Tribal Energy System Vulnerabilities to Climate Change and Extreme Weather
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Tribal Energy System Vulnerabilities to Climate Change and Extreme Weather NOTICE This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States government. Neither the United States government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States government or any agency thereof. energy.gov/indianenergy | [email protected] DOE/IE-xxxx • September 2015 Cover photos Background: Wind turbines at the Ayagina’Ar Elitnaurvik School in Kongiganak, Alaska (Energy.gov 2013) Top row: Navajo Dam and Reservoir (USBR 2011); Solar project on a house on the Grande Ronde Reservation (Energy.gov 2014); Drilling rig on the Osage Reservation (BIA 2010) Bottom row: Power lines on the Lone Pine Rancheria (Reilly 2008); Diesel fuel bulk storage facility for the Native Village of Teller (Dane 2012) Printed with a renewable-source ink on paper containing at least 50% wastepaper, including 10% post consumer waste. ii Tribal Energy System Vulnerabilities to Climate Change and Extreme Weather TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................................................... ix Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 1 Overview of Climate Change and Extreme Weather Impacts on Tribal Energy Systems .............................................. 2 An Interconnected and Interdependent Energy System .......................................................................................................... 4 Regional Differences .......................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Structure of Report ........................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Chapter 2: Alaska Tribal Lands ..................................................................................................................................... 8 Overview of Alaska Region ............................................................................................................................................................. 8 Implications for Energy Sector...................................................................................................................................................... 13 Chapter 3: Northwest Tribal Lands .......................................................................................................................... 31 Overview of Northwest Region................................................................................................................................................... 31 Implications for Energy Sector...................................................................................................................................................... 32 Chapter 4: Southwest Tribal Lands ........................................................................................................................... 43 Overview of Southwest Region.................................................................................................................................................... 43 Implications for Energy Sector...................................................................................................................................................... 45 Chapter 5: Great Plains Tribal Lands ........................................................................................................................ 56 Overview of Great Plains Region................................................................................................................................................. 57 Implications for Energy Sector...................................................................................................................................................... 59 Chapter 6: Midwest Tribal Lands ............................................................................................................................... 69 Overview of Midwest Region ....................................................................................................................................................... 69 Implications for Energy Sector...................................................................................................................................................... 70 Chapter 7: Northeast Tribal Lands ........................................................................................................................... 78 Overview of Northeast Region .................................................................................................................................................... 78 Implications for Energy Sector...................................................................................................................................................... 79 Chapter 8: Southeast Tribal Lands ............................................................................................................................ 89 Overview of Southeast Region ..................................................................................................................................................... 89 Implications for Energy Sector...................................................................................................................................................... 90 Chapter 9: Summary and Discussion ........................................................................................................................ 97 Appendix A: Climate Change Trends and Extreme Weather Events .......................................................... A-1 Appendix B: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Scenarios .......................................................................................... B-1 Appendix C: Summary of Energy Infrastructure on Tribal Trust Lands and Alaska Native Villages .... C-1 Appendix D: Illustrative Examples of Tribal Utility Authority Operations ................................................. D-1 Appendix E: List of Electric Utilities Serving Alaska Native Villages ............................................................. E-1 Appendix F: Tribal Trust Lands and Alaska Native Village Statistical Areas by Region ........................... F-1 Appendix G: Selected Resources to Assist with Climate Resilience Planning ........................................... G-1 References ....................................................................................................................................................................... R-1 iii Tribal Energy System Vulnerabilities to Climate Change and Extreme Weather Figures Figure ES-1. Implications of climate change and extreme weather on tribal energy systems.. .......................................... ix Figure 1-1. Jurisdictional boundaries of TTLs in the United States. ........................................................................................... 1 Figure 1-2. Annual cooling degree days (CDDs) are projected to increase throughout the United States as temperatures increase (relative to 1971–2000)........................................................................................................ 6 Figure 1-3. Regions of the United States. ......................................................................................................................................... 7 Figure 2-1. ANVSAs and ANC lands across Alaska. ...................................................................................................................... 9 Figure 2-2. Fuel transportation infrastructure and critical waterways located on ANVSA lands across Alaska. ................................................................................................................................................................................ 11 Figure 2-3. Maximum surface air temperature (left) for December 2014–February 2015 and difference from long-term average winter temperature (1981-2010) (right). .................................................................... 14 Figure 2-4. Most major electricity generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure in Alaska is located in the Railbelt (circled). ................................................................................................................................... 15 Figure 2-5. Distribution lines in the village of Shishmaref are at risk of damage due to shoreline erosion during coastal storms. ...................................................................................................................................................