Ameresco, Juneau Hydropower Announce $240M Alaska Hydropower Project

Ameresco has partnered with Juneau Hydropower to develop, construct, and operate a 19.8 MW hydroelectric facility at Sweetheart Lake, Alaska, designed to generate approximately 116,000 megawatt-hours annually, increasing Juneau's baseload clean hydropower by 20%. The $240 million project includes a battery energy storage system, over 40 miles of high-voltage transmission infrastructure with an eight-mile undersea cable crossing Gilbert Bay, and an interconnection substation, enhancing grid reliability and energy security for Alaska's capital. It aims to connect remote areas previously dependent on diesel generation to renewable energy sources, reducing CO2 emissions by an estimated 82,012 metric tons annually. The facility will support local industries such as Coeur Alaska’s Kensington Mine in transitioning to renewable energy, addressing past power outages caused by extreme weather events. Duff Mitchell, Managing Director of Juneau Hydropower, described the project as a catalyst for sustained growth and prosperity, emphasizing its design to produce reliable energy even in dry years. Ameresco will also provide long-term operations and maintenance to ensure continued performance and energy resiliency.