In Alaska, many Native villages and regional corporations are pursuing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects as part of their long-term s...
Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs
October 16, 2014
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More than 21 representatives of state and regional organizations participated in an the initial facilitation workshop for Alaska Energy Ambassadors. Photo by Jared Temanson, NREL
In Alaska, many Native villages and regional corporations are pursuing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects as part of their long-term strategies for lowering energy costs and increasing energy security. In doing so, they will join the growing ranks of islands, disaster-stricken cities, and other communities that have implemented leading-edge solutions to pressing energy and environmental challenges. In nearly every case, stakeholders in these efforts point to the critical importance of having an energy “ambassador” to champion the project, garner community buy-in, and facilitate its success.
A pilot Energy Ambassadors Program the DOE Office of Indian Energy is rolling out in Fiscal Year 2015 will respond directly to that need in Alaska. Part of a focused, regionalized approach to advancing clean energy solutions in rural Alaska, the program will train and develop regional energy ambassadors to provide Native villages with front line technical assistance.
The immediate goal is to provide Alaska Native entities with a standardized model and quality process that is repeatable and consistent, while enabling tailored energy efficiency and renewable energy options for each village. The longer-term goal of the program is to develop a “go-to” group of Alaskans who are trained in the basics of energy planning and stakeholder development. In addition to DOE, a variety of other federal agencies will support the Alaska Energy Ambassadors Program.
Givey Kochanowski
Givey Kochanowski was a senior advisor on Alaska for the Arctic Energy Office, as a detailee from DOE’s Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs until October 2023.
Before joining the Arctic Energy Office, Givey served eight years in DOE’s Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs as both the Alaska Program Manager and Senior Advisor. He re-established DOE’s physical presence in Alaska and was the first career employee hired in that office. He delivered technical assistance, capacity building, energy education, and outreach to Alaskan tribal entities to reduce energy costs and improve economic development.
He has an extensive military and international affairs background from his tenure as a Customer Service Director at the U.S. General Services Administration in Alaska and overseas. He also brings Alaskan logistics expertise from his position as the U.S. Forest Service’s Alaska Regional Fleet Manager and as an active duty Air Force commissioned officer.
He is a 2001 U.S. Air Force Academy graduate with assignments at Eglin AFB in Florida, Kunsan Air Base in the Republic of Korea, and Elmendorf AFB in Alaska. He earned his Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Oklahoma.
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