The Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) $26 million in clean energy funding for further expansion of solar power and battery systems in eight Tribal communities. Over the next 5 years, Nulato, Huslia, Minto, Kaltag, Grayling, Anvik, Shageluk, and Holy Cross will all receive large solar and battery energy storage systems to offset diesel used for the generation of electricity in their communities.
Many villages within the region are inaccessible by road, and only seasonally accessible by boat or small airplane, leading to electricity costs that are more than four times the national average. The Energy Sovereignty Initiative, adopted and implemented by TCC’s Infrastructure Division, has already brought clean energy projects to the communities of Hughes and Galena. The OCED award will enable TCC, in partnership with our tribes, to develop a more reliable grid while providing access to cleaner energy for these eight communities.
“One of our priorities as an organization is to foster Tribal sovereignty, empowering our people with the resources to raise their families, run their businesses, and provide a future for their communities” says Brian Ridley, Chief/Chairman of TCC, “We are proud to have received this award that will bring us even closer to that goal.”
In collaboration with the Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, the project team plans to modernize grid infrastructure, provide job training to Tribal communities and develop the State’s largest tribally-owned and operated Independent Power Producer (IPP). The project will strive to offset diesel consumption by up to 40% in these communities, lowering and stabilizing energy costs and reducing over 1,550 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year over the project’s 25-year lifespan.
“TCC communities have been clear in their desire to take part in the energy transition that is happening across the world and we’re incredibly proud to be able to follow the success of the community of Hughes and others around the state to make this goal of decreasing dependence on imported diesel and diversifying the village energy supply a reality,” commented Dave Messier, Infrastructure Division Director for TCC.
As part of its Community Benefits Plan, the project aims to improve grid reliability, enhance air quality, and decrease community energy burdens. Revenue from the Tribal ownership model will be used to ensure long term O&M on the systems, reduce energy costs and develop future renewable projects in Tribal communities across the region. TCC plans to provide more than $4M worth of additional funds supported by the recently established federal tax credits to further increase the impact of the federal grants and will establish a utility board of Tribal leaders from across the region to oversee the newly established IPP and ensure long term O&M across these systems.