Summary

Bristol Bay Native Corporation (BBNC), through its subsidiary, Bristol Environmental and Engineering Services Corporation, will assess renewable energy opportunities within the BBNC region of southwest Alaska. The goals of this initiative are to encourage tribal self-sufficiency, create jobs, improve environmental quality, and help make our nation more secure through the development of clean, affordable, and reliable renewable energy technologies. The study will identify technologies or systems that could potentially reduce the cost or improve the sustainability of electricity within the Bristol Bay region.

Project Description

Bristol Bay Native Corporation (BBNC), through its subsidiary Bristol Environmental and Engineering Services Corporation (BEESC), will assess renewable energy opportunities within the BBNC region of southwest Alaska. The goals of this initiative are to encourage tribal self-sufficiency, create jobs, improve environmental quality, and help make our nation more secure through the development of clean, affordable, and reliable renewable energy technologies. The study will identify technologies or systems that could potentially reduce the cost or improve the sustainability of electricity within the Bristol Bay region.

Background

Bristol Bay Native Corporation (BBNC) is the for-profit Native Corporation created by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) to represent the welfare and business interests of the Native people in the Bristol Bay region. ANCSA created a new type of profit-making entity. In addition to the corporate responsibility to make a profit on behalf of their shareholders, Native corporations are also committed to improving life in their respective regions and to protect the Native heritage of their shareholders.

BBNC has approximately 6,700 shareholders who are of Eskimo, Aleut, and Athabascan descent. The Bristol Bay region is located 150 miles southwest of Anchorage and is 54,000 square miles in size. The Bristol Bay region comprises three census areas as defined by the Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development: Bristol Bay Census Area, Dillingham Census Area, and the Lake & Peninsula Census Area.

Objectives

The primary objectives of this project are as follows: (1) conduct a reconnaissance level study of conditions and potential renewable energy resources for each of the 30 communities within the BBNC region, and (2) install anemometers at up to twelve village and town locations in the BBNC region, recover and analyze data, and perform preliminary economic analyses to determine the viability of wind power/diesel hybrid power generation.

During this project, one meteorological tower was erected in New Stuyahok, one tower was staged in Togiak and two towers in Dillingham for installation this fall. Using this leveraging strategy, BBNC also plans to erect meteorological towers in Naknek and Perryville, and possibly Clark's Point, under this grant.

The project will result in two reports (or one report with two primary sections): (1) Bristol Bay Regional Renewable Energy Reconnaissance Study, and (2) Anemometer Data Reports and Preliminary Economic Issues for Wind Power Development in the tested villages and towns. The regional reconnaissance study will consist of a community profile, electric utility profile, and preliminary alternative energy resource assessment for each community within the BBNC region.

Scope

Task 1: Bristol Bay Regional Renewable Energy Reconnaissance Study

This task consists of two primary components, which are expanded upon below:

  1. A preliminary renewable energy resource assessment for each community within the BBNC region. BEESC will perform a literature and Internet search and will compile and summarize existing documents.

  2. A profile of each electric utility within the BBNC region.

Community Profile: general overview; socio-economic data, including employment and income; community location map, topographic base map, and aerial photography; demographics, including population and housing; local resource utilization; community facilities, utilities, and services; schools; local and regional government structure; local and regional capital improvement programs and development strategies; businesses; and land status.

Preliminary Renewable Energy Resource Profile: general overview and known renewable energy resources.

Electric Utility Profile: general overview; power plant, fuel storage, and distribution system descriptions; power generation capacity, fuel consumption, operating efficiency, and load characteristics; and budget, including fuel costs, operations and maintenance costs, capital costs, personnel costs, and rate structure.

Task 2: Wind Energy Workshop in Dillingham, October 2003

Alaska Energy Authority, NREL, and BBNC will host a Southwest Alaska Wind Energy Assessment Workshop in Dillingham, Alaska on October 8-9, 2003. The purpose of the workshop is to introduce AEA's strategy to assess wind resources in southwestern Alaska with the goal of installing wind power generators in village settings to augment diesel power generation as hybrid systems. BBNC will co-host the workshop.

The main objectives of workshop are to educate attendees about issues regarding wind monitoring and wind power generation, and to erect two anemometers in Dillingham as part of the training effort. Global Energy Concepts, under contract to NREL, will attend the workshop and lead the anemometer tower erection training. In addition to the two anemometer towers in Dillingham, one tower each in Togiak and New Stuyahok will be erected as part of the workshop planning effort. Data from all four towers will be collected, analyzed and evaluated for a period of one year.

BEESC will coordinate with AEA, NREL, and BBNA to host the workshop. BEESC will also hire a meteorologist to assist BEESC and AEA with wind data collection and analysis from the anemometer data loggers.

Task 3: Participate in Wind Energy Applications Training Symposium, Boulder, Colorado, October 2003

One BBNC representative will participate in the Wind Applications Training Symposium (WEATS) to be held in Boulder, Colorado on October 27-31, 2003. The symposium is a hands-on workshop on wind energy for project planners, developers, utility officials, and engineers involved with energy projects who want to include wind energy applications.

