Summary
The Native Village of Port Heiden proposes to electrify approximately 14 currently unelectrified Tribal facilities by connecting the facilities to the existing community electricity distribution system. The facilities to be connected are buildings that serve a variety of purposes essential to the community, including fish processing, agriculture, airport services, short-term housing, and storage. Results of this project include a significant increase in economic opportunity, improved local sustainable food systems, community resiliency and self-sufficiency, and an enhanced electricity grid that will position the community to successfully incorporate future planned renewable wind power.
Project Overview
| Tribe/Awardee: | Native Village of Port Heiden |
|---|---|
| Location: | Native Village Port Heiden, Alaska |
| Project Title: | Powering Tribal Facilities in Port Heiden, Alaska |
| Type of Application: | Deployment |
| DOE Grant Number: | DE-IE0000186 |
| Project Amounts: | DOE: $934,919 Awardee: $103,880 Total: $1,038,799 |
| Project Status: | See project status |
| Project Period of Performance: | Start: 6/1/2024 End: 9/30/2026 |
Project Description
Background
Port Heiden is home to approximately 100 year-round residents, the majority of which identify as Alaska Native. The electric utility is owned and operated by the City of Port Heiden. Port Heiden is a thriving Tribal community that has historically practiced a subsistence and commercial fishing lifestyle. With changes in the climate and commercial fishing industry, forced lifestyle changes have particularly impacted residents. The Native Village of Port Heiden has strong traditional values of adaptability and is constantly seeking to practice self-determination, independence, and improve resilience of the community, including through provision of safe, reliable power service.
Over the last several years, the City of Port Heiden has worked with multiple government agencies on energy-related goals, which has resulted in assistance with: revising designs of both the power plant and the electricity distribution system; construction of a new high-penetration, renewable-capable diesel power plant; analysis of alternative energy options; construction of approximately 200 kilowatts (kW) of wind power estimated to offset around 50% of the community’s current electricity consumption; and a project to replace the community’s existing electricity distribution system.
Project Objectives
This project aims to install new single-phase electricity meters, three-phase electricity meters, and connect other meters that are already installed. Approximately 1,300 linear feet of secondary conductor will be required to connect the facilities at the meter to the proposed transformers. Many of the facilities are, or will be, separately wired and ready for accepting electricity.
The Tribe will issue contracts to qualified contractors to perform construction administration tasks and installation of the new electricity distribution infrastructure. The City of Port Heiden will provide site control and commits to operations and maintenance of the proposed equipment. The electrical contractor will work with Native Village of Port Heiden and the City of Port Heiden to identify potential challenges, obstacles, and risks to the schedule, budget, and scope of work, and the team will work cooperatively to address concerns.
Project Scope
The scope of work for this project includes installation of approximately 25,000 feet of buried power cable for three-phase power within approximately 8,750 linear feet of trench. To accommodate this additional cable, multiple three-phase sectionalizing cabinets, voltage reactors, and pad-mounted three-phase and single-phase transformers will be installed. New single-phase and three-phase electricity meters will be installed, and existing meters will be connected to the new distribution system. Approximately 1,300 linear feet of secondary conductor will be required to connect the facilities at the meter to the proposed transformers. Many of the facilities are, or will be, separately wired and ready for accepting electricity. This proposed project includes installation of interior wiring as necessary for several facilities as well.
Project Location
The Native Village of Port Heiden is a rural, coastal community on the north side of the Alaska Peninsula and is a federally recognized Tribe.
Project Status
The project was competitively selected under the Office of Indian Energy’s funding opportunity announcement “Powering Unelectrified Tribal Building(s) - 2022” (DE-FOA-0002771) and started in June 2024.