Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation Donates $85,000 towards ACEP’s Geothermal Research

The Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation (NSEDC) donated $85,000 to ACEP this week. The money comes after approval by NSEDC’s Board of Directors in support of ACEP’s field work in its region regarding the Pilgrim Hot Springs Geothermal Exploration Project.
Preliminary results show that the geothermal resource at Pilgrim Hot Springs has the potential to generate two to four megawatts of electricity. If coupled with an existing 2.8MW of installed wind power in Nome would mean the community could be served by 100% renewable generation at some times of the year. This finding and its future potential for the community led to NSEDC’s donation.

‘Community support has been an important element of this project from the onset,’ said ACEP Director and Project Lead Gwen Holdmann. ‘It is a priority to work with landowners and residents in the area to secure reliable and affordable energy. We are honored by this contribution to our research effort.’

“NSEDC is a private 501(c)(4) non-profit corporation representing 15 member communities and over 8,700 people in the Bering Strait region of Northwestern Alaska.”
Source: http://www.nsedc.com/

The primary funding source for this project is the U.S. Department of Energy. Additional funding is provided by the Alaska Energy Authority, Unaatuq LLC, the City of Nome, Bearing Straights Native Corporation, White Mountain Native Corporation, and the Sitnasuak Native Corporation.

For more information on the Pilgrim Hot Springs Geothermal Assessment Project go to www.uaf.edu/acep/pilgrim.

 

Photo Caption:  Eight inch casing being extracted at Pilgrim Hot Springs fall, 2013.

Photo courtesy of C. Pike, ACEP/UAF.