothermal Exploration at Akutan, Alaska: Favorable Indications for a High- EnthalpyHydrothermal Resource Near a Remote Market. Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) Annual Meeting, October 24- 27, 2010. Sacramento, CA. www.geothermal. org/ 2010AMBrochure1001.pdf Hydroelectric Existing and Potential Hydroelectric sites: Alaska Energy Authority hydroelectric database. Spatial location and attribute data updated by HDR Alaska Inc. in 2006 and AEA, 2013. Ocean & River Hydrokinetic Tidal Electric Generation Potential: Brian Polagye, 2007. Tidal resource was quantified for 35 transects across tidal channels, perpendicular to the flow. The analysis used NOAA time series of currents and tidal range, as well as bathymetric data. Due to map scale each study site is depicted as a point location rather than a linear transect. The Wave Energy Resource Assessment project is a joint venture between NREL, EPRI, and Virginia Tech. EPRI is the prime contractor, Virginia Tech is responsible for development of the models and estimating the wave resource, and NREL serves as an independent validator and also develops the final GIS-based display of the data. GIS data from National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 2011 http://en.openei. org/datasets/files/868/pub/wave_power_ density.zip In-Stream Hydrokinetic: Jacobson, Paul T., Ravens, Thomas, Cunningham, Keith. Assessment of U.S. In-Stream Hydrokinetic Energy Resources. Electric Power Research Institute Presentation. February 8, 2011. Power density estimates based on the cross-section average velocity at the open-water average flow rate at the given site. Open-water power density at the fast flowing portions of the river are several times greater than levels reported here. Solar Solar Insolation: U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1999. Data layer provides annual average daily total solar resource averaged over surface cells of approximately 40 km by 40 km in size. www.nrel.gov/gis/data_analysis.html Wind Wind Power: AWS Truepower, LLC Wind Resource Maps of Alaska using the MesoMap® system and historical weather data prepared for the Alaska Energy Authority, September, 2010. Although it is believed to represent an accurate overall picture of the wind energy resource, estimates at any location should be confirmed by measurement. All datasets were clipped to the coastline. *For data sources with descriptive point locations, the spatial positions were derived by matching the descriptive location to the community location using the U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System. 32 For More Information Alaska Alaska Energy Authority www.akenergyauthority.org Renewable energy resource maps, reports, programs, planning, and financing information. Alaska Energy Efficiency Partnership http://akenergyefficiency.org State-run clearinghouse for information on energy efficiency in Alaska. Alaska Housing Finance Corporation www.ahfc.state.ak.us Residential and community building energy efficiency programs, energy resources library, programs, and financing information. Denali Commission www.denali.gov Independent federal agency created by Congress to provide basic facilities to remote Alaskan communities. Renewable Energy Alaska Project www.realaska.org Alaska utilities, businesses, conservation and consumer groups, and Alaska Native organizations with an interest in developing Alaska’s renewable energy resources. University of Alaska Center for Energy and Power at the University of Alaska Fairbanks www.uaf.edu/acep/ Applied energy research focused on lowering energy costs and developing economic opportunities University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service www.uaf.edu/coop-ext/faculty/seifert/ energy.html Provides housing technology information to Alaskan home owners and builders. Nationwide and Regional National Renewable Energy Laboratory www.nrel.gov USDOE’s premier laboratory for renewable energy research and development. US Department of Energy www.energy.gov USDOE home page provides information on federal programs relating to energy. Western Governors’ Association www.westgov.org Maintains an advisory committee on clean and diversified energy . Policies Supporting Renewable Energy Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency www.dsireusa.org Information on tax incentives, rebate programs, portfolio standards, green power programs, and other state-level policies. National Association of State Energy Officials www.naseo.org Represents governor-designated officials from each state. Biomass National Biodiesel Board www.biodiesel.org National trade association representing the biodiesel industry. Bioenergy Technologies Office www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass USDOE’s biomass energy program. Pacific Regional Biomass Energy Partnership www.pacificbiomass.org Promotes bioenergy development in Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Geothermal Geothermal Resources Council www.geothermal.org International association for geothermal education including industry, researchers, and government. Geothermal Technologies Program www1.eere.energy.gov/geothermal USDOE’s geothermal energy program. Ocean Electric Power Research Institute: Ocean Energy Program www.epri.com/oceanenergy/ Tidal and wave energy webpage for independent, nonprofit energy research center. Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition www.oceanrenewable.com National trade association for marine and hydrokinetic energy technologies. Solar Alaska Sun www.uaf.edu/ces/energy/alaskasun Alaskans supporting solar energy with link to Solar Design Manual for Alaska. American Solar Energy Society www.ases.org A national association dedicated to advancing the use of solar energy. Solar Energy Technologies Program www1.eere.energy.gov/solar USDOE’s solar energy technology website. Wind Wind Powering America www.windpoweringamerica.gov USDOE’s wind energy deployment program. National Wind Technology Center www.nrel.gov/wind USDOE’s wind energy research and development facility. American Wind Energy Association www.awea.org National trade association representing wind developers, manufactures, utilities, and others involved in the wind industry. Text, editing, and maps by Alaska Energy Authority (Sean Skaling, Emily Binnian, Katie Conway, Cady Lister, Devany Plentovich, Helen Traylor, Rich Stromberg, Josh Craft, Doug Ott, Audrey Alstrom, Alan Baldivieso, David Lockard, Kirk Warren, Jake Plancich, Jed Drolet, Justin Crowther, Nick Szymoniak, and Emily Ford) and Renewable Energy Alaska Project staff (Chris Rose, Katie Marquette, Shaina Kilcoyne, and Courtney Munson). Thanks to Alaska Electric Light and Power Company, Alaska Power and Telephone Company, Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, Chugach Electric Association, Acknowledgments and Thanks Homer Electric Association, City of Sitka Electric Department, Copper Valley Electric Association, Enstar Natural Gas Company, Four Dam Pool Association, Naknek Electric Association, and Nushagak Cooperative for power and natural gas system information for the infrastructure section. Special thanks to Alaska Power Association, Rural CAP, Institute of the North – Arctic Energy Summit, Municipal Light and Power, Chugach Electric Association, Alaska Village Electric Coop, TDX Power, Sierra Club, Kotzebue Electric Association, and Homer Electric Association for covering the printing costs of previous editions of this publication. Maps and design by Resource Data, Inc. (Dan Rathert, Laura Shelton and Matt Johnson). Cost Block Information: The Renewable Energy Atlas of Alaska was produced by the Alaska Energy Authority. It was printed by Northern Printing Inc. in Anchorage at a cost of $1.52 each. 33 Alaska Energy Authority 813 West Northern Lights Blvd. Anchorage, Alaska 99503 Phone (907) 771-3000 Toll Free in Alaska (888) 300-8534 Fax (907) 771-3044 www.akenergyauthority.org REAP: Renewable Energy Alaska Project 308 G Street, Suite 207, Anchorage, Alaska 99501 Phone (907) 929-7770 www.realaska.org