ETIPP Communities
PNNL has partnered with the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project (ETIPP) to undertake projects with four communities to develop community-driven energy solutions. Many previous ETIPP projects have been completed with PNNL support.
Projects Started in 2021
Islesboro, Maine
The island of Isleboro, Maine, relies on the mainland for electricity and experiences regular energy outages due to extreme weather. The Energy Committee wanted to identify local, low-cost energy production options that would help the island become more self-sufficient, reach 100 percent fossil-free energy by 2030, and benefit all island residents. Through ETIPP, PNNL partnered with the Island Institute to perform a techno-economic analysis that identified the optimal renewable energy options to help Islesboro reach its goals.
View the project summary
VIEW THE FINAL REPORT
Sitka, Alaska
The City of Sitka, Alaska, is interested in strategies to support the energy needs of their growing community using renewable resources and a modernized grid. Currently powered by seasonal lake hydropower and a diesel microgrid, the City of Sitka applied to ETIPP for technical assistance in planning for a more resilient energy future.
In partnership with the Renewable Energy Alaska Project, PNNL developed a model and training materials for the local grid; assessed energy potential from solar, wind, and ocean sources; and evaluated green energy export options to help Sitka reduce its carbon footprint and optimize its grid. The project will be completed in 2023.
Projects Started in 2022
Bainbridge Island, Washington
The City of Bainbridge Island, near Seattle, Washington, recently completed a Climate Action Plan with clear goals for their energy resilience: to achieve 100 percent renewable energy by 2040 and improve the reliability of their energy infrastructure for greater self-sufficiency in a changing climate.
ETIPP is supporting Bainbridge in meeting those goals by providing technical assistance led by PNNL and in collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Spark Northwest. This assistance will include:
- Analyzing future electric loads in collaboration with Puget Sound Energy
- Assessing the island-wide availability of renewable energy resources, such as solar, wind, waste-to-energy, and marine energy
- Exploring pathways to reach 100 percent renewable energy
- Identifying critical infrastructure and vulnerabilities
- Conducting a techno-economic analysis of microgrid and battery storage systems to complement current activities
- Recommending additional ways to improve energy resilience
The project is underway and is expected to be complete in early 2024. View more information on the City of Bainbridge Island’s project website.
Makah Tribe
Through ETIPP, PNNL is providing technical assistance to the Makah Tribe, a federally recognized Tribe whose current and ancestral homelands are located in the Cape Flattery region at the northwestern point of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state. The Makah people have always had close ties with the environment, especially the ocean. Today, there are roughly 1,500 people living in and around Neah Bay, which experiences frequent power outages during winter storms and faces the risk of earthquakes and tsunamis.
The Makah would like to build their energy resilience to climate change and coastal hazards and have already engaged in several projects with PNNL, including ES4SE. To help with this effort, multiple partners are working with the Makah on this project, including PNNL, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Spark Northwest. PNNL will provide technical assistance to help with strategic energy planning, natural hazards planning, and communication and capacity building efforts in support of energy resiliency. Those efforts will include:
- Analyzing the energy needs of current and planned facilities
- Conducting a resource assessment of available renewable energy options, including wind, solar, marine energy, and waste-to-energy
- Identifying critical infrastructure and vulnerabilities
- Evaluating microgrids and battery storage in strategic locations
- Co-developing community-focused engagement materials on renewable energy options, including information about incentives for distributed and home solar options
The project is underway and is expected to be complete in early 2024.