State and Local Climate and Energy Program
Fort Yukon Greenhouse Project
Fort Yukon, Alaska
Federal Funding: $287,876
Project Timeline: July 2010 – June 2013
Latest Update
The Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) leadership has continued working with the Gwichyaa Zhee Tribal Council (GZG), to build a greenhouse in Fort Yukon, Alaska. TCC is coordinating with the Alaska Energy Authority to use the heat recovery system of a new power plant that will provide heat for the greenhouse gas project. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review for the project has been completed and is open for public comment. Once the comment period is over, the project will move forward. TCC also identified greenhouse equipment and supplies to procure and continue discussions with another greenhouse about training opportunities. Upcoming activities include recruiting candidates for employment and project planning with GZG for the 2013 gardening season.
Project Summary
Using Combined Heat and Power for Greenhouse Crop Production
In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help residents save on food expenses, an intertribal consortium in a rural, roadless area of Alaska will grow crops for community consumption in an energy-efficient greenhouse warmed by recovered waste heat. The project will:
- recover heat from the city power plant to grow crops in a greenhouse,
- educate schoolchildren and adults about local agriculture, and
- conduct an assessment of the heat recovery system to identify potential upgrades.
The Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) will construct an energy-efficient greenhouse in Fort Yukon, AK that will utilize recovered heat from the city’s diesel-fired power plant, extending the growing season. TCC is coordinating closely with the Alaska Energy Authority to ensure that the new power plant in Fort Yukon is optimized for maximum heat recovery to be able to adequately supply several community buildings as well as the greenhouse. Over time, the community plans to integrate a wood-fired heating system to reduce diesel consumption, further reducing GHG emissions.
The project will help reduce the need to fly in processed food and the associated greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, it will help combat the very high food costs in the community. Produce from the greenhouse will be sold at two local stores and will be made available to the local school and assisted living facility at wholesale rates.
The project will also teach local students about food miles, local economies, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture. Gardening workshops will be held for all interested citizens. The project is expected to create two full-time jobs, and the greenhouse is expected to generate sizeable revenue.
The project’s final component is an engineering assessment of the heat recovery system to improve the performance of the overall system, as the Alaska Energy Authority has determined that upgrades could save over 50,000 gallons of diesel annually.
Community Characteristics
| Population | 583 |
|---|---|
| Area | 7 square miles |
| Government Type | Intertribal Consortium |
| Community Type | Rural |
| Median Household Income | $30,500 |
Program Results
| Reported Results (as of September 2012) | Projected Cumulative Results | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual GHG Reductions | 0 mt CO2e | 2 mt CO2e |
| Annual Food Production | 0 pounds of produce | 10,000 pounds of produce |
| Annual Aviation Fuel Reductions | 0 gallons | 224 gallons |
| Job Creation | 0 | 2 |