Ameresco teams up on 19.8-MW hydroelectric project near Juneau, Alaska

US energy developer Ameresco Inc (NYSE:AMRC) announced a partnership with Juneau Hydropower Inc to develop, build, and operate a 19.8-MW hydroelectric plant at Sweetheart Lake near Juneau, Alaska’s capital. Valued at USD 240 million (EUR 205 million), the project is designed to generate an average of 116 GWh annually, boosting Juneau’s baseload clean power capacity by 20%. The development will also include battery energy storage, over 40 miles (64.4 km) of high-voltage transmission lines, and eight miles of undersea cable across Gilbert Bay, improving grid reliability in a region vulnerable to extreme weather. The new infrastructure will extend renewable electricity to remote communities currently relying on diesel, increasing statewide energy transmission by 3%. One key customer is Coeur Alaska Inc’s Kensington Mine, which will transition from diesel to baseload renewable power once the plant is operational. Duff Mitchell, Managing Director at Juneau Hydropower, highlighted the project’s role in supporting sustainable growth by leveraging decades of hydrological data to ensure reliable energy production even in dry years. Ameresco will handle development, construction, and long-term operation and maintenance of the facility.