Workshop Explores Energy Project Financing Options for Southwest Alaska

Last week, the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy hosted a Project Development and Finance workshop in conjunction with the Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference (SWAMC) Annual Economic Summit in Anchorage, Alaska.

We were pleased to partner with SWAMC to gather representatives from almost every community in the Bristol Bay and Aleutian regions for an important workshop on how rural communities can use private and public sources of funding to develop cost-effective energy projects for their communities. 

Representatives from more than 30 communities and organizations were in attendance to hear from experts on how they can keep moving projects forward in the state’s tight financial times. On the second day of the event, a two-hour window was set aside to give participants the opportunity to speak directly with experts from the federal and state government, as well as the private sector, about their specific issues and ideas.

It was truly great to hear from everyone from this diverse and beautiful region and discuss energy issues. In these trying financial times, it’s encouraging to see the commitment everyone has to making sure rural Alaskan communities are able to seize their energy opportunities and  continue developing and diversifying their economies.

If you missed this workshop, be sure to attend the Federal Energy Day that the Office of Indian Energy will host on April 25 in conjunction with the Alaska Rural Energy Conference. Early bird rates for the conference end March 26, so register soon to take advantage of reduced registration rates.

Learn more about the Office of Indian Energy’s work with Alaska Native villages. 

- Written by Jared Temanson