Several small Southeast communities have pledged to reduce their energy use. That pledge also makes them eligible to compete for several million dollars in federal funds to help develop energy saving and renewable energy projects.
The U.S. Department of Energy is putting up the money for the Remote Alaska Community’s Energy Efficiency Competition. Pelican, Saxman, Haines, Klawock, Yakutat, Kasaan and Angoon have applied, along with 65 other communities.
The Alaska Energy Authority is helping oversee it. Emily Ford, the policy and outreach manager, said the competition is part of the state’s goal to cut energy use 15 percent by the year 2020.
“So these communities essentially pledged to do the same thing. To improve energy efficiency in their communities by 15 percent,” Ford said.
Initially, competing communities can get up to $100,000 to prep their projects. The communities that advance in that round can then compete for up to $1 million each.
Ford said the scale of the projects will vary.
“Everything from simple weatherization of windows to lighting to larger, more capital intensive projects,” she said.
The competition was first announced after President Barack Obama’s visit to Alaska in 2015. The first wave of winners will be decided sometime in April.
