The Build Back Better program provides seed funding to launch transformative economic development projects, targeting rural regions with historic underinvestment. Two Alaskan projects were awarded phase one funding: a Sustainable Forest Products Cluster led by Spruce Root, and a Mariculture Cluster led by Southeast Conference. Kempy Energetics contracted with the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association and Southeast Conference to develop planning for a “Green Energy Component” project in the phase two funding application.
The Alaska Mariculture industry is an exciting space to work in. While shellfish farming is more established in Alaska, the first kelp farm was permitted in 2016 (ADFG, 2018). Since then, 47 seaweed farm sites have been permitted and proposed (AFDF 2022). The effort is an excellent example of local work serving a global perspective. Much of the Alaska coast is well suited for seaweed and shellfish farming, including areas near many rural communities that are actively seeking new, sustainable economic development opportunities that are consistent with local cultures (SWAMC 2021, SEC 2021, KPEDD 2021). Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska have also proposed exploring seaweed cultivation as a tool to mitigate ocean acidification (CCTHITA, 2019). Globally, seaweed mariculture is a promising practice in the pursuit of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Well-Being and Climate Action (Duarte et al 2021). Of particular interest due to Kempy Energetics’ prior work in methane emission mitigation, adding seaweed to cattle feed is a scalable and cost effective means for reducing methane emissions from ruminants (like cows) in land-based agriculture (Kinley et al 2020).
The Alaska Mariculture Cluster aims to grow the mariculture industry to $100 million/year in 20 years (SEC, 2021). Kempy Energetics–along with the rest of the cluster–aims to make sure that industry grows with the least carbon intensive operations possible. While mariculture has many inherent environmental advantages over traditional agriculture, including avoided deforestation and counteracting local ocean acidification, the industry will use energy. The vessels that service farm sites need to get from port to the sites and work the site. The sites themselves will have pumps and haulers used to grow and harvest the shellfish and seaweed. With careful planning, we aim to electrify vessels when it makes sense, develop best practice guides that reduce barriers to using renewable energy on the sites, and make sure that the shoreside infrastructure is in place to support these efforts.
Image source: CSIRO, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons