Eklutna, INC., an alaska native village corporation, submits this application for $195,000 in grant funding from the bureau of indian affairs energy and mineral development program (emdp) for the…

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Energy and Mineral Development Program (EMDP), administered under CFDA 15.038 (Minerals and Mining on Indian Lands), awarded $195,000 to Eklutna Inc., an Alaska Native Village Corporation, on September 22, 2025. The grant funds comprehensive project design, front-end engineering, and cost estimation services for a waste heat generation facility planned at the Matanuska Electric Association's Eklutna Generation Station in Chugiak, Alaska. Deliverables include foundation sketches, control systems architecture, piping and instrumentation design, and detailed project scheduling. The project is scheduled for completion by September 21, 2027.

The waste heat recovery project is designed to generate 10-12 megawatts of additional electrical generation capacity from exhaust energy at the existing gas-fired power plant, addressing Alaska's emerging natural gas shortage concerns. Eklutna Inc. will contribute all grant administration and project management services as cost-share. This initiative builds upon more than a decade of feasibility work, previous collaborative efforts with Matanuska Electric Association, and a favorable re-evaluation by Washington State University's Combined Heat and Power Team. The project represents a strategic investment in low-cost energy infrastructure requiring minimal permitting or additional land requirements for Alaska's utility portfolio.

Eklutna, INC., an alaska native village corporation, submits this application for $195,000 in grant funding from the bureau of indian affairs energy and mineral development program (emdp) for the project design, front-end engineering, and cost estimate of installation for a waste heat generation project. The deliverables will include foundation sketches, control systems architecture, piping and instrumentation design, and project scheduling. In addition to the funds requested from the contractor, eklutna will contribute all grant administration and project management services. The waste heat resource for this project comes from the matanuska electric association (MEA) eklutna generation station (EGS) gas-fired plant in chugiak, alaska. Eklutna, INC. Sold the land for the EGS to MEA and, as part of the transaction, eklutna, INC. Reserved the right to all waste heat from the facility. From 2014 to 2020, MEA and eklutna worked collaboratively to advance a waste heat generation project. However, covid and transmission realignment stalled the project. Eklutna, INC. Has continued to study the resource with the assistance of the US department of energy (DOE).alaska is starting to experience natural gas shortages, with the prospect of importing gas on the horizon. Finding additional low-cost energy resources is critical for alaskans. Adding 10-12MW of electrical generation will be a welcome part of the utilitys energy portfolio. This energy source is essential as a corollary generation source that does not require extensive permitting or land base. The waste energy project has been a focus of the eklutna, INC. Board of directors for more than a decade. Eklutna, INC. Made significant investments in feasibility studies, equipment selection, financial models, and resource identification. A RE-evaluation of the project by washington state universitys combined heat and power team found a high-level heat resource and a feasible, economical project. The project installation and operation cost were determined however, the project needs cost verification and preliminary engineering and design to develop reliable economic models to inform investment. We anticipate that the engineering results and cost estimate will help complete our modeling and determine whether the project can be sanctioned. Eklutna, INC. Will continue coordinating with MEA, the gas plant owner and operator, identifying funding sources, and developing a work plan. Eklutna, INC. Plans to engage haskell corp to perform engineering and design. Haskell will subcontract with brad thompson company for equipment and installation cost estimates. Haskell corp engineered the EGS, so they are uniquely qualified to perform this phase of the project. This project will be managed for eklutna, INC. By eklutnas vice president of operations, kyle smith, an attorney with 15 years of energy experience.