Working Together for Wood Heat Energy

In June, Kake took one giant step toward energy independence with the delivery of the final engineering plans and financial analysis for a biomass district heating system designed by the Oregon firm, Wisewood Energy – a firm with deep experience in Southeast and many operational plants across the region. 

Like most remote Southeast villages, Kake pays dearly for the tens of thousands of gallons of non-renewable heating oil they import each year to heat the Kake School, Senior Center, Health Center, Community Center and other public buildings – all while surrounded by thousands of acres of renewable biomass resources in the form of waste wood from second growth thinning and timber operations.  

A few years ago, retired executive director for the Organized Village of Kake, Gary Williams, took the energy lead, championing the Kake biomass district plan to make wise use of locally abundant renewable residual waste wood to displace expensive imported heating fossil fuels. 

The newly planned system could generate annual savings of over $95,000 per year for the village while also making wise use of a local renewable energy resource and creating local jobs, thus keeping more money circulating longer in the local economy. A win-win-win for the village.

Getting this far in the project requires wooch een – working together in Tlingit – for when a big lift is required like raising a clan-house corner post or hauling a giant cedar canoe up the beach. Renewable energy projects, like this, are a big lift, requiring long-term vision, years of planning and collaboration.

However, the project is far from over and will require all parties to continue wooch een in order to succeed. 

The next step is bringing all Kake energy stakeholders back to the table to commit their time and resources to construct their biomass district heat system. With Kake’s spirit and history of wooch een, along with Gary Williams’ leadership, energy independence is on the horizon. 

Clay Good, REAP’s STEM Educator and the Regional Energy Catalyst for the Sustainable Southeast Partnership, works to support community stakeholders by providing outreach and biomass expertise in order plan and develop projects. Learn more about REAP’s work with the Sustainable Southeast Partnership. 

By Clay GoodJuly 23rd, 2020

BiomassSustainable Southeast Partnership