HomeMy WebLinkAboutAEA - REFAC Meeting_Nov_08Overview of Process and Issues
Renewable Fund Advisory Committee
November 25, 2008
Discussion Topics
Approach and Schedule
Summary of Proposals Received
Review Process Steps
Issues
Approach and Schedule
Fundamental approach
Balance moving state funds into projects in a short
timeframe, with
Custodianship of state funds.
Carefully read and assess proposals.
Try to understand how they may be viable —not why
they are flawed.
Schedule
Summary of Proposals Received
–Round I & II
Energy Development Region Apps/Region Funding
Request
Aleutians 5 $6,155,930
Bering Straits 4 27,653,406
Bristol Bay 8 26,093,500
Copper River/Chugach 8 12,942,225
Kodiak 2 9,875,000
Lower Yukon-Kuskokwim 10 20,765,370
Northwest Arctic 9 2,9053,362
Railbelt 20 12,9620,802
Southeast 21 102,935,093
Yukon -Koyukuk/Upper Tanana 12 34,425,863
Total 99 $402,111,199
Stage II:
Stage I
Apps not
passed: 12
Round II:
Total Apps 121
Total Funding
Request
$316,076,095
Total App
Round I&II:
232
Total Funding
Request
Round I&II :
$770,538,093
Review Process
Phase 1 –Completeness and Eligibility
12 proposals did not pass
Staff
Butch White: Project and applicant eligibility
Peter Crimp and Jim Strandberg: Completeness and
minimum capabilities
Review Process
Phase 2 –Technical and Economic Feasibility
Technical Review
Led by AEA Program Manager
Biofuels: James Jensen Hydro and Interties: Doug Ott
Biomass: Ron Brown Wind: Martina Dabo
Geothermal/Ocean: David Lockard
Consistency review: Strandberg, Crimp
Resource and Permitting: DNR
Economic Review
Economists Work with Program Managers
Tom Lovas, Mike Hubbard Dick Emerman
Linda Snow Robert Logan
Northern Economics: Pat Burden, Leah Cuyno, Cal Kerr
ISER: Fuel Price Projections and QA on analyses
Allison Lake Hydro Example –> File Maker
Review Process
Phase 3 –Final Evaluation and Ranking
Ranking (See draft Evaluation Guide)
1.Cost of Energy (30%): 1-10 based on residential cost of
power (pp 9-12)
2.Matching Funds (25%): (p8)
3.Econ and Tech Feasibility (20%): score from stage 2
4.Project Readiness (5%):
5.Econ and Other Alaska Benefit (10%):
6.Sustainability (5%):
7.Local Support (5%): (p8)
Statewide Balance of Funds. Rank by region
Regions for Statewide Balance Criterion
Issue:
Ensure that public receives proper benefit from grant
funded IPP-developed projects.
Recommendation:
Power Projects. Require that IPP obtain RCA CPCN. RCA
establish cost-based tariff
Heating Projects. No CPCN. AEA approve rate and
periodically audit
Issue:
AEA Recommendations –Multi-phase funding.
Recommendation:
Fund all phases: Project can be constructed in 2009, and is
well -defined, relatively inexpensive, and low-risk.
Fund fewer than all phases: Project construction in 2010+,
not well-defined, expensive, higher risk, or there are
competing projects for which planning is desirable.
Issue:
AEA recommendations –Competing/Interacting
projects.
Recommendation:
If AEA is aware of the potential for substantial interaction
among proposed and/or other known projects, then
recommend planning with appropriate level of analysis and
public input before committing substantial funding to one
or more alternatives.
Railbelt: If installed capacity > 10 MW or system
transmission constraints are likely, then construction
funding not recommended til after Railbelt IRP Plan
consideration.
Issue:
AEA Recommendations –Partial funding levels.
Recommendation:
Partial funding levels will correspond to amount proposed
in phases that are recommended.
Exception 1: If proposal asks AEA to manage the project,
and AEA thinks project can be built for less, then lower
figure can be recommended.
Exception 2: Proposal requests funding for operating
expense (labor, fuel) not recommended for funding.
Issue:
Projects that may be less than optimal are proposed –
e.g. small wind turbine instead of larger.
Recommendation:
Score as Proposed. Note concerns in comments.
Issue:
Eligibility of fuel projects (biodiesel, waste vegetable oil,
fish oil, pellets, cordwood) Issues:
Are proposers IPPs?
How should economic analysis be conducted (e.g.
savings over diesel?)
Should grants for construction and equipment costs be
made?Recommendation:
Government projects eligible for construction/equipment
funding
Non-government : limit funding to preconstruction
activities
Issue:
Eligibility of resource assessment projects.
Recommendation:
Resource assessment associated with one or more site-
specific projects is eligible for phase 2 funding. General
regional or statewide assessment, not tied to particular
proposed projects, is not eligible, and more appropriately
done through the DNR/AEA Alaska Energy Inventory Data
project.