HomeMy WebLinkAboutIIJA-BIL AEA 40101(d) Public Meeting #3 Summary - Dec 13, 2022
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Alaska Energy Authority: IIJA Grid Transmission Resiliency
Public Hearing #3
Date &
Time:
December 13, 2022, 1:00 – 1:30 pm
ZOOM
Info:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81895696837?pwd=MWtWSFNDQks0RHh5Mm9lTzcwUnhVZz09
Meeting ID: 818 9569 6837
Passcode: 978830
Attendees: Conner Erickson
Daniel Miller
Brian Carey
Karin McGillivray
Malia Walters
Josh Craft
Chris Escamilla
Alaska Energy Authority, Manager of Planning
Alaska Energy Authority, Project Manager
Alaska Energy Authority, Director of Owned Assets
Michael Baker International
Michael Baker International
Matanuska Electric Association, Grid Modernization Manager
Fend Tech Incorporated, Chief Growth Officer
Public Hearing Summary
INTRODUCTIONS – ALL
IIJA 40101(d ) OVERVIEW – AEA
Conner Erickson gave an overview of the BIL Section 40101(D) Grid Resilience Formula Grant
process being administered by the Alaska Energy Authority.
Q&A
Question: Josh Craft asked - Can it [a battery] do a dual purpose, so provide ancillary services
and provide grid resiliency? Or does it just have to be for one thing? Typically, energy storage
doesn’t make a whole lot of sense until you’re doing two or three things.
Answer: This is something that a lot of states have been bringing up as far as my understanding.
It would have to have its primary purpose of hardening the grid against disruptive events. A
battery inherently by its nature does this now, like you said there are kind of multiple things
that it can be leveraged of while implementing a battery into the grid , however in the
application I would just note the primary purpose behind the battery is for this purpose.
Another thought on that is that eligible entities would be applying to the program through AEA
because AEA would be the ones receiving the funds an d then be responsible for distributing
and allocating them based on the applications we receive. All applications that come across our
desk will also ultimately be forwarded to the Department of Energy for review. We would love
for those that are recommended under our program to just be blessed by DOE and have the
project go on. I just don’t want any applicants to feel as though they’re at risk for not funding
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once DOE takes a second look at it. So I’d be a little diplomatic to that end in terms of when we
apply. I don’t think there’s any harm in stating that there’s additional benefits to be had from
the battery, but I think it’s probably fair to make the statement that would be the primary
intent.
Question: Chris Escamilla asked – For our specific interests, we’re looking for the GRIP
discussion, topic areas two and three associated with this, and our ACA work with the co -op.
I’m assuming those discussions will happen at a later date?
Answer: There has been discussion between AEA and some of the utilities regarding the
submission of concept papers as required by the GRIP of funding provisions, and we have been
in talks with at least one of the consulting companies tasked by the Department of Energy to
help coordinate applications on topic three. So we’re working in concert with some of the
utility groups to put together an application for that one. As far as topic one is concerned, AEA
is not an eligible entity for that particular provision, so that’s not something we would apply to.
As far as topic two is concerned, given the predicament that we are the State Energy Office and
managing some of these things, we like to not get too involved as to not create a conflict of
interest there. I don’t know too much more in terms of what it is that you’ve been in
discussions with over the GRIP piece.
I understand that some of the utilities would be looking to apply for funding under both the
GRIP topic as well as the 40101(D) primary embedded formula grants that we discussed in here.
Now as far as DOE is concerned, the entity cannot apply for the same project under both
provisions within the same application cycle. We’ll be trying to put out the application period
for this so that it doesn’t necessarily overlap, and we don’t run into that issue. But if there are
projects and utilities who are looking to fund under these programs, then they’ll just have to be
careful and don’t apply for the same project under both the competitive sub gran t as well as
topic one on funding provision under GRIP.