TCC, AEA among those selected for federal solar funds - Webcenter Fairbanks
TCC, AEA among those selected for federal solar funds
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - Two groups in Alaska are splitting an estimated $125 million in federal funds for the integration of residential and small-scale community solar power.
The state-backed Alaska Energy Authority is putting its $62.5 million share toward solar photovoltaic infrastructure across the state, funneling the money toward low-income or disadvantaged communities in particular.
”President Biden committed to making the largest investment in our nation’s history to combat global climate change. Our announcement today ensures every community has a green energy future,” said EPA Region 10 Administrator, Casey Sixkiller. “This funding will be used to supercharge the deployment of solar power in communities, create jobs, make our power grid more resilient, and lower the cost of energy for every household.”
As projects ramp up, the federal government intends for the funds to help develop a complementary workforce.
The second chunk of the $125 million is headed to the coffers of the Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC). That $62.5 million will go toward the ‘Alaska Tribal Solar for All’ program, a partnership between TCC, the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, and Alaska Housing Finance Corporation.
“TCC’s portion of the original application was to put together a program that other tribes, along the Alaska Railbelt, could apply to do large kind of community solar type projects along the Alaska Railbelt, aimed at larger projects between one and five megawatts.” said Dave Messier, TCC Director of Infrastructure and Community Planning.
“To my knowledge, from the three entities that applied, I think it is one of the largest pieces of funding that [TCC] has received to date, aimed specifically at trying to increase the percentage of solar power on the Alaska Railbelt grid and the microgrids around the state.” Messier added.
This project aims to provide tribal residents in Alaska with an opportunity to benefit from solar, because currently rooftop solar is not feasible.
Copyright 2024 KTVF. All rights reserved.
Related Knowledge Center: ENERGY BASICS: solar
Declining costs and government encouragement have resulted in a rapid increase in solar energy production in the United States over the past 10 years, although solar’s share remains small: 1.6 percent of all electricity generation in 2018. That rapid growth is projected to continue.