Alaska Funding and Training Opportunities

Please see below for funding and upcoming training opportunities for Alaska Natives.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

1) DOE's Tribal Energy Program offers funding opportunity "Renewable Energy Deployment In Alaska Native Villages" (DE-PS36-08GO98021) - Deadline: May 8, 2008

2) USDA Offers $221 Million in Clean Energy Loans And Grants (Deadlines: April 15, 2008 and June 16, 2008)

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

3) DOE's Tribal Energy Program offer's Alaska Training: Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency for Tribal Community and Project Development - April 21-23, 2008 (Anchorage, AK). This training dovetails with a nearby wind-diesel workshop that starts immediately afterward. See below for information on both meetings.

4) '08 HUD ONAP Greener Homes: Creating Energy Efficient, Comfortable & Healthy Tribal Homes (Alaska Training: May 5-6, 2008, Anchorage, AK)

5) HUD ONAP Regional 2008 Housing Summits (Alaska: April 9-10, 2008 in Anchorage, AK)

1) RENEWABLE ENERGY DEPLOYMENT IN ALASKA NATIVE VILLAGES (DE-PS36-08GO98021) CLOSES: MAY 8. 2008

For a copy, access the IIPS Funding opportunity Page at http://ecenter.doe.gov/iips/faopor.nsf/8373d2fc6d83b66685256452007963f5/e2785409f8a2e4fe8525740f0054348b?OpenDocument.

Once, there scroll down the page to the bottom and double click the pdf file under "Full Announcement and Other Files."

See below for links to the Funding Opportunity Announcements. Applications for this Funding Opportunity Announcement must be accessed, completed, and submitted through Grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov to be considered for award. Questions regarding the content of the announcement should be submitted through the "Submit Question" feature of the DOE Industry Interactive Procurement System (IIPS) at http://e-center.doe.gov.

VERY IMPORTANT: To complete and submit applications through Grants.gov, there are several actions you must complete (e.g., obtain a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, register with the Central Contract Registry (CCR), install the PureEdge Viewer, register with the credential provider, and register with Grants.gov). Applicants are highly encouraged to register as soon as possible and should allow at least 21 days to complete the registration process. When done, call the Grants.gov Helpdesk at 1-800-518-4726 to verify successful registration. Registration Instructions are found on the Grants.gov web site at http://www.grants.gov and in the Funding

Opportunity Announcement.

Eligibility:

This announcement has restricted eligibility. Eligibility for award under this Funding Opportunity Announcement is restricted to: (1) Alaska Native villages or Regional or Village Corporations or (2) Tribal Energy Resource Development Organizations (organization of two or more entities, at least one of which is an Indian tribe - See page 8 of the funding opportunity announcements for further definition.); (3) on whose Tribal Lands the project(s) will be located within the State of Alaska.

Summary:

Under this announcement, DOE is soliciting applications from Tribes or Tribal Energy Resource Development Organizations for the deployment of renewable energy heat and/or power solutions, including the hybridization of existing diesel power systems, in Native Alaskan villages. DOE is seeking comprehensive project plans for community-scale projects in Alaska Native communities that address the heat and/or power needs of the maximum number of communities while being sustainable and consistent with the environmental and cultural values of the community.

Each of the selected projects is intended to result in the significant reduction in fossil fuel use for the maximum number of Native villages through the implementation of renewable energy technologies using indigenous resources. Applicants are encouraged to aggregate multiple sites or regional approaches to meet DOE's goal of significantly reducing fossil fuel use. Applications demonstrating maximum unit installation, at lowest cost, over the shortest timeframe will be given preference. Successful applications must demonstrate the potential for at least a 50% reduction in fossil fuel consumption for heating applications and/or at least a 25% reduction in fossil fuel consumption for power applications.

2) USDA OFFERS $221 MILLION IN CLEAN ENERGY LOANS AND GRANTS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced last week that it will accept $220.9 million in loan and grant applications under the agency's Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program. Loan guarantees and grants are available to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Since 2001, the USDA has invested $674 million in more than 1,763 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, including renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel and renewable energy sources such as methane gas recovery systems and wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass energy systems.

Eligible applicants may seek loan guarantees to cover up to 50% of a project's cost, not to exceed $10 million. Grants are available for up to 25% of a project's cost, not to exceed $250,000 for energy efficiency improvements and $500,000 for renewable energy systems. Grants will be awarded through two separate competitions, with the deadline for the first being April 15 and the deadline for the second being June 16. Applications for loans or loan and grant combinations are due by June 16. See the USDA press release <http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2008/03/0072.xml> and the program Web page <http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill/index.html> .

The USDA also announced its award of more than $4.1 million to help 17 small businesses and community groups find more innovative uses of woody biomass, including renewable energy uses. The grants range from $170,000 to $250,000, while the project participants are providing as little as $65,590 to as much as $1.3 million for each project. The grants will be awarded to organizations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and South Dakota, including the Coquille Tribe of Oregon. See the USDA press release <http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2008/03/0076.xml> .

3) REGIONAL TRAINING: RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY FOR TRIBAL COMMUNITY AND PROJECT DEVELOPMENT These unique courses will help tribal leaders and staff understand the range of energy efficiency and renewable energy opportunities that exist within your communities. The course material will focus on: 1) Determining community energy values and objectives; 2) Developing the outline of a tribal strategic energy plan; 3) Exploring how energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies can be used to help meet tribal objectives; 4) Organizing for tribal community success.

The trainings will also address:

* Renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency concepts

* Renewable energy project development

* The organizational structures and legal frameworks for development

* Financing options.

These sessions are offered free of charge to tribal members and Bureau of Indian Affairs employees. Travel and per diem are the individual's responsibility. Lunches will be provided.

REGISTRATION: To register, send the registration form to David Glickson by fax (303-384-6568) or e-mail (david_glickson@nrel.gov). Be sure to specify which training you will be attending. To obtain a registration form, see our upcoming events page at http://www.eere.energy.gov/tribalenergy/upcoming_events.cfm.

ALASKA NATIVES: ANCHORAGE, AK (APRIL 21-23, 2008)

Location:
Sheraton Anchorage Hotel
401 East 6th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone: (907) 276-8700
www.sheratonanchoragehotel.com

As this training has been abbreviated to allow attendance at the nearby wind-diesel workshop, a separate course agenda has been developed specifically for this training session. See http://www.eere.energy.gov/tribalenergy/upcoming_events.cfm.

The hotel is offering a group discount rate of $89 per night. To make reservations at the discounted rate, call the hotel directly and ask for the group rate for the "Renewable Energy Development Workshop." The deadline for receiving the group rate is March 21, 2008. After that date we are unable to guarantee the rate or room availability.

The Wind-Diesel Workshop 2008 will be held April 23-25 in Girdwood, Alaska, immediately following the strategic energy planning meeting. For Alaskan coastal communities with good access to wind and that are not already familiar with the opportunities offered by wind-diesel hybrid power systems, this workshop is a must-attend event. See the workshop agenda AT http://www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/windpoweringamerica/wind_diesel.asp.

4) '08 HUD ONAP GREENER HOMES: CREATING ENERGY EFFICIENT, COMFORTABLE & HEALTHY TRIBAL HOMES

The '08 Greener Homes trainings, hosted by HUD ONAP, are a series of 2-day sessions to be located in areas with high mold and moisture problems. This informational workshop focuses on home energy efficiency and comfort, as well as indoor air quality, renewable energy resources, and mold and moisture prevention. The workshop also features hands-on demonstrations of energy efficiency products. There are no registration fees for this training.

ALASKA TRAINING
May 5-6, 2008
Captain Cook Hotel
939 West 5th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501

The Alaska Training will be held at the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage, AK. Attendees are responsible for arranging and covering costs associated with their own travel and lodging. Book your hotel room by dialing 907.276.6000 and requesting a room in the HUD ONAP room block. Be certain to make hotel arrangements before April 18, 2008 in order to take advantage of the group rate. After this date, rooms at the group rate will be available on a first come, first serve basis. For more, see http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=115b7c0b-c690-42e4-balb-58a01ec9135b

Information courtesy of Glenn Reece, HUD ONAP. Thank you, Glenn.

5) HUD ONAP REGIONAL 2008 HOUSING SUMMITS

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Native American Programs is hosting Regional Indian Housing summits in the spring of 2008. These interactive, two-day summits will provide the opportunity for tribal leaders, TDHE staff, representatives from local and national lending institutions, state and federal agencies, and other industry experts to come together to discuss Indian housing issues, innovative programs and how to maximize HUD funding. The summits will be presented in a forum that will facilitate information sharing and networking. The summits will set the framework for a National Indian Housing Summit to be held in 2009 and will produce regional strategies and action plans.

Alaska: April 9-10, 2008

Hilton Anchorage Hotel * Anchorage, Alaska

For more information, see http://www.hudonapsummits.com/. The deadline to register for the Summit is March 26, 2008. Information courtesy of Glenn Reece, HUD ONAP. Thank you, Glenn.

Regards,
Lizana Pierce, Project Manager
DOE's Tribal Energy Program
Golden Field Office
1617 Cole Boulevard
Golden, CO 80401-3393
Phone: (303) 275-4727
Fax: (303) 275-4753
lizana.pierce@go.doe.gov

For information on the Program and our "Guide to Tribal Energy Development", see www.eere.energy.gov/tribalenergy