Wedoany.com Report-Aug. 11, Ameresco, Inc. has formed a $240 million alliance with Juneau Hydropower, Inc. to construct and operate a 19.8 MW hydroelectric plant at Sweetheart Lake, situated 33 miles south of downtown Juneau, Alaska. The venture includes essential transmission and distribution components.

Projected to yield 116,000 MWh yearly, the facility will augment Juneau’s hydropower output by 20%. It incorporates battery storage, more than 40 miles of transmission lines, eight miles of undersea cable in Gilbert Bay, and integration with the Snettisham line.

The project will transition remote locales from diesel reliance to hydroelectric power, enhancing grid stability amid severe weather. It could raise Alaska’s energy transmission by 3%.

Duff Mitchell, Managing Director of Juneau Hydropower, said: “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.” He added: “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 initiative will avert 82,012 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually and bolster the Sweetheart Lake fishery.

Coeur Alaska Inc.’s Kensington Mine will be an early adopter, switching to renewable energy from diesel.

Nicole Bulgarino, President of Federal Solutions and Utility Infrastructure at Ameresco, noted: “This multi-faceted project is a major milestone for both Alaska, Juneau Power and Ameresco.” She continued: “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 deal encompasses long-term operations and maintenance for sustained efficiency.