Task 4: Installation of AEA-Supplied Anemometers

Travel to Bristol Bay communities and villages and install AEA-supplied anemometers to test wind resources. The number of installations is dependent on the degree of cost sharing possible with AEA. We anticipate that approximately five to eight villages can be monitored. Most installations will occur in spring and summer 2004. Anemometers will operate in each location for a minimum of one year in order to obtain data sufficient to support economic analysis for possible wind power generation development.

Task 5: Wind Resource Collection and Analysis from Anemometer Testing

Subcontract a meteorologist to provide wind data analysis of installed anemometers for one year per installation. The meteorologist will provide a written report at the end of the data year. This information will be used to support Task 6, economic analysis to assess possible installation of wind power generators.

Task 6: Economic Analysis for Wind Power Generators

With the assistance of NREL, perform preliminary economic analyses of wind data collected from tested villages using the software Hybrid 2. These analyses will be oriented toward determining if the villages have sufficient wind resources and advantageous characteristics of population, commercial enterprises or prospects, existing power generation equipment and/or planned power upgrades to warrant consideration toward development of wind power generating systems. This task includes a two-week trip to the NWTC by a BBNC representative to work with NREL employees in order to gain proficiency with the Hybrid 2 software. Proficiency with use of this software will allow BBNC to analyze renewable energy development issues throughout the entire Bristol By region.

Task 7: Attend Tribal Energy Program Review Meetings in Golden, Colorado, Nov. 2003/04

As part of the grant award, BBNC will send one or two representatives to attend two Tribal Energy Program Review Meetings in Golden, Colorado in November 2003 and November 2004.

Task 8: Rural Energy Conference, Talkeetna, Alaska, April 2004

This conference is designed for rural energy managers, energy service and equipment providers, government agencies, national laboratories, technology developers, housing authorities, university researchers, students, and other interested parties.

There will be plenary speakers each day, as well as six technical sessions on a variety of energy-related topics, idea work sessions, a 3-day trade show, and a poster session. It is anticipated that the Southwest Alaska Regional Wind initiative kicked off in the October 2003 workshop in Dillingham, Alaska will be developed further over the winter and presented by AEA and BBNC as a breakout topic.

Approach

The following is a brief semi-chronological summary of activities necessary to conduct the project.

  1. Acquire and ship an anemometer and tower support structure to Perryville.
  2. Perform a literature and Internet search and compilation of existing regional and/or community-specific documents related to the following: wind energy resources, socio-economic and environmental data, comprehensive development plans and strategies, maps and aerial photographs, appropriate alternative system technologies, and other information pertaining to the proposed project.
  3. Conduct an initial site visit to Perryville to meet with tribal officials, electric utility personnel, and other interested parties regarding the establishment of goals and objectives for the proposed project, collect data, inspect existing power plant and distribution system, and assess potential anemometer/future wind turbine generation and hydroelectric system site options.
  4. Install anemometer and wind monitoring equipment in Perryville.
  5. Collect and analyze wind data and stream flow data, if available.
  6. Conduct a follow up site visit/public meeting in Perryville to collect information necessary to perform an analysis of economic, social, and cultural issues.
  7. Prepare concept design options for a renewable energy hybrid system at Perryville.
  8. Prepare a plan for safe construction, and for the long-term operation and maintenance of the system.
  9. Assess the feasibility of installing a renewable energy/diesel hybrid power system in Perryville.
  10. Prepare a business plan for the operations of a renewable energy/diesel hybrid power system in Perryville.
  11. Prepare a draft and final report for presenting the results of the Bristol Bay Regional Renewable Energy Reconnaissance Study and Alternative Hybrid Power System Feasibility Study for Perryville.
-->
Project Location

The Bristol Bay region is located 150 miles southwest of Anchorage and is 54,000 square miles in size. The Bristol Bay region comprises three census areas as defined by the Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development: Bristol Bay Census Area, Dillingham Census Area, and the Lake & Peninsula Census Area.

Project Status

This project is complete. For details, see the final report. Wind resource assessments were conducted at nine locations as part of this project. Each assessment is available as a separate document: Clark’s Point; Kanakanak, Dillingham; Woodriver Road, Dillingham; Kokhanok; Koliganek; Naknek; New Stuyahok; Perryville; and Togiak

The project was competitively selected under the Tribal Energy Program's FY2002 solicitation, "Renewable Energy Development on Tribal Lands," and started June 2003. For more information, see the November 2003, October 2004 and October 2006 project status reports.

<p><strong>Tribe/Awardee</strong><br />Bristol Bay Native Corporation</p><p><strong>Location</strong><br />Bristol Bay region, AK</p><p><strong>Project Title</strong><br />Wind and Hydroelectric Feasibility Study</p><p><strong>Type of Application</strong><br />Feasibility</p><p><strong>DOE Grant Number</strong><br />DE-FC36-03GO13023</p><p><strong>Project Amounts</strong><br />DOE: $121,582<br />Awardee: $0<br />Total: $121,582</p><p><strong>Project Status</strong><br />Complete</p><p><strong>Project Period of Performance</strong><br />Start: June 2003<br />End: December 2005</p>