Northway Village – 2017 Project

NOTE: Project pages are being updated regularly to reflect changes, if any; however, some of the information may be dated.

Summary

This project will install a variety of energy-efficiency measures (EEMs) and 18 kilowatts (kW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) to reduce the overall energy use in three of Northway Village’s tribally owned buildings by 21.8% and stabilize operational costs. EEM activities include installing light-emitting diode (LED) lights, programmable thermostats, occupancy sensors, high-efficiency variable-speed pumps, and heating improvements to improve efficiency in water-plant operations. In addition, three 6-kW roof-mounted solar PV systems for a total of 18 kW will be installed. The project is expected to save an estimated $21,546 in annual electricity and fuel oil expenses.

Northway, Alaska is 100% dependent on diesel-generated electricity and fuel oil for heating. Completely “off-the-grid,” electricity is currently $0.56/kWh and heating oil is $3.00 per gallon in Northway. At these costs, Northway has taken advantage of every affordable energy efficiency measure they are able to implement on their own, including installation of new doors and windows, perma-chinking the Community Hall, installing new garage doors, LED lighting throughout tribal facilities and several residences, Energy Star boilers and equipment, and much more. When renovating the Community Hall in 2016, it was well documented that Northway Village wanted the building to be as energy efficient as possible and include the necessary infrastructure for supporting PV power.

In 2016, Northway requested and was granted technical assistance—through the DOE Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs—for energy audits on the Tribe’s buildings. Those reports, coupled with a second energy assessment by Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, provided the basis for this project. This project aligns with Northway’s long-term energy goals as seen in the Alaska Interior Regional Energy Plan, draft Community Energy Action Plan, and Tanana Chiefs Conference’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.

The project will install a variety of EEMs and 18 kW of solar PV in Northway, Alaska, to reduce energy costs on three tribally owned buildings. The specific objectives of this project are to:

• Install the community’s first clean-energy system and reduce exclusive reliance on fossil fuels and the corresponding environmental, social, and health costs.
• Train two local staff to install and maintain a variety of EEMs and the PV system.
• Save at least $20,000 in annual utility expenses to reinvest in energy-efficiency projects.

Phase I – Energy-Efficiency Measures: The project will make lighting in tribal buildings 100% LED lights; install programmable thermostats, occupancy sensors, and a vending-machine miser; replace pumps at the water-treatment plant with high-efficiency variable-speed pumps; and several heating improvements to maximize efficiency in water-plant operations. A knowledgeable Alaska vendor will provide technical support and training on EEM installations and best practices for operations and maintenance.

Phase II – Clean Energy: The project will install three 6-kW roof-mounted PV systems on the Community Hall/Tribal Office, Washeteria/Water Treatment Plant, and Water/Sewer Haul Garage. Another knowledgeable Alaska vendor will lead an installation session with local maintenance staff.

Phase III – Energy-Savings Verification: After project installations are complete, the team will track energy-usage data for 12 months to confirm energy savings.

This project will install 18-kW solar PV arrays on three Northway Village-owned buildings and implement several energy-efficiency measures in Northway, Alaska. Located just 42 miles from the Canadian border, Northway lies off the famous Alaska-Canada Highway in an area characterized by marshes, hills, and forests of birch and spruce. Northway has cold winters and moderate summers with an average temperature of just 21 degrees. Northway is made up of three Census-Designated Places in the Southeast Fairbanks Census Area including Northway Junction, Northway (the airport), and Northway Village.  

The project is complete. For additional details, see the final report.

The project was competitively selected under the DOE Office of Indian Energy Fiscal Year 2016 funding opportunity announcement “Deployment of Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy on Indian Lands – 2017” (DE-FOA-0001660) and started in September 2017.

The November 2017 and December 2018 project status report provides more information.