Priority: Energy R&D Fund

One of Three Priorities for Enhancing Alaska’s Quality of Life and Protecting a Healthy Environment

The creation of the Renewable Energy Grant Fund in 2008 was a critical first step in the process of promoting a secure clean energy future for Alaska.

One of the next steps Alaska can take is to support nascent renewable projects to create a vibrant, innovative energy sector across the state, finding solutions for high rural energy costs and driving Alaska's economy into the future.  ACA helped Alaska take that next step toward an environmentally and economically sustainable energy future by supporting the passage of Senate Bill 220 and the inclusion of an Emerging Energy Technology Fund.

The Emerging Energy Technology fund was introduced during the first year of the 26th legislative session as Senate Bill 150 by Sen. Lesil McGuire.  Its main idea was to provide development funds for projects that were not yet commercially viable, and therefore not yet eligible for Renewable Energy Grant funds.  Alaska is uniquely poised as a testing ground for such new energy technologies with copious untapped potential resources like geothermal, wave, and tidal power.  At the same time the state has a pressing need for solutions to energy needs in off-the-grid communities, solutions that once created could be modeled and sold around the world to the 1.6 billion people who live in similarly disconnected places. 

During a Denali Commission pilot program, emerging energy technology grants were disbursed to 9 recipients for projects ranging from a biomass boiler in downtown Juneau to a seawater heat pump system at the Seward Sealife Center.  Legislators saw those successes and prioritized the establishment of a statewide emerging energy technology fund by including the content of SB 150 in Senate Bill 220, the Alaska Sustainable Energy Act.

On April 18th, the final day of the 26th legislative session, SB 220 passed both the house and senate, paving the way for many progressive statewide energy solutions, including the establishment of an Emerging Energy Technology Fund.  As written, the statute designates a seven member panel to review applications and disburse the funds annually.  Priority is given to Alaskans, projects that demonstrate university partnership, projects supported by matching funds, and projects with the potential for widespread deployment in the state.  The money can be used by Alaskan businesses, utilities, non-profits, governmental or other organizations to:

• Test emerging energy technologies or methods of conserving energy
• Improve an existing energy technology
  
• Deploy an existing technology that has not previously been demonstrated in the state.
  

The hope is that this fund will provide more affordable energy options for rural Alaskans as the price of diesel continues to make life difficult.  Ideally, it will also lead to the formation of companies that develop renewable energy systems that have markets and applications around the world. The $55 billion/year “clean energy” business is expected to at least quadruple worldwide by 2015.

In an important  parallel development, the newly created fund received an allocation of $2.4 million in the 2011 capitol budget, and is expected to receive a match of $2.4 million from the Denali Commission.  The upcoming first round has excited policy, science, and business community leaders alike.  Alaska Conservation Alliance is proud to have supported the passage of emerging technology legislation and looks forward to seeing the fruit of this investment in the form of quality of life and environmental improvements across our great state.

For More Information:
Please download the Emerging Energy Technology Fund fact sheet or view the language of Senate Bill 220.