Alaska Tribal Solar for All
To address the energy inequities and the high cost of public health infrastructure in Alaska Native communities, ANTHC was awarded approximately $30 million by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to support Tribes in project management, design, and construction of community-scale solar and battery systems. These systems will operate using the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model, as shown below. Net revenue generated from power sales must be used to relieve household utility costs.
The application period will open April 2025.
- No match funding requirement
- Simplified application
- Selection will be based on quantified scoring criteria
- Project management and construction by ANTHC
Application:
The initial application period will be open April 1 through June 30, 2025. Applicants should include the following required documents; Word templates for each document can be accessed by clicking on each of the items listed below:
- Tribal resolution
- Letter of commitment from a landowner to work with the Tribe and ANTHC to provide 2.5 to 5 acres of land for the solar array
- Letter of commitment from the electric utility to purchase power
- Letter of commitment from the water/sewer utility to use the net profits to relieve household utility costs
Additional, optional letters of support (template found here) are welcome from the Village Corporation and other community stakeholders.
Eligibility and Selection Criteria:
Eligible communities must meet the following requirements:
- The Tribe must be Federally recognized
- The Tribe must self-certify that they have a population of at least 20 people
- The community may not be part of the unified Railbelt electric grid
- The Tribe must self-certify that at least 50% of the community population is Alaska Native
- An electric power plant must be located within the community (i.e. community may not be on the receiving end of an intertie)
- The community may not have more than 100 kW of renewable energy currently operating, under construction, or funded for construction
- The community may not benefit from an existing subsidized diesel fuel program
Eligible communities have been pre-ranked according to the cost of fuel at the power plant and water and sewer affordability indicators. The ranked list can be accessed by clicking the image or the link below.
Alaska Tribal Solar for All Community Prioritization Rankings
ANTHC has assigned Project Managers to support the eligible Tribes. For any Solar for All questions, please contact the individual associated with your Tribe. These Project Managers will also be conducting outreach for these communities and will be available to support Tribes during the application process. ANTHC’s Alaska Rural Utility Collaborative can offer assisted billing services to help administer utility relief payments upon request.
Eligible communities that have submitted a full application will be selected based on their ranking. Selected communities will enter a post-selection negotiation phase which will include:
- An evaluation of the technical feasibility of solar production and integration in the existing power system, including a power plant assessment. Please note that the EPA Solar for All grant limits the cost of power system upgrades.
- Successful negotiation with the landowner for site control. Please note any charges associated with the land lease will reduce benefits to the community and make an application less competitive.
- Successful negotiation with the owner of the water/sewer utility to accept and distribute net revenue to households.
Apply Here:
Email energy@anthc.org with questions. Ineligible applicants and those not selected may explore Alaska’s other Solar for All programs, listed below.
Solar For All Application Form
About EPA’s Solar for All Programs
The Solar for All program is a $7 billion competitive grant program through EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Fund authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act. In Alaska, $62 million was awarded through the Alaska Tribal Solar for All program to a partnership between Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC), ANTHC and Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC). An additional $62 million was awarded through the Alaska Community Solar for All program, to a partnership between Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) and AHFC.
The Alaska Tribal Solar for All Program will construct community-scale solar photovoltaic arrays and battery energy storage systems in roadless, low-income and disadvantaged Tribal communities with high energy costs. ANTHC will provide design, construction and project management and will work collaboratively with communities to build these systems.
The Alaska Community Solar for All Program is administered by the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA). It is a statewide grant program to develop community scale solar arrays and battery energy storage systems in remote areas of Alaska to benefit households in disadvantaged communities. Cities and Tribes are eligible applicants, but unlike ANTHC’s program, awardee will be responsible for the design, construction, and project management of these systems.
The Residential Rooftop Program will focus on rooftop residential and multifamily building solar installations. As a sub-awardee under both the Alaska Tribal Solar for All and Alaska Community Solar for All programs, AHFC will administer this program to provide subsidized residential, rooftop solar installations for disadvantaged households where net metering applies.
The Railbelt Tribal Community Solar program is administered by the Tanana Chiefs Conference. It will award grants for Community Solar projects to qualifying Tribes, Alaska Native Village and Regional Corporations, and other Tribal organizations along the Alaska road and Railbelt.