This grant provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to native village of chenega

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 awarded $8.93 million to the Native Village of Chenega under the Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (CFDA 66.616) on April 1, 2025, to construct renewable energy and fuel storage infrastructure in Chenega, Alaska. The project delivers a 30,000-gallon bulk fuel storage facility, a 160-kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic array paired with 250 kW/648 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery energy storage system, and associated supporting infrastructure. These physical installations are complemented by capacity-building services including two solar workforce training programs, development of a tribal independent power producer business structure, power purchase agreements with local utilities, and training for community operators on solar and battery operations and maintenance.

Project delivery is supported by the Prince William Sound Economic Development District as subrecipient, providing project communications, training recruitment, hosting solar training in Cordova, and managing trainee travel logistics. Key deliverables encompass design documentation, construction and installation of all energy and fuel systems, formal operational agreements, technical manuals, workforce development completion, and establishment of the tribal independent power producer entity. The initiative directly supports disadvantaged communities by modernizing critical fuel storage infrastructure to reduce environmental spill risks while reducing the village's diesel fuel dependence through renewable energy integration and enhancing overall energy resilience and sustainability.

Specifically, the project will involve the construction of a new 30,000-gallon bulk fuel storage facility and the integration of a 160-KW solar photovoltaic array with a 250 KW/648 KWH battery energy storage system. Through the grant, there will be two solar workforce trainings, the development of a tribal independent power producer structure, a power purchase agreement with the utility, and training for local operators on solar/battery operations and maintenance.activities:the activities to be performed are the completion of project management and administration; completion of contracts; design and procurement; solar workforce training; construction, installation, checkout, and commissioning of solar and fuel storage; development of a tribal independent power producer structure and training.subrecipient:the prince william sound economic development district will provide project communications and outreach, recruit for training, host solar training in cordova, and manage travel for trainees. Outcomes:the anticipated deliverables are the completion of formalized agreements, reports, requests for proposals and contracts, designs, and manuals; construction and the installation of fuel storage systems, a solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage system, and supporting systems; and tribal workforce development, testing and commissioning, and tribal independent power producer structure. The expected outcomes include enhancing the energy resilience and sustainability of the native village of chenega, alaska. Through this project and grant, critical fuel storage infrastructure will be modernized, significantly reducing the potential for fuel spills, and incorporating renewable energy solutions to lessen the village's dependence on diesel fuel for electricity production. The intended beneficiaries are disadvantaged communities.