REAP Clean Energy Forums
REAP is proud to announce our 2012-2013 Clean Energy Lecture Series. Join us on the second Wednesday of each month at the Anchorage Museum Auditorium from 6:00 to 8:00 pm for our FREE monthly forums on clean energy in Alaska If you have a speaker or topic to suggest, contact Communications Director Katie Marquette
September 11, 2013: Topic TBA
Past Forum Videos & PowerPoints
February Clean Energy Forum – Railbelt Wind 2-13-13 6.02 PM
January Clean Energy Forum – Alaska Energy Policy Update
ORPC PowerPoint – Nov 14th Forum
Nov. 14th Clean Energy Forum – Tidal and Hydrokinetic Energy in Alaska
October Forum – “Saving Energy and Money in Commercial Buildings” 10-10-12 6.07 PM
2011-2012 Forums
MAY 9: Alaska SeaLife Center heat pump system
The Alaska Sealife Center reduced its heating fuel expenses up to $15,000/month this past winter and hopes to save twice that this next winter with their cutting edge seawater heat pump system. The system is one of only two in Alaska and works by tapping heat from the waters of Resurrection Bay to heat the building, produce hot water, and – next year – to melt snow from the surrounding sidewalks. Inspired by successful systems already operating in Norway and Canada, the two million BTU per hour demonstration heat pump system was designed in 2010, built in 2011 and tested over the winter of 2011/12. By combining Alaskan engineering and construction skills, US made equipment, and grant funds from the Denali Commission and the Renewable Energy Grant Fund, the project has moved the Alaska SeaLife Center to the cutting edge of renewable energy projects on the west coast of North America.
SPEAKERS: Project designer Andy Baker, PE of YourCleanEnergy; Tara Riemer Jones, PhD, CEO of the Alaska SeaLife Center; and Darryl Schaefermeyer, General Manager of the Alaska SeaLife Center.
May 9, 2012 REAP Forum Powerpoint (.pdf)
May 9, 2012 REAP Forum Podcast (.mp3)
March 14 REAP Forum: Biomass in Alaska
This was a great presentation on the growing use of biomass in Alaska from wood-fired boilers in SE Alaska, Tok and Delta Junction to the use of cooking oil biodiesel and the upcoming landfill methane project in Anchorage. Just one highlight was the school in Delta saving the equivalent of enough money to pay for two new teachers by switching from heating with oil to a high efficiency wood-fired boiler.
SPEAKERS: Devany Plentovich & Helen Traylor, Alaska Energy Authority
March_BiomassForum Podcast (.mp3)
MarchForum_Biomass Powerpoint (.pdf)
Feb. 8 Alaska’s Stranded Renewables
Thank you to presenters Brian Hirsch, of National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Jason Meyer, of Alaska Center for Energy & Power, for their presentation on AK’s Stranded Renewables. These renewables represent a huge potential energy source. Alaska, for example, has 90% of the country’s estimated tidal potential, and 50% of its wave power potential and a large swath of places with world class wind. Brian and Jason talked about opportunities with these resources and the hurdles. Click on the links below to listen to their presentation and see their PowerPoint.
Stranded Renewables Part1 (.mp3)
Stranded Renewables Part2 (.mp3)
Stranded Renewables Powerpoint (.pdf)
Jan. 11 Alaska’s First Landfill Methane Power Plant
Thanks to Mark Madden, Anchorage Solid Waste Services Director, for a great presentation on Alaska’s FIRST EVER landfill methane power plant. The plant is scheduled to come online in 2012 and will tap methane produced by the Anchorage Regional Landfill to power Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson (JBER).
The plant will provide up to half Fort Richardson’s electrical needs, allow the base to meet federally mandated goals for renewable energy use, and provide revenue to the municipality for something the muni was previously paying to burn off to comply with clean air regulations! NOTE: We had some technical gremlins so the first half of the forum wasn’t recorded. But we managed to excise the gremlins and we do have the second half.
