Once you have identified needs or opportunities and taken advantage of low-hanging efficiency savings, it may be time to identify a project that will meet your needs. It is important to weigh all of the options to see what makes the most sense for the community. Many times, the best option may not be to build anything at all. Non-construction activities like setting rates properly, fixing existing infrastructure, investing in training community members, may be the most effective way for a community to achieve its goals.

AEA is making this easier than ever before with resources and innovative new tools that take some of the guesswork out of energy planning. Resources to help you include:

• Alaska Affordable Energy Model: The Alaska Affordable Energy Model (AAEM) is a powerful tool that performs reconnaissance-level analysis based on the conditions and resources in your community.
• Regional Energy Plans: AEA commissioned Regional Energy Planning in each of Alaska’s energy regions to help residents identify and evaluate local priorities.
• Renewable Resource Identification: Explore the renewable resources program pages for more information on assessing resources in your area.
• Biomass
• Heat Recovery
• Hydro
• Solar
• Wind
• Use the Renewable Energy Best Practice Checklists to make sure that you’re ready for a project
• Biomass checklist
• Heat Pump Checklist
• Heat Recovery Checklist
• Hydro Checklist
• Solar Checklist
• Wind Checklist