Ameresco, Inc. has announced a $240 million partnership with Juneau Hydropower, Inc. to develop, construct, and operate a 19.8MW hydroelectric facility at Sweetheart Lake, about 33 miles south of downtown Juneau, Alaska. The project also includes transmission and distribution infrastructure.
The Sweetheart Lake Hydroelectric Facility is expected to produce an average of 116,000MWh of electricity annually, boosting Juneau’s clean hydropower capacity by 20%. The scope includes a battery energy storage system, more than 40 miles of high-voltage transmission lines, eight miles of undersea cable across Gilbert Bay, and an interconnection with the Snettisham Transmission line.
The utility will connect remote communities that currently rely on diesel generation, and is designed to improve grid resilience in an area prone to extreme weather. Ameresco said the project could increase statewide energy transmission by 3%.
“This project is the catalyst for Juneau’s sustained growth and prosperity, and we’ve used over 40 years of hydrological data to design hydropower operational parameters so that we can reliably produce energy in even the driest of years,” said Duff Mitchell, Managing Director of Juneau Hydropower. “By harnessing the power of Alaska’s waters, we’re investing in a future where unprecedented events can be weathered with confidence. We’ve worked in harmony with local environmental scientists and stakeholders to create the reliable, resilient power needed by our community.”
The hydroelectric project is projected to offset 82,012 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, and will enhance the Sweetheart Lake fishery.
One of the first customers is expected to be Coeur Alaska Inc.’s Kensington Mine, currently powered by diesel generators. The mine plans to shift to renewable base-load energy once the project is operational.
“This multi-faceted project is a major milestone for both Alaska, Juneau Power and Ameresco,” said Nicole Bulgarino, President of Federal Solutions and Utility Infrastructure at Ameresco. “We’re proud to be working on this critical hydropower project and major electrical infrastructure that has factored in both community needs and responsible development, in addition to supporting energy reliability and long-term economic growth in line with the vision outlined in the Alaska Executive Order: Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential.”
The agreement includes a long-term operations and maintenance contract to ensure ongoing performance.
