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$15M for Alaska geothermal projects
The Obama administration’s economic stimulus package is providing $15 million in funding through the U.S. Department of Energy for geothermal projects in the State of Alaska, U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, announced Oct. 29. The funding, which comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, includes $12.3 million for Naknek Electric Association’s geothermal project near King Salmon; $4.6 million to the University of Alaska Fairbanks for testing of geothermal exploration techniques for use at Pilgrim Hot Springs, near Nome; and $2.1 million to Alaska-based Trabits Group LLC for the development of cement that can be used in high-temperature geothermal wells.
“Alaska already leads the nation in producing electricity from the lowest temperature geothermal waters. However, our efforts to use this abundant energy source have barely broken the surface of potential energy production,” Begich said. “The Department of Energy is right to look to our state when developing new clean energy technologies. Alaskans have as much to gain from the development of affordable and clean energy technology as anywhere in the United States.”
Matching funds required The Alaska funding comes as part of a DOE distribution of $338 million in stimulus package geothermal funding for 123 projects in 39 states, to recipients including private industry, academic institutions, tribal entities, local governments and DOE’s national laboratories. The grants will be matched more than one-for-one with an additional $353 million in private and nonfederal cost-share funds, DOE says.
“The United States is blessed with vast geothermal energy resources, which hold enormous potential to heat our homes and power our economy,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. “These investments in America’s technological innovation will allow us to capture more of this clean, carbon free energy at a lower cost than ever before. We will create thousands of jobs, boost our economy and help to jumpstart the geothermal industry across the United States.”
—Alan Bailey
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