MENTASTA TRADITIONAL COUNCIL
COMMUNITY ENERGY PLAN
JULY 2012
INTRODUCTION: Rising energy costs have become an economic burden on residents
of Mentasta and a high priority issue for the community. This plan provides an overview
of the Mentasta’s energy issues, needs and priorities. The following sections provide
demographic information for Mentasta and describe energy issues, potential resources
and priorities for energy projects in Mentasta. The plan will guide future energy projects
in Mentasta and be incorporated as part of the Copper River Basin Regional Energy Plan.
DEMOGRAPHICS: Demographic information provides a context for understanding
energy issues in Mentasta.
Location:
Population: 112 (2010 US Census), primarily Athabascan Indians who comprise roughly
80% of the population of Mentasta.
Growth Rates: 2010 = 112 2000 = 142 1990 = 96
Government
 Regional: None. The Copper River Basin is classified as an “Unorganized
Borough” thus; there is no regional or municipal government in the region.
 Tribal: Mentasta Traditional Council is a federally recognized tribal government
that represents the community.
Economy
 Regional: The majority of the communities in the Copper River Basin are
classified as economically distressed, marked with high unemployment and an
extraordinarily high cost of living. As an unorganized borough, the region has no
organized method to collect and maintain economic data for individual
communities.
 Community: The only official data available for Mentasta is derived through the
Valdez/Cordova Census Bureau. The reader is cautioned that this data is often
inaccurate or misleading thus the following statistics must be viewed skeptically.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2005-2009 American Community Survey
5-Year Estimates for Mentasta; Medium Household Income = $27,917 - Per
Capita Income = $10,966 - Persons in Poverty = 72 – Percent Below Poverty =
45.3%.
Housing: Housing is in critically short supply in Mentasta. Currently there are 24 singlefamily homes and 22 renter occupied house units for low-income residents administered
by the Copper River Basin Regional Housing Authority. Mentasta Traditional Council
(MTC) is currently working on housing projects to construct new single-family homes in
the community.
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Utilities: There are no fee-for-service utility systems provided by MTC.
 Water: Mentasta has good quality water available at reasonably shallow depths
thus most homes have individual wells and facilities have shared wells.
 Sewer: Most homes have individual sewer systems and community facilities in
the campus area share a sewer system.
 Solid Waste:
Health Care: Mt Sanford Tribal Consortium (MSTC) is a Tribal Health Consortium of
Mentasta Traditional Council and Cheesh’na Tribal Council our neighboring to the south.
MSTC currently manages the health clinics in Mentasta that provide basic health care
services to all residents.
Education: Mentasta has one K-12 school in the community
Community Facilities: Existing facilities and future facility plans are detailed below
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The Community Hall
Health Clinic and Office Building
Recreation Facility
The school facility that includes 4 classrooms, kitchen and gym
Planned Facilities:
 Plans are ongoing for the replacement of the existing community hall
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ENERGY PROJECTS, RESOUCRES AND PRIORITIES
Projects:
Renewable Energy Resources:.
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Wind:
Hydro:
Geothermal: Although geothermal is believed to exist in this region, the cost
factors were prohibitive for a small community to conduct reconnaissance studies
or develop geothermal resources
Solar:
Biomass: With an estimated 1 million acres of beetle kill timber in the Copper
River Basin, displacing heating oil with locally produced biomass fuels to heat
facilities would appear to provide the best return on investment and potentially
create local jobs in the community.
PLANS AND PRIORITIES
Future Facility/Energy Planning: In planning for a new community hall the community
needs to conduct energy planning to ensure the facility will be sustainable.
Resource Assessments and Feasibility Studies: Resource assessments are needed to
determine what renewable resources may be feasible to develop.
Solar Thermal: With long sunny days from April to September there is potential for
solar thermal systems to reduce energy costs. Hot water typically represents a significant
percentage of residential energy costs and most homes and facilities in Mentasta require
small amounts of heat at night that is currently provided by oil or wood.
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Plan: Conduct feasibility studies to assess the potential of solar thermal systems
for reducing energy costs for homes and facilities.
Priority:
Solar Electric: Cheesh’na Tribal Council’s Solar Demonstration Project provided some
baseline data that showed promise but also indicated that the technology is not yet
advanced enough to be financially feasible at this time and projects could be problematic
for rural communities that do not have the technical expertise to address system problems
as they arise. At this time, most energy experts agree that solar electric systems are not
yet viable but new technologies are showing great promise.
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Plan: Collect solar radiation data for Mentasta and monitor the technology to
determine when the resource may become viable to reduce energy costs
Priority:
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Hydro: Mentasta has various streams and waterways close to
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Plan: Conduct a feasibility study to determine if sufficient resources are available
and if new technologies exist that could generate power without damage to
habitat.
Priority:
Wind: Wind resources in Mentasta are unknown and a study needs to be conducted to
assess the resource.
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Plan: Acquire and install equipment to assess wind resources
Priority:
Residential Energy Planning: Planning is needed to reduce energy costs with homes
and housing facilities.
Plan:
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Conduct energy efficiency studies on home and housing facilities to identify
conservation measures that can be taken to reduce energy costs
Conduct a feasibility study on converting homes and housing facilities to biomass
Conduct a feasibility study on incorporating solar thermal or other technologies to
reduce energy costs for homes and housing facilities
Identify resources to help home owners and facility managers implement
conservation measures and renewable energy systems
Human Resources: Mentasta has limited staffing to work on energy projects. Given the
importance of reducing energy costs to the community there is need to create adequate
staffing to address energy issues identified in this plan.
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Plan(s): Form an Energy Committee to address energy issues – prioritize energy
issues with exiting staff/programs where appropriate - seek additional funding for
human resources to address energy issues
Priority:
Participation in Regional and Statewide Energy Planning: Regional and statewide
energy projects can potentially reduce energy costs for Mentasta but the community
needs to ensure they have a voice in the decisions that are made.
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Plan: Participate in regional and statewide energy planning
Priority:
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CONCLUSION: Energy has been identified as a critical factor in the economic survival
of Mentasta. This plan documents energy issues in Mentasta and initiates action on behalf
of the community to reduce energy costs. As with any plan, this plan needs to be updated
periodically.
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Chistochina
Demographics and Energy Data Sheet
Government
Governing Body: Mentasta Traditional Council
Population
Population:
Composition:
Growth rates: 1990 = - 2000 = - 2010 =
Economy
# Employed:
Community Employers:
Licensed businesses:
Housing
Single Family Homes:
Multifamily Units:
Community
Facilities
Existing Facilities: 1 Community Hall – 1 K-12 school
New Construction:
Utilities
Water: individual or shared wells - central water point – no piped water system
Sewer: Individual sewer systems – no community sewer system
Solid Waste:
Electricity
(2011)
Provider: Alaska Power & Telephone
Power Plant: diesel generator – no intertie
Rates:
Total Generated 2011:
Power Cost Equalization:
Average Residential Rate:
Heating Fuels
Community Facilities:
Residential: Fuel oil/wood
Fuel Oil Price:
Cordwood Price: - Bulk Fuel: None
Transportation Primary Source: Motor vehicle
Secondary Source:
Other:
Gasoline Price: $
Diesel Price:
Bulk Fuel: None
Energy
Projects
Energy Conservation:
Funding Source:
Biomass:
Energy
Sources and
Studies
Wind:
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Hydro:
Solar:
Funding Source:
Potential
Projects
Feasibility Studies: Wind – solar thermal – hydro
Residential Biomass: For residents currently heating with fuel oil installing pellet stoves
in homes
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