About the DOE Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grant Program
Utqiaġvik, Alaska — The Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope (ICAS) has secured funding through the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grant Program to support a critical power infrastructure project for Barrow Utilities and Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BUECI). The award funds the replacement of the gearbox on BUECI’s Taurus 6 natural gas turbine generator, a core unit in the community’s power plant.
Critical Power Grid Resilience Project Addressed
The Taurus 6 unit is one of Utqiaġvik’s primary natural gas turbines, relied upon year-round to provide continuous power in the Arctic’s extreme environment. Its gearbox, a critical component for reliable operation, required urgent replacement. At the time of application, the community faced a period with no generator backups available — a serious vulnerability that placed homes, businesses, and essential services at risk. The Department of Energy recognized this urgent need and responded with an exceptionally quick award decision. DOE’s support allows the project to move forward without delay, safeguarding Utqiaġvik from extended outages and ensuring stability in the local grid.
Acknowledgment of DOE Support
ICAS and BUECI extend their sincere appreciation to the U.S. Department of Energy, the Grid Deployment Office (GDO) and the National Energy Technology Laboratory for their partnership and support in delivering this project. DOE’s swift action and recognition of the urgency made this award possible at a time when the community needed it most.
About ICAS
The Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope (ICAS) is the federally recognized tribal government for the North Slope region of Alaska. ICAS advances community well-being, resilience, and selfdetermination by securing federal, state, and private resources to support Arctic communities. “This project reflects our responsibility to deliver reliable services for our people. Through the DOE Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grant Program we have the resources to strengthen energy independence and protect our communities here in the Arctic,” said Morrie Lemen, Executive Director of ICAS and Program Manager for the DOE Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grant Program.
About BUECI
Barrow Utilities and Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BUECI) is a member-owned cooperative providing power generation, electric distribution, natural gas distribution, water treatment, water distribution, wastewater collection and wastewater treatment services to the residents of Utqiaġvik, Alaska. BUECI maintains and operates the region’s critical utility infrastructure, delivering reliable services despite the challenges of the Arctic environment. According to Mr. Yves Brower, General Manager of BUECI, “Utqiaġvik’s power system is unique, operating in some of the harshest conditions in the world. We must be completely self-sufficient. With DOE’s support, we were able to replace critical components like the Taurus 6 gearbox and keep the lights on for families, businesses, and essential services.”
About the DOE Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grant Program
The DOE Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grant Program was established to help tribal nations build stronger, safer, and more reliable energy systems. The program covers costs for equipment replacement, modernization, and grid hardening projects that ensure tribal communities are less vulnerable to outages and better able to withstand extreme events. As the official recipient, ICAS provides regional coordination and eligibility, while BUECI implements the project on the ground.
Acknowledgment
This project was developed and submitted with support from TRIBN LLC, who assisted in preparing the successful proposal to DOE’s Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grant Program.
Contact:
Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope
6986 Ahmaogak St. P.O. Box 934
Barrow, AK 99723
(907) 852-4227
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