This agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to alaska native tribal health consortium (ANTHC)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA Region 10) awarded Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) a $19.8 million project grant on April 21, 2025, under the Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (CFDA 66.616), funded through the Inflation Reduction Act. The award supports the installation of two 1 megawatt (MW) direct drive wind turbines with 61-meter blades in Kotzebue, Alaska, along with all necessary interconnection equipment including buried cable, a 1250 kilovolt-ampere transformer, and two electrical sectionalizers to integrate the system into the existing Kotzebue microgrid.

ANTHC serves as the grant recipient and project manager for construction activities, while the Native Village of Kotzebue, designated as the subrecipient, will own the infrastructure and operate the system as an independent power producer upon completion. The Native Village of Kotzebue is responsible for stakeholder engagement, including establishing a Project Advisory Board, conducting annual public meetings and tribal council presentations, and coordinating with ANTHC and Kotzebue Electric Association. Expected outcomes include reduced greenhouse gas emissions, enhanced grid reliability, decreased utility costs, job creation, and community empowerment in disadvantaged areas. The project is scheduled for completion by May 2, 2025.

Specifically, the project will build two wind turbines in kotzebue, alaska. Activities:the activities include building two new 1 MW wind turbines and engaging with the local community throughout the process. ANTHC will manage the construction of the project, but the infrastructure will be owned by the native village of kotzebue. The tribe will manage stakeholder engagement and manage and maintain the system as an independent power producer once IT is built. Subrecipient:native village of kotzebue will form a project advisory board and facilitate regular committee meetings; conduct at least one public meeting annually during the duration of the project; present during at least one tribal council meeting annually throughout the project period; and further coordinate between ANTHC, native village of kotzebue, and kotzebue electric association. Outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include two 1 MW direct drive wind turbines with 61-meter blades added to the kotzebue microgrid. The project will install all equipment necessary to connect to the existing power system, including buried cable, a 1250 KVA transformer, and two electrical sectionalizers. The expected outcomes include reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing grid reliability, decreasing utility costs, creating new jobs, and empowering native village of kotzebue as a locally owned independent power producer. The intended beneficiaries are disadvantaged communities.