HomeMy WebLinkAboutRenewable Energy Fund Grant 04-2019-REFRENEWABLE ENERGY FUND GRANT PROGRAM
~30.4 million
diesel
equivalent
gallons
displaced in
2018
~$74 million
saved
annually from
displaced
diesel
73
operational
REF projects
CURRENT STATUS
Currently operational Renewable Energy Fund (REF) projects are saving communities in
Alaska more than $30 million in annual displaced fuel used for generation and heat. There
are 63 REF grants in process: 8 are for reconnaissance/feasibility, 13 for design/permitting
and 42 funded through construction.
Between 2008 and 2015 the legislature appropriated $257 million to the REF. After several
years of no funding for new projects, in 2018, $11 million in excess earnings from the
Power Cost Equalization (PCE) fund went to fund eight projects which had been previously
been recommended for funding through the REF application process:
•Fivemile Creek hydro construction (Chitina) ‐ $3.4 million
•Wales heat recovery design/construction ‐ $650,047
•Adak hydro feasibility ‐ $19,600
•Koyuk water system heat recovery design ‐ $90,922
•Shishmaref wind feasibility/CDR ‐ $152,000
•Seward seawater heat pump design/construction ‐ $752,000
•Gunnuk Creek hydro construction (Kake) ‐ $3.92 million
•Mt. Village – St. Mary’s Intertie design/construction ‐ $2.51 million
AEA is finalizing the Request For Applications (RFA) to be considered by the Renewable
Energy Fund Advisory Committee (REFAC) and released Spring 2019. The RFA will be the
first of ongoing biennial solicitations; the recommendations list that results from this
solicitation will be used for funding consideration in the legislatures beginning January 2020
and 2021.
The REFAC is comprised of nine members, five of whom are appointed by the governor to
staggered three‐year terms. The four remaining members come from the legislature: two
members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and two members of the Senate, appointed by the Senate President.
CURRENT REFAC MEMBERS
•Small utility representative ‐ Meera Kohler, AVEC CEO
•Large utility representative ‐ Lee Thibert, Chugach CEO
•Alaska Native organization ‐ Jodie Mitchell, IPEC CEO, Vice Chair Sealaska Corp.
•Business/organizations engaged in renewable energy ‐ Chris Rose, REAP ED
•Denali Commission (DC) – Nils Andreassen, ED AML, DC Commissioner
•Senator Natasha von Imhof
•Senator David Wilson
•Representative Tiffany Zulkosky
•Representative Adam Wool
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Alaska State Legislature created the Renewable Energy Fund (REF) in 2008, with the
intent to appropriate $50 million annually for five years. This legislation placed Alaska at or
near the forefront of the 50 states in funding for renewable energy. The Legislature
authorized Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) to manage the REF project application process,
project evaluations, recommendations, completion of grant agreements and disbursement
of funds to grantees. The Alaska State Legislature extended the REF for an additional ten
years in 2012 with the same goal of providing reliable renewable energy alternatives to
Alaskans.
APRIL 2019
QUICK FACTS
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CONTACT:
FOR MORE INFO
CONTACT:
INFO@
AKENERGYAUTHORITY.ORG
907.771.3000
WWW.AKENERGYAUTHORITY.ORG
REDUCING THE COST
OF ENERGY IN ALASKA