Landfill Methane Podcast (.mp3)
Landfill Methane PowerPoint
Dec. 7 Forum: Wind Power in Alaska
Thanks to our presenters for a great forum on Alaska’s fastest growing source of renewable energy. Darron Scott, CEO of Kodiak Electric Association; Suzanne Gibson, Senior Energy Development Director of CIRI, and Rich Stromberg, Wind Program Manager for the Alaska Energy Authority – provided updates on the Kodiak and Fire Island wind farms and gave an overview of wind power in Alaska in terms of how we’re using this local, sustainable renewable source of power across Alaska.
Dec.7 Forum_podcast_1sthalf
Dec. 7 Forum_podcast_2ndhalf
*Note: These are big files so they will take a minute to load.
Darron Scott, Kodiak Electric (.ppt)
Suzanne Gibson, CIRI (.ppt)
Rich Stromberg, Alaska Energy Authority (.ppt)
Nov. 9 Forum: Winter Commuting Options – Bicycling & More
A big thank you to our presenters Kristi Wood, of Bicycle Commuters of Anchorage and Jamie Acton, of People Mover. There’s a lot of great information here from the new rent-by-the-hour car service that People Mover is offering to tips on how to dress for winter biking and the right tires to use for different conditions. If you missed the forum, you can listen to the podcast below. Note: the sound for the introductions is poor, but just skip ahead a little bit to the speakers and the recording gets much better.
Commuting Forum Podcast Part1 (.mp3)
Commuting Forum Podcast Part2 (.mp3)
Oct. 12 Forum: How far can energy efficiency take us
Nationwide, buildings use more than 40% of ALL the energy we consume, almost as much as our transportation and industry sectors put together. Reducing how much energy our homes and businesses use can pay huge dividends. Our presenters gave a great look at what you can do, what the state is doing to encourage energy efficient building, and how a Mat-Su School and business have used energy efficient design to reduce their energy bills. Presenters were Sean Skaling and Katie Conway, of the Alaska Energy Authority, and Jason Collins, Wolf Architecture and Garrett Burnter, McCool Carlson Green.
Jason Collins_ Energy Efficency (.pdf)
Garrett Burtner_Energy Efficiency (.pdf)
Sept. 21 Forum: Lessons from Norway
Norway has a sovereign wealth fund of more than $500 billion amassed from its oil development. It powers and heats more than 90% of its homes and businesses with hydroelectric, and is a world leader in developing renewable energy systems from offshore wind to the world’s first pilot osmotic power plant.
Chris Rose, Executive Director of Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP), and Ira Perman, Board Chair for the Institute of the North, discussed their recent trip to Norway and what Alaskans can learn from how this northern country is strategically developing its economy with renewable energy. Click below to download their PowerPoints and hear the presentation.
September 2011forum_podcast (.mp3)
Norway Report_IraPerman (.pdf)
NorwayReport_ChrisRose (.pdf)
Larry Persily Article on Norway energy model
May 18, 2011: Designing Greenhouses for the Arctic
As Alaska gardeners know, our growing season is productive but short. Presenters Saskia Esslinger and Matt Oster discussed how to design your greenhouse to help extend your growing season and successfully grow those elusive warm weather crops. There are many things to consider when designing a greenhouse in the far north. This presentation covered the science behind greenhouses, including creative ways to regulate temperature, light and humidity, options for building materials, and location considerations.
Matt Oster and Saskia Esslinger are co-owners of Red Edge Design, LLC, Urban Homesteads for Modern Living. Matt is a general contractor and certified home energy rater, and has helped over 800 homeowners in Alaska save money and live more comfortably in their home. He is certified in Permaculture design and utilizes systems thinking to analyze homes and their outside environment. Saskia recently received her master’s degree in Regenerative Entrepreneurship with Gaia University and is leading the expansion into edible garden services for Red Edge Design. She is a certified Permaculture designer and teacher, and has worked with Matt for the past three years to transform their small house into an abundant urban homestead. You can find Red Edge Design at http://rededgealaska.com
May Forum Presentation
March 9, 2011: Geothermal Power in Akutan
The City of Akutan is presently developing what could be the first commercial-scale geothermal energy plant in Alaska. The plant could provide power and heat to the town of Akutan and to the Trident Seafoods fish processing facility. The City of Akutan has performed geophysical and geochemical exploration in Hot Springs Valley, and, in 2010, drilled two exploratory wells, encountering 359-degree water at shallow depths. Our presenters were Akutan Geothermal Project Manager and geothermal energy consultant Amanda Kolker, and Akutan Energy Program Manager and business consultant Ray Mann.
