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Highlights

  • USD240 million investment in 19.8 MW Sweetheart Lake Hydroelectric Facility
  • Project to deliver 116,000 MWh annually, boosting Juneau’s baseload hydropower by 20%
  • Over 40 miles of high-voltage transmission lines, including eight miles of undersea cable
  • Expected to offset 82,012 metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually
  • Will connect remote diesel-reliant communities to clean, resilient energy

Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE: AMRC), in collaboration with Juneau Hydropower, Inc., has announced a USD240 million project to develop and operate the Sweetheart Lake Hydroelectric Facility, located 33 miles south of downtown Juneau, Alaska. This major infrastructure effort includes a long-term operations and maintenance agreement and is part of a broader mission to drive energy resilience and decarbonization across underserved Alaskan regions.

The 19.8 megawatt (MW) facility will generate an estimated 116,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) per year, marking a 20 percent increase in Juneau’s current renewable baseload power. The initiative includes not just the hydroelectric plant, but also a battery energy storage system (BESS) and more than 40 miles of high-voltage transmission infrastructure, including eight miles of undersea cable crossing Gilbert Bay. The new system will integrate with the existing Snettisham Transmission line to further secure electricity delivery for Alaska’s capital.

According to Juneau Hydropower Managing Director Duff Mitchell, the project is designed using more than four decades of hydrological data to ensure dependable energy production even during dry years. In addition to powering homes and businesses, the facility is expected to help mines like Coeur Alaska’s Kensington Mine—currently running on diesel—transition to 100 percent renewable baseload energy.

Sweetheart Lake, which drains into Gilbert Bay through Sweetheart Creek, lies within the City and Borough of Juneau. The hydro facility is engineered to enhance the local fish habitat and maintain ecological balance. Project backers say it will reduce 82,012 metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually without producing pollution or