Whether power and heat is generated from renewable or non-renewable sources, developing, maintaining and improving energy infrastructure can be complex, sometimes requiring expertise that is not available in the local workforce.  While bulk fuel storage facilities and electrical generation and distribution systems make up a large part of the infrastructure that is needed to maintain safe, reliable and affordable heat and electricity for rural Alaska communities to survive and prosper, alternative energy and renewable resource projects are becoming more widely used to supplement or replace diesel for  rural energy generation. A wide variety of resources must be tapped to develop successful tank farms, electrical projects and alternative energy projects.

AEA assists across the entire lifecycle of communities’ infrastructure—from identifying a community’s needs and goals to providing training needed to manage utilities and maintain infrastructure. AEA provides this technical assistance to rural communities by:

• Assisting communities in the energy planning process
• Assisting in project evaluation and selection
• Identifying funding and financing opportunities to pay for projects
• Acting as a liaison between the community and other funding agencies
• Providing direct lending to pay for projects with loans
• Assisting in grant applications for project funding
• Training for powerhouse operators, general managers and clerks
• Training for bulk fuel operators and managers