Alaska smart grid toolkit

Renewable energy sparks public interest

The Alaska Energy Authority Recently met in Wrangell to discuss the future of power and energy in the region. The group is working on an Integrated Resource plan, which aims to develop renewable energy in the region over the next 50-years… Some of the ideas the authority is looking at include renewable energy projects, hydro projects, wind and geothermal projects and establishing transmission lines to provide hydro power to SE communities. Read more at KSTK.org >>

Alaska’s Tides Scouted for Clean Energy

The Alaska Energy Authority, a public corporation dedicated to reducing the cost of energy in Alaska, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have announced an agreement to conduct a baseline assessment of tidal hydrokinetic energy potential in Cook Inlet. Read more at Earth Techling >>

Tanana -- Tiny City in Yukon Takes a Giant Renewable Step

Tanana is helping put woody biomass on the Alaskan map. By harvesting local wood for energy, the city is becoming more efficient and self-sufficient. The plan is to reap wider benefits by sharing their experience with other rural communities. Read more from the Huffington Post >>

Ucore gets US govt support for rare earths project

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has granted rare earths explorer Ucore Rare Metals priority permitting for its Bokan project in Alaska, which the company said on Wednesday would cut at least a year off its development schedule…The US is scrambling to secure supplies of rare-earth elements, used in smart phones, advanced missiles and wind turbines, as China, which accounts for 95% of global supplies, cuts exports and production. Read more at Mining Weekly >>

Alaska Signs Energy Performance Contract with Ameresco to Increase Energy Efficiency in State Facilities

Ameresco, a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company has entered into a Professional Services Agreement for  Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) with the State of Alaska encompassing all State of Alaska and University of Alaska Fairbanks facilities. Read the press release >>

New student housing at University of Alaska Fairbanks goes sustainable

The next student housing development at the University of Alaska Fairbanks will be part dormitory, part research project. The $1 million project, dubbed the Sustainable Village, is being designed with an eye toward hyper-efficiency, low operating costs and experimentation. Planners are hopeful the development, a collaboration between UAF and the Cold Climate Housing Research Center, could be a small step toward transforming housing on campus. Read more from the Fairbanks News-Miner >>