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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFeasibility Assess. Wood Heating Interior AK Progress Report 2012 REF Grant 7040048Feasibility Assessments for Wood Heating in Interior Alaska Communities Grant Agreement #7040048 Attachment 2 FINAL Report Form Grantee: Interior Regional Housing Authority Project Name: Feasibility for Wood Heating in Interior Alaska Communities Grant #7040048 Period of Report: October 2012 to December 2012 Project Activities Completed: Task 1: Grant Administration. COMPLETE Task 2: Preparatory work for community wood -heating feasibility studies. COMPLETE Task 3: Feasibility Assessments and Forest Inventories, COMPLETE Task 4: Post -assessment community follow-up. COMPLETE IRHA staff involved with the project met with the subcontractor, Dalson Energy, Tanana Chiefs Conference Forester Will Putman, after the final feasibility reports were completed to determine which villages looked most promising to move on to the next phase of design and construction. Items discussed were the simple payback as well as management capacity in the community, and whether there would be a champion in the community to make the project successful over a long-term period. Using all of the aforementioned criteria, it was determined that the following villages would be the top three: Nikolai, Anvik and Koyukuk. IRHA then took the initiative to travel to four communities in November/December 2012 to gauge community involvement, commitment and whether there was a champion in the community to ensure successful projects. Below are the results of those community meetings. Nikolai: IRHA staff traveled to Nikolai on November 26, 2012 to present the findings of the feasibility reports. Of the over 20 people in attendance at the meeting, they stated this was the first they had heard of the wood boiler/bio mass projects. The building that would benefit in Nikolai were primarily city buildings, so we also met individually with the City Mayor, Winchell Ticknor to present the reports and findings of Dalson's/TCC's reports. Ticknor said he would have a council meeting and get back to IRHA. To date, IRHA has not been contacted by the City of Nikolai. Hughes: IRHA was contacted by the Hughes Chief and Mayor, Wilmer Beetus, who requested that IRHA travel out the community to present the feasibility for wood heating reports/findings. At his request, IRHA, ANTHC and TCC staff traveled to the community of Hughes on December 4, 2012. Upon arrival, it was apparent that the community really wants this project. Half of the community of 97 people showed up for the Feasibility Assessments for Wood Heating in Interior Alaska Communities Grant Agreement #7040048 community presentation, 49 people. Tribal council and city council attended meeting. They expressed a huge commitment to the project. They would like to have the boiler and there is a community champion that was identified, Mr. Wilmer Beetus. The tribe will be responsible for collecting the wood. Snyder sent them an example of what was needed for next phase of grant. We met with ANTHC engineer Carl Remley on December 18, 2012, and he was in agreement that Hughes is a great candidate to move on to the next phase of design and construction, primarily because of abundant biomass and huge community support and commitment. Koyukuk: IRHA and ANTHC staff traveled to Koyukuk on December 17, 2012. Of the 97 community members, 19 people showed up for the findings presentation. Representatives from the City, Tribe, and School showed up and asked questions about the projects. The community would like to have the boiler system installed, they said that they will talk about it in January 2013 during their City Council meeting. The current water plant operator would be a good community champion. Snyder sent them an example of what was needed for next phase of grant. We recommend this community move on to the next phase of design and construction. Anvik: IRHA, ANTHC and TCC staff traveled to Anvik on December 5, 2012 to present the feasibility and forestry reports. As we were arriving, the Tribal Administrator was leaving to Anchorage for a health appointment. Of the 97 members of the community, 20 showed up for the findings presentation. The First Chief Carl Jerue attended and he expressed high interest in the wood boiler. The tribe wrote a grant three years ago for a wood boiler but it was not awarded. They stated they have a plan for harvesting the wood. Two young adult community members wanted to set up a business to sell wood to the City/Tribe for the biomass boilers. The TA Tammy Jerue stated she would send IRHA the grant proposal they wrote from three years ago. The Chief asked if we needed a resolution which indicates they are ready to pursue the project. Russell Snyder of IRHA sent the tribe/city an example of what was needed for next phase of grant. We recommend this community move on to the next phase of design and construction. Ruby: IRHA was contacted by the Ruby Tribe via email in late December 2012. They would like to write up a resolution for a biomass project for their clinic. Snyder sent them an example of what was needed for next phase of grant. Ruby was not in the top three villages selected, mainly because the payback period was 60 years. Nulato: Presented information to tribal council, haven't heard back from them. From IRHA's experience working with the community, there is no champion or supporter that can be easily identified. Nulato was not in the top three villages selected, mainly because the upper cluster payback period was 70 years. Feasibility Assessments for Wood Heating in Interior Alaska Communities Grant Agreement #7040048 Kaltag: Presented information to tribal council, haven't heard back from them. From IRHA's experience working with the community, there is no champion or supporter that can be easily identified. Kaltag was not in the top three villages selected, mainly because the cluster payback period was 75 years. Holy Cross: Holy Cross was not selected for a community follow up meeting. From IRHA's experience working with the community, there is no champion or supporter that can be easily identified. They were not in the top three communities targeted to move on to the next phase. Task 5: Final Reporting. IRHA, ANTHC and Tanana Chiefs Conference recommend the following three communities move on to the next phase of design and construction: -Anvik -Hughes -Koyukuk IRHA staff met with ANTHC (Carl Remley) on December 18, 2012 after the community visits. Mr. Remâ–ºey agrees with all three village selections based on community involvement, community champion, management capacity and feasibility of the buildings to benefit from the projects. Prepared by Jennifer Maguire/Russell Snyder 12/21/12