Project Grant A23AP00104

THE WIND RESOURCE ASSESSMENT FOR TOGIAK AND TWIN HILLS, ALASKA PROJECT WILL ASSESS THE VIABILITY OF INSTALLING A WIND TURBINE OR TURBINES IN TOGIAK, ALASKA AND THEREBY ADDING A RENEWABLE POWER SOURCE TO THE MICROGRID THAT SUPPLIES POWER TO THE COMMUNITIES OF TOGIAK AND TWIN HILLS IN THE BRISTOL BAY REGION OF ALASKA. THIS PROJECT WILL CONFER CONSIDERABLE BENEFITS TO THESE COMMUNITIES WHICH SHARE AN INTERTIE, BUT FULLY RELY ON DIESEL GENSETS TO PRODUCE THE ELECTRICITY NEEDED BY THESE COMMUNITIES (COMBINED POPULATIONS OF APPROXIMATELY 875 PEOPLE). HISTORICALLY, TOGIAK AND TWIN HILLS HAVE USED 230,000-275,000 GALLONS OF DIESEL FUEL ANNUALLY TO GENERATE POWER, ALL OF WHICH HAS TO TRANSPORTED TO THE COMMUNITIES BY BARGE OR AIRPLANE. SUCCESSFUL INSTALLATION OF A WIND TURBINE OR TURBINES, THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THIS WORK , HAS THE POTENTIAL TO MAY OFFSET A SIGNIFICANT QUANTITY OF DIESEL THE VILLAGES CONSUME ANNUALLY, INCREASE THE COMMUNITIES ELECTRICITY RESILIENCE, AND PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES.BBNC WILL PARTNER WITH THE ALASKA VILLAGE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE (AVEC) TO COMPLETE THE GRANT PROPOSAL TASKS WHICH WILL INCLUDE, AMONG OTHER DELIVERABLES, A WIND RESOURCE ASSESSMENT, A DETAILED CURRENT AND FUTURE ENERGY COST ANALYSIS FOR THE COMMUNITIES, A DESIGN AND STUDY AND PRELIMINARY CONSTRUCTION BUDGET, PERMITTING AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS, AND AN ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL ANALYSIS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONAL COSTS OF THE CONSTRUCTED TURBINES. ALL OF THESE DELIVERABLES WILL BE COMBINED INTO A FINAL CONCEPTIONAL DESIGN REPORT. BBNC AND AVEC HAVE LONG BEEN INVOLVED IN EFFORTS TO BRING RENEWABLE POWER TO REMOTE AND ISLANDED RURAL ALASKA COMMUNITIES. BBNC SUCCESSFULLY LED A DOE, TRIBAL ENERGY PROGRAM WIND STUDY FOR EIGHT BRISTOL BAY COMMUNITIES BETWEEN 2003-2007 AND AVEC HAS OPERATED ELECTRIC UTILITIES IN ALASKA SINCE 1968 AND CURRENTLY HAS 32 WIND TURBINES INSTALLED IN 12 DIFFERENT INSTALLATIONS THAT PROVIDE POWER TO 21 COMMUNITIES.