Last DSIRE Review: 08/28/2009
Program Overview:
| State: |
Alaska |
| Incentive Type: |
State Grant Program |
| Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: |
Solar Water Heat, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Fuel Cells, Geothermal Heat Pumps, CHP/Cogeneration, Hydrothermal, Waste Heat, Transmission or Distribution Infrastructure, Anaerobic Digestion, Tidal Energy, Wave Energy |
| Applicable Sectors: |
Commercial, Local Government, Utility, Tribal Government, Only Available for In-State Projects |
| Amount: | Varies | | Funding Source: | State appropriation |
| Web Site: |
http://www.akenergyauthority.org/RE_Fund.html
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Summary:
In May 2008, Alaska enacted legislation authorizing the creation of a renewable energy grant fund. The legislation recommended that the program be administered by the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA). The grant program is intended to provide assistance to utilities, independent power producers, local governments, and tribal governments for feasibility studies, reconnaissance studies, energy resource monitoring, and work related to the design and construction of eligible facilities. In order to be eligible for a grant, a project must be located within Alaska. The list of eligible technologies includes solar, wind, geothermal, hydrothermal, certain types of biomass, biogas, wave, tidal, waste heat utilization, river in-stream power, and hydropower. Also eligible are fuel cells that use hydrogen generated from an eligible renewable resource or natural gas; certain natural gas projects located in small communities; and, electricity or natural gas transmission and distribution infrastructure projects that link an eligible project to related infrastructure.
The AEA will not actually approve projects; it will issue recommendations to the state legislature, which will make funding decisions. In September 2008, the AEA issued a solicitation for two rounds of grant applications under this program. The first round was for projects that could proceed quickly in anticipation of an expected award date of December 2008. The second round was for projects that required more preparation time or that would be considered for FY 2010 funding. An additional $50 million is available in funding for FY2010, and applications are currently being solicited. Although there are no firm limits on grant amounts or minimum applicant contributions, applications with matching funds will be looked upon favorably.
The enabling legislation states an intention to provide $50 million in funding annually to the program for five years, but $125 million was appropriated for the FY 2009 program. The initial allocation plan recommends that 20% of the funding go to reconnaissance, feasibility and resource studies, and the remaining 80% be awarded to final design, permitting and construction projects.
Please see the program website for additional details, including information on funding and eligibility questions.
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