Remote energy champions begin year-long program with visit to Alaska

September 3, 2024

A new cohort of 17 remote energy champions from northern Canada, Alaska and Norway gathered at the end of July in Alaska, kicking off the third Arctic Remote Energy Networks Academy, or ARENA.

This diverse group began their program with an engaging cultural exchange event in Fairbanks, where the cohort and organizers shared an item such as food, art or clothing, with a description of why it was important to them and their community. This provided a rich opportunity to introduce themselves, their community and their culture.

They explored geothermal greenhouses and power production at Chena Hot Springs, heard from Alaska Village Electric Cooperative’s founding president and former Alaska State Legislator Willie Hensley and discussed projects with researchers from the Alaska Center for Energy and Power. The group also attended a demonstration at ACEP’s Power Systems Integration Laboratory and received a guided tour at the Cold Climate Housing Research Center, which showcases innovations in energy-efficient construction.

ARENA cohort member Roderick Phillip, the Puvurnaq Power Company manager in Kongiganak, found it inspiring to see different renewable energy projects and the ACEP PSI Lab as his community faces hurdles in integrating renewable projects in microgrids.

“We should be utilizing labs before we introduce renewables to a microgrid community to eliminate a lot of problems before they reach the community,” he said.

Following their time in Fairbanks, the group traveled to Kotzebue, where they delved into Kotzebue Electric Association's long-standing integration of wind and, more recently, solar power. Their itinerary continued with day trips to Deering and Shungnak, where local Tribal councils and the Northwest Arctic Borough’s energy manager Ingemar Mathiasson provided insights into how smaller communities are successfully implementing renewable energy systems and how some Tribes in the NAB have gleaned particular benefit from becoming independent power producers.

The trip to Deering was transformative for ARENA cohort member Regina Foley, senior energy advisor for NunatuKavut Community Council in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

“Meeting with the Deering Tribal Council and hearing their stories of resilience and fortitude was a profound experience. Their innovative approach to green energy projects, including solar and wind, demonstrates the remarkable solutions rural Alaskans have found to reduce fuel consumption and protect their communities,” she said.

The week was marked by dynamic discussions and collaborative problem solving, setting the stage for further development in their respective regions. The cohort is scheduled to reconvene in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada in October to continue learning how to advance renewable energy projects and foster community resilience in remote northern areas.

ARENA, a collaborative initiative led by Canada, the U.S. and Iceland, is an experiential knowledge-sharing program designed to connect rural community energy practitioners. Endorsed by the Sustainable Development Working Group of the Arctic Council, the program brings together energy leaders from diverse Arctic regions to learn from one another and tour successful community-scale high-penetration renewable energy systems deployed in the North.

The program invests in local visionaries, equipping them with examples of Northern technological innovation, project management expertise, mentorship and regional networking resources. This approach empowers individuals to develop and implement culturally and geographically appropriate solutions for energy resiliency and autonomy in their own communities.

The U.S. ARENA on-site program is developed and implemented by ACEP team members Carolyn Loeffler, Annalise Klein and Patty Eagan and made possible with funding and support from the U.S. Department of State, the Office of Naval Research, ACEP and the U.S. Department of Energy Arctic Energy Office.