Communities picked for energy efficiency

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has announced a list of 13 rural Alaska communities selected for technical assistance funding under the Department of Energy’s Remote Alaska Communities Energy Efficiency competition, known as the RACEE competition.

“Alaska’s remote communities pay more for energy than just about anywhere else in the country,” Murkowski said on April 26 when making the announcement. “Promoting energy innovation in every way we can is important, and that includes improved energy efficiency. The communities selected today will have the opportunity to develop efficiency plans that are both sustainable and aligned with their vision for the future. Most importantly, these rural Alaska communities are now one step closer to reducing energy costs for local residents.”

DOE has said that competition forms part of President Obama’s commitment to fight climate change and assist remote Alaska communities. The Alaska Energy Authority has been assisting DOE with community outreach in support of the initiative.

The first phase of the competition ended in February when 64 communities were recognized as “community efficiency champions,” with pledges to improve energy efficiency by at least 15 percent by 2020. DOE will provide all of these communities with guidance on how to achieve their efficiency goals.

The awards for the 13 newly selected communities mark phase two of the competition, in which DOE will make up to $600,000 in funding and technical support available to help the shortlisted communities develop their energy efficiency plans.

In the competition’s third and final phase DOE will award up to $3.4 million in grants to up to five selected communities for the implementation of energy efficiency plans developed in phase two.

- ALAN BAILEY