March Forum Presentation
March Forum Podcast
February 9, 2011: Railbelt Energy Options – A Look at the Numbers
Alaskans have choices to make about future energy sources: A dam on the Susitna River? Geothermal from Mt. Spurr? More coal development? A natural gas line or electrical intertie from the North Slope? Who decides our energy future? How do we choose what makes sense for us individually and collectively and influence the public and private decision makers? This interactive, quantitative presentation with Energy consultant Mark Foster took a look at these choices, the numbers behind them and required the audience to vote on the energy sources they believe provide the best choice in the long run. Mark gave an overview of Railbelt energy options, including end-use efficiency/conservation, oil, gas, coal, hydro, wind, geothermal, tidal, biomass, distributed generation and upstream energy supply chains.
February 2011 Presentation
January 12, 2011: Wind power in Alaska
Thank you to Katherine Keith, of Alaska Center for Energy and Power, and Ginny Fay, of Institute of Social and Economic Research, for a great and informative presentation on their report on wind power in Alaska. They talked about the economic benefits of this wind energy, how the systems in Alaska have performed and the issues remaining for the development of these systems in Alaska. If you missed the forum, click on the link below to listen to the podcast and see the PowerPoint presentation.
January Forum Presentation (35 MB)
January Forum Podcast
December 8, 2010: Emerging Energy Technologies for Alaska
So many projects and so much potential! Jason highlighted nine projects funded through the Denali Commission’s Emerging Energy Technology Grant program. They include a solar thermal project in Kotzebue where they are installing solar panels on six homes to heat hot water; a seawater heat pump system in Seward which is expected to go online this April and will be used to heat the 120,000-square foot Alaska Sealife Center; and a wood pellet boiler installed by Sealaska to heat the corporation’s corporate headquarters in Juneau and perhaps hopefully spur a local economy for creating wood pellets. Other projects include two hydrokinetic in-river turbines in Nenana and on the Yukon River near Eagle to test the possibility of producing power from our rivers, and work with pyschrophiles in Cordova where they are testing cold-loving bacteria that live in tundra lakes and produce methane. The methane could be used to produce power. Jason also talked briefly about the state’s newly created Emerging Energy Technology Fund, which has just over $5 million in funding and is expected to begin soliciting applications beginning in December.
December forum PowerPoint (.pptx)
November 10, 2010 Forum: Get ready for Winter with energy efficiency
Learn how to cut your home’s energy bill with REAP’s Energy Efficiency Coordinator Michelle Wilber. Michelle shared great down-to-earth tips on home energy efficiency as well as tales from her two-year experience transforming her 1960 Anchorage fourplex from a 3-star energy hog to a 5-star energy miser. Topics covered included adding insulation, replacing energy inefficient lighting & appliances, installing low-flow device on faucets, and more.
November Forum Podcast
November forum Powerpoint (.pdf)
October 13, 2010: A Tour of Renewable Energy in Europe
A big thank you to Austin Johnson who gave an inspiring and informative presentation about his recent trip touring renewable energy facilities in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and the UK. Austin talked about his time driving Norway’s hydrogen highway, and visiting cities in Sweden where sustainable biodiesel is being used to power public transportation. He also showed pictures of a wave power generating system off the coast of Scotland, and the new Statkraft Osmotic Power Plant, the sole facility in the world where electricity is being made by exploiting a difference in pressure between fresh and salt water.
If you wish you had been there, you’re still in luck. You can watch a video of his presentation. Just click on the webstream link below. (Thank you to Katy Parrish and her son, Wilson, for doing the video.)
Webstream here
Austin Johnson European Slideshow
September 8, 2010: Compost and Biodiesel
- Anchorage biodiesel plant. Alaska Waste and Alaska Green Waste Solutions’ large-scale biodiesel plant in Anchorage is turning recycled cooking oil into fuel for their fleet of refuse trucks. Opened in June, the plant is the first of its kind in Alaska. It is currently collecting about 12,000 gallons of used cooking oil each month from more than 200 restaurants, grocers and other businesses between Girdwood, Anchorage, and the Mat-Su. Alaska Green Waste Solutions Manager Jeff Jessen talked about the plant’s operation, plans for using the estimated 200,000 plus gallons a year of biodiesel and the benefits of biodiesel economically and environmentally. Alaska Green Waste Solutions slideshow September Forum Podcast May 12, 2010: How to Make Your Business More Energy Efficient Thanks to our presenters and their excellent presentations on how to make businesses more energy efficient. There were lots of practical suggestions, and an emphasis on the need to invest in energy efficiency because it makes business sense and pays off in the long run. While there’s room for debate on lots of issues, the consensus was electricity rates are going to go only one way — UP! So investing now to reduce energy use means saving in the future. We will be posting the presenters PowerPoints and a podcast of the forum soon. Presenters: Eric McCallum, Owner, Arctic Wire Rope & Supply Nancy Harbour, Exec. Dir., Performing Arts Center Sean Skaling, Energy Efficiency & Conservation Program Manager, AK Energy Authority May 2010 Forum podcast Eric McCallum PowerPoint Nancy Harbour PowerPoint Sean Skaling PowerPoint April 14, 2010: Solar Thermal power for your home and business with Andy Baker of YourCleanEnergy A great presentation last night with a great turnout of people who braved our springtime blizzard to hear about solar thermal systems. Andy Baker of YourCleanEnergy LLC explained how these systems work, and talked about how they are evaluated, installed, and operated in our cold northern climate. He also showed examples of systems in Alaska and discussed an amazing system in Saskatchewan, Canada where residents use a large storage area to store hot water that they heat in the summer and then tap that heated water in the winter. April 2010 Forum Podcast April 2010 Forum PowerPoint March 10, 2010: How to cut AK electricity use by 50% by 2025 Elizabeth Outten, of the Alaska Conservation Alliance, gave a great presentation on their “Railbelt Electricity Efficiency Landscape” report on how Alaskans can cut electricity use in the Railbelt by 50%. The report maps out a guide to achieving energy savings with new policies and changes in existing practices. The 50% figure is a goal not a hard and fast number, she said. It gives Alaskans something to strive for. That said, Alaskans can do many things to reduce our energy use that don’t require a lot of work, she said. We can switch to energy efficient lighting and appliances. We can put our TVs and computers on power strips so they don’t draw energy when they’re turned off. We can also better insulate our homes to save on heating costs. She said the report found most homes in Anchorage were built before 1980, which typically means they are not well insulated. There was a lot of discussion about hurdles, particularly in financing energy efficiency improvements, which in some cases can have high up-front costs. Among the possible solutions talked about were financing schemes that allow energy efficiency upgrades to be tied to property taxes, or tied to a specific electric meter and then repaid through utility bills on the property. To learn more, listen to the podcast of Elizabeth’s presentation download her PowerPoint, or read the report by clicking on the links below. Read the full REEL report here Read a summary of the REEL report here March 2010 Forum Podcast March 2010 Forum PowerPoint Learn what you can do to make your home more energy efficient! February 10, 2010: Tapping Alaska Rivers for Power Hydrokinetic turbine in Ruby. Tom Ravens gave a great presentation on Alaska’s hydro-kinetic (in-river) power potential and work he and his students did last summer looking at 17 potential sites for turbines on the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers. A demonstration project in Ruby on the Yukon River has already shown that hydro-kinetic turbines can be placed in the river and generate electricity. The work done by Ravens and his students will be made available to the public and could encourage energy developers and villagers to seriously consider hydro-kinetic energy as a renewable energy source. Hydro-kinetic power could be particularly useful for residents of rural Alaska, who face some of the highest electricity rates in the United States and, in many cases, live next to large, fast flowing rivers. February Forum Podcast February Forum PowerPoint January 13, 2010: Renewable Energy Policy Proposals for Alaska Thanks to REAP Executive Director Chris Rose who gave a great presentation on the rising use of renewable power in Alaska and pending legislation to secure more clean energy for our state.We’ve posted a podcast of his presentation as well as his PowerPoint below Due to a technical problem, the recording cut off just before the end of his presentation. But there’s still lots to listen to on the prospects for renewable energy in Alaska, the many existing projects, and what the rest of the world is doing in regards to renewable energy. January 2010 Forum podcast January 2010 Forum PowerPoint December 9, 2009: Southcentral Energy Problems and Solutions Natural gas production in Cook Inlet is declining. Blue line shows current output. Red line is a projection of where demand could start to exceed supply. Natural gas supplies 90 percent of Southcentral’s electricity and most of itsJim Strandberg, of the Alaska Energy Authority, gave a very informative presentation on the Regional Integrated Resource Plan, a state-funded study that analyzes energy options for Southcentral Alaska over the long term. One of the study’s findings was that mandating 50 percent renewable power by 2025 would not add any extra cost.
The report will be a key guide for legislators trying to decide which energy options to fund and what are the right choices over the long term. The issue is critical because the supply of cheap, available natural gas is dwindling in Cook Inlet, and the Railbelt has tough choices to make to secure power for our homes and businesses for the coming decades. So where should that power come from and how do we ensure we make the right choices now to secure the best energy future?
*Southcentral Energy Forum Podcast
*RIRP PowerPoint presentation by Jim Strandberg
*Link to Draft Regional Integrated Resource Plan (.pdf)
Media Coverage:
KTVA report on Southcentral Energy Forum
Alaska Dispatch: Keeping the lights on won’t come cheap
Also to see a 2009 Powerpoint summarizing the Cook Inlet natural gas situation, click here
November 11, 2009: Commuter Rail
A big thank you to Bruce Carr, Director of Strategic Planning for the Alaska Railroad, who gave an excellent update on plans for commuter rail service between Anchorage and the Mat-Su Borough. Progress has been made on commuter rail. But there is still much work to do, including getting a Regional Transit Authority established, which the currently proposed Senate Bill 152 seeks to do.
Bruce made several interesting points, including noting that while commuter rail will need to be subsidized, the alternative – our road system – is also heavily subsidized with the federal government paying 90 percent of the cost of roads like the Glenn Highway. He also noted commuter rail in Anchorage dates back to at least 1979 and talk then of installing light rail along C Street and on Northern Lights Boulevard. Imagine where we would be now if we had put in such service, he said.
Commuter Rail PowerPoint Presentation by Bruce Carr
October 7, 2009: The dos and don’ts of energy efficient lighting
Many thanks to David Badger, of Brown’s Electrical Supply, for his presentation on the dos and don’ts of energy-efficient lighting. We had many folks unable to attend. REAP has posted the PowerPoint from his presentation below as well as two information sheets that cover the basics of energy-efficient lighting and what to look for on lighting bulb labels. David made some key points during his presentation. We can’t cover them all. But in the category of never, never do this, he said: Read more
PowerPoint Presentation by David Badger
August 12, 2009: SmartPower in Anchorage
Many thanks to Carol Heyman, the Manager of Commercial & Community Relations for Chugach Electric Association, Inc., for her presentation. Carol talked about Chugach’s energy efficiency work, their Smart Power program, their rebate coupons for energy efficient light bulbs and plans for the future. Discussion was lively about how best to spread the message of energy efficiency and encourage people to be energy efficient. Anyone with ideas can send them to Carol at carol_heyman@chugachelectric.com.
SmartPower presentation by Carol Heyman of Chugach Electric Association
