This week's awards: IDP's Mitchell Cement Plant Decarbonization Project; ERA's Alaskan Tribal Energy Sovereignty, Greencare Empowering Resilience in Poteau, Kokhanok Paradigm Shift, Old Harbor Hydroelectric, Ouzinkie, Tanacross Solar PV and Tok BESS
Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations
August 14, 2024
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On Wednesdays, OCED will announce the latest projects that have successfully completed award negotiations. OCED will only issue an Award Wednesday notification on weeks when an award has been finalized.
AWARD ANNOUNCEMENTS
Industrial Demonstrations Program
Mitchell Cement Plant Decarbonization Project
OCED awarded the Mitchell Cement Plant Decarbonization Project, led by Heidelberg Materials US, Inc., with $300,000 (of the total project federal cost share of up to $500 million) in federal funding to begin Phase 1 activities. Heidelberg Materials plans to construct and operate an integrated carbon capture, transport, and storage system at its newly modernized plant located in Mitchell, IN, to capture at least 95% of the carbon dioxide from one of the largest cement plants in the nation. During Phase 1, which is expected to last 12-18 months, Heidelberg Materials will conduct foundational activities such as formalizing the project plan, signing partnership agreements, gaining site control, conducting interconnection studies, defining the permit plan, performing environmental planning, and conducting engineering and design work.
View the project factsheet and community benefits commitments summary here. Learn more about engagement opportunities here.
Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas
Alaskan Tribal Energy Sovereignty
OCED awarded the Alaskan Tribal Energy Sovereignty project—led by the Tanana Chiefs Conference—with more than $4.1 million (of the total federal cost share of up to $26.06 million) to begin Phase 1 activities. The Tanana Chiefs Conference plans to deploy high-penetration solar PV and battery storage systems into existing microgrids in eight remote tribal communities currently relying on diesel for 100% of their electrical production.
View the project factsheet and community benefits commitments summary here. Learn more about engagement opportunities here.
Greencare Empowering Resilience in Poteau
OCED issued a grant award for the Greencare Empowering Resilience in Poteau project—led by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO), committing up to $5 million in federal funding. The Greencare project plans to install approximately 2.1 MWh of battery energy storage systems to create a microgrid and implement energy-efficient upgrades in seven buildings across CNO’s Poteau campus. The microgrid would provide backup power during outages for a health clinic, child development center, and food distribution center, allowing tribal members to receive these vital services regardless of the weather. When combined with new energy efficiency upgrades, residents would see lower electricity costs, reduce overall energy consumption, and decrease energy waste—saving an estimated $140,000 in electricity costs each year.
View the project factsheet and community benefits commitments summary here. Learn more about engagement opportunities here.
Kokhanok Paradigm Shift: Big Battery as our System’s Energy Backbone
OCED issued a grant award to the ERA project Kokhanok’s Paradigm Shift: Big Battery as our System’s Energy Backbone, led by Kokhanok Village Council, committing up to nearly $5 million in federal funding to install a 1 MW battery energy storage system—as well as solar PV, a new wind turbine, and electric thermal storage heating units—to the local community’s microgrid. This project aims to help achieve the community’s goal of transitioning to 100% renewable energy by significantly increasing the microgrid’s reliability and resilience while vastly reducing residents’ dependence on diesel. The upgrades to Kokhanok’s microgrid would displace an anticipated 70% of the local power plant’s diesel use within the first two years of operation, improving the community’s air quality and reducing outages and electricity costs.
View the project factsheet and community benefits commitments summary here. Learn more about engagement opportunities here.
Old Harbor Hydroelectric Project
OCED awarded the Old Harbor Hydroelectric Project—led by the Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor—with $1.5 million (of the total federal cost share of up to nearly $10 million) to begin Phase 1 activities. The Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor plans to construct a run-of-the-river hydroelectric facility in Old Harbor, AK. It is anticipated that the project will be capable of generating about 3,470 MWh of energy annually and offset diesel fuel use at the local power plant by 95%, enabling a year-round reliable energy source. During Phase 1, the Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor plans to conduct planning, development and design activities, including obtaining land rights, providing input into OCED’s National Environmental Policy Act review, and initiating community and labor engagement.
View the project factsheet and community benefits commitments summary here. Learn more here.
Ouzinkie Independent Power Energy Improvement Project
OCED issued a grant award for the ERA Ouzinkie Independent Power Energy Improvement Project, led by the Native Village of Ouzinkie, committing up to nearly $2.3 million in federal funding to construct a 160 kW solar PV array and 210 kWh battery energy storage system for a microgrid. The project aims to provide reliable, resilient back-up power during maintenance outages, while delivering clean energy that meets the geographic, economic, and cultural needs of Ouzinkie’s residents. The project also expects to reduce electricity costs by an estimated 10% and to generate financial benefits that could subsidize water and sewer bills.
View the project factsheet and community benefits commitments summary here. Learn more about engagement opportunities here.
Tanacross Solar PV and Tok Battery Energy Storage System
OCED issued a grant award for the Tanacross Solar PV and Tok Battery Energy Storage System project, led by the Tanana Chiefs Conference, committing up to $5 million in federal funding. The Tanacross project plans to install upgrades at the Alaska Power & Telephone (AP&T) power plant in Tok, AK, providing the technical requirements to incorporate 1.5 MW of solar PV and a 1.5 MWh battery energy storage system on the grid that provides electricity to federally recognized tribes in Tanacross, Tetlin, and Dot Lake in Tok, AK. The upgrades and installation of a large-scale battery energy storage system would allow the utility to potentially invest in additional renewable generation for the Tok microgrid, further reducing diesel consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and costs. The proposed project could generate more than $380,000 in annual revenue, which would be used to cover operations and maintenance costs and establish a reserve and replacement fund.
View the project factsheet and community benefits commitments summary here. Learn more about engagement opportunities here.