Six Alaska Communities Join ETIPP To Tackle Energy Resilience Goals

SEPTEMBER 10, 2024

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proud to welcome 25 new communities into the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project (ETIPP), managed by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. From the Caribbean Sea to the Arctic Circle, ETIPP connects remote, coastal, and island communities with national laboratory researchers and regional organizations, giving them the support they need to transform their energy systems and increase resilience. The newest cohort of ETIPP communities will each receive technical assistance and up to $50,000 to support projects focused on everything from water filtration and wildfire preparedness, to heat pumps, battery storage, microgrids, electric transportation, solar power interconnection, and wind energy potential. 

This includes several selections in Alaska – the Native Village of Kotzebue, Galena, Kotlik, the Native Village of Scammon Bay, Juneau, and the Organized Village of Saxman. 

“It’s exciting to see this continued and vital investment across the U.S. Arctic, in communities that are both existing and emerging energy transition leaders,” said Dr. Erin Whitney, Director of the Arctic Energy Office at the U.S. Department of Energy. “We hope that lessons learned from these and other communities’ involvement in ETIPP will help even more communities in Alaska constructively tackle their energy challenges.”  

"REAP is excited to partner with six new communities in Cohort 4 of ETIPP!," said Haleigh Reed, Microgrid Project Manager for Renewable Energy Alaska Project. "As the Regional Partner for Alaska, I've had the opportunity to speak with each community about their energy goals and expectations for this project throughout the application process. It's amazing to see their ideas come one step closer to reality, and for some, their energy transitions are just beginning. The diversity of regions, technologies, and readiness levels of this cohort shows that there is a place for everyone in the energy transition." 

Read on to learn more about their projects and follow the Arctic Energy Office’s blog and social media for more updates throughout their work. 

Galena, Alaska

Located along the Yukon River in central Alaska, Galena is a remote community accessible only by air or water. Galena’s ETIPP project will focus on solving integration issues between photovoltaic and battery energy storage systems. Additionally, the project will explore the use of biomass and air-source heat pumps to improve heating efficiency, reduce dependency on diesel, and enhance overall energy resilience. 

Juneau, Alaska

Juneau, the capital of Alaska, relies on renewable hydropower for its electricity, and continues to look for ways to support energy efficiency and electrification. The ETIPP project in Juneau will focus on optimizing the deployment of heat pumps and enhancing infrastructure for electric vehicle charging to further reduce the city’s reliance on fossil fuels for heating and transportation and improve energy resilience.

Kotlik, Alaska

Kotlik is a village near the Yukon River, situated about 5 miles inland from Alaska’s Norton Sound. The community is remote and accessible only by air or water, which complicates energy supply logistics. Kotlik currently relies on diesel, which is costly and environmentally unsustainable. The ETIPP project will assist Kotlik with energy planning to support the development of renewable energy solutions, enhanced workforce training, and improved energy efficiency to reduce costs and enhance the quality of life for residents.

Native Village of Kotzebue, Alaska

Kotzebue, located on the Chukchi Sea coast above the Arctic Circle, operates an islanded microgrid that heavily relies on diesel fuel. The ETIPP project will focus on creating a community energy plan to transition Kotzebue to 100% renewable energy by identifying challenges and actionable near-, mid-, and long-term goals. The project will include technical assistance for Tribal solar project siting and addressing challenges related to energy storage and grid formation to maximize renewable production while maintaining reliable service.

Native Village of Scammon Bay, Alaska

Scammon Bay, a coastal village on the Bering Sea, contends with extreme weather and limited infrastructure, which contribute to high energy costs and reliability issues. The ETIPP project will engage the village in strategic energy planning, aiming to improve energy resilience in Scammon Bay through the integration of renewable energy—such as wind and solar—and enhancing local energy efficiency. 

Organized Village of Saxman, Alaska

Located on Revillagigedo Island in Southeast Alaska, the Organized Village of Saxman faces unique energy resilience challenges due to its geographical isolation and reliance on imported diesel fuel. The ETIPP project will focus on conducting feasibility studies for integrating tidal energy into the local grid, as well as exploring other renewable energy options such as wind and solar. The project also aims to modernize the community’s electrical grid to build resilience against natural disasters, promote energy efficiency across sectors, and ensure energy equity for all residents. Workforce development and community engagement will be key components, ensuring Saxman’s energy transition is both sustainable and inclusive. 

More About ETIPP

This marks ETIPP's largest cohort to date, nearly double the total number of communities that have participated in the program since it launched in 2020. It's also the most geographically diverse cohort, thanks to expanded partnerships with regional partner organizations and dedicated funding to support their capacity building engagements with communities in their regions. Community projects include electric transportation, solar power interconnection, wind energy potential, wildfire preparedness, home heat pumps and weatherization retrofits, and microgrids and battery storage, among other solutions. Read more about the fourth cohort of ETIPP communities and their projects. 

Source: https://www.energy.gov/arctic/articles/six-alaska-communities-join-etipp-tackle-energy-resilience-goals