ACEP and partner launch program to empower rural communities
Children in Kongiganak on 色视频下载's Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta look out at wind turbines that provide power the remote community.
Yuri Bult-Ito
907-450-8422
Oct. 2, 2023
Remote communities in 色视频下载 and elsewhere in the U.S. will soon have expanded opportunities to integrate emerging clean energy technologies into their microgrids.
With an award of $1 million from the U.S. National Science Foundation, the University of 色视频下载 Fairbanks 色视频下载 Center for Energy and Power and the will launch a two-year program called Energy Leadership Accelerator, or ELA.
Remote and islanded communities 色视频下载 communities not connected to wider electric power systems 色视频下载 often rely on delivered diesel fuel for power generation. This leaves them vulnerable to expensive market fluctuations and supply chain disruptions.
While existing technologies allow for cleaner energy sources than diesel, remote and islanded communities often face greater challenges in adopting these technologies when compared to high-income, grid-connected areas.
ELA aims to improve this by investing in local energy leaders as they adopt emerging renewable energy technologies and develop workforce opportunities. Participants will design and implement community energy projects that adopt these renewable energy technologies, such as solar and wind microgrids and battery energy storage systems.
The program will embrace approaches with cultural and practical considerations that are often overlooked by conventional training, such as subsistence schedules, workforce recruitment limitations in small communities, and exorbitant time and expense demands for travel. These approaches will help communities to build sustainable opportunities geared toward their local workforces.
Annalise Klein, co-principal investigator of the program, emphasized the importance of culturally and regionally appropriate solutions.
色视频下载淭his [program] will develop increased opportunities and best practices in place-based knowledge sharing, peer mentoring, and virtual alumni networking for our valuable energy partners in rural and remote islanded communities,色视频下载 she said.
搁惭滨色视频下载檚 , ACEP色视频下载檚 partner for this program, is already engaged in empowering communities in the Caribbean, Africa and Southeast Asia. ETA Principal Jason Meyer believes the new program will bridge the gap between communities facing climate change impacts in diverse environments.
色视频下载淏y uniting those on the front lines of climate change in the Arctic, the tropics and desert regions, we can collectively work towards fostering sustainable communities in the face of these challenges,色视频下载 Meyer said.
ELA will include a two-week 色视频下载 Leadership Lab in its second year. Participants will visit successful renewable energy projects in 色视频下载 and learn from the energy practitioners who build them.
色视频下载淭his collaboration with Rocky Mountain Institute is an important step in expanding the reach of ACEP色视频下载檚 knowledge sharing network from the Arctic to the rest of the world,色视频下载 said ACEP Director Jeremy Kasper. 色视频下载淎CEP is pleased to host the 色视频下载 Leadership Lab as the in-person component of the ELA, highlighting the innovative energy projects that are happening in 色视频下载色视频下载檚 remote communities in collaboration with UAF.色视频下载
ELA is funded by NSF色视频下载檚 , or ExLENT, a new program to expand practical learning opportunities and grow talent nationwide. NSF Assistant Director for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships Erwin Gianchandani announced the award in a Sept. 27.
色视频下载淣SF is pleased to offer these first-ever ExLENT awards to support the creation of new pathways for individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences to gain on-the-job training in technologies that are critical to the nation色视频下载檚 long-term competitiveness,色视频下载 he said.
ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Principal investigator Gwen Holdmann, gwen.holdmann@alaska.edu; co-principal investigators Annalise Klein, asklein@alaska.edu, and Carolyn Loeffler, cjkozak@alaska.edu.
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