This project will construct a tribally-owned and operated 700-KW solar system to increase local energy production, decrease energy household costs, and generate revenue for the native village of…

This project will construct a tribally-owned and operated 700-KW solar system to increase local energy production, decrease energy household costs, and generate revenue for the native village of kotzebue (nvok). This project strengthens local partnerships and the regional economy, allows for additional investments, and helps to develop the local workforce, while keeping electricity costs for tribal members affordable over time. This solar energy project will be the first owned and operated by the native village of kotzebue, demonstrating a transformative economic model for rural alaska native communities, by (a) keeping money in local circulation and strengthening the local economy, (b) bolstering tribal programs with "unencumbered" income to the tribal government, and (c) increasing tribal self-governance through ownership of assets, thereby increasing their ability to better serve tribal members. Nvok aims to create a replicable model for other native village communities. This nvok project will construct a solar array on land owned by kikiktagruk inupiat corporation, INC (KIC), an alaska native claims settlement act (ancsa) village corporation for kotzebue, where kotzebue electric association (KEA) has a lease. Nvok will secure a use agreement specifying allowable activities with the landowner. Other relevant partners include: tribal council and leadership (see tribal letter of support from tribal council chair maqik toni raye bergan); northwest arctic borough (county-equivalent local government); atautchikan (public benefit corporation, a subsidiary of nana, the alaska native regional corporation); and the alaska technical center (local workforce development partner). Project goals: - reduce household energy costs for tribal members and fixed income households by providing more affordable, local energy, reducing cost per KWH, and lowering maintenance and operations costs. - increase local energy production with a new solar array. - generate tribal economic opportunities through ownership of local, tribally-produced energy assets. - serve as a replicable model for small, rural, and tribal communities, particularly in alaska. Project objectives and outcomes (1 budget period only): 1. Determine project site location, lease and use agreement, and allowable activities for solar array. 2. Establish a project advisory committee with relevant tribal, regional, and local stakeholders as needed. 3. Select contractor(s) through RFP to design, construct, and install solar array; procure relevant materials; and provide project management. 4. Secure relevant permits and approvals, in collaboration with tribal government and council leadership. 5. Develop power purchase agreement with KEA and connect solar array to kotzebue microgrid. 6. Commission solar array and evaluate for impacts. 7. Communicate project impact. End of project goal by the end of the project, in three years, nvok will install and fully commission a 700-KW solar array, reducing annual diesel fuel consumption and capable of providing energy for local residents at a rate below the avoided cost of diesel fuel.