Listen to this story:
Across rural Alaska, communities are exploring new ways to make energy more reliable, affordable and sustainable. A national program entering its fifth year hopes to help make the transition.
The Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project (ETIPP) is a technical assistance program designed to help communities across the country move to more sustainable and affordable energy systems.
In Alaska, that support comes from the Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP). The non-profit’s Microgrid Project Manager, Haleigh Reed, said REAP works hand-in-hand with rural communities.
“REAP works with the Alaska Region on strategically advancing energy resilience, affordable energy, whatever energy projects a rural community wants to explore,” Reed explained.
She said REAP’s role is to help rural communities make informed decisions about their energy futures, and unlike other programs, the communities are in the driver’s seat.
“We can support them with a community energy planning process, or a technical deep dive so that they can have some support in a facilitated community energy planning process,” Reed said.
The program also helps rural communities evaluate what renewable energy system best fits their needs, like solar or wind.
“We help them understand which one's the most feasible, financially feasible and technically feasible,” Reed explained.
She said REAP is currently working with Kotzebue, Scammon Bay, Kotlik, Juneau and the Organized Village of Saxman, with each taking different routes toward sustainable energy futures.
“How a community might decide which track they go in is if they already have some renewable energy or if they are aware of some specific challenges they're having,” Reed said.
Reed said the community energy planning process can take six to eight months, but that projects can take up to two years to complete.
Once a community has decided on a solution, REAP assists with finding funding sources like grants. Reed said any rural Alaska community can apply for the program, provided they apply through a tribe or community organization.
REAP is taking applications for the latest cohort until July 25. The application is available on the ETIPP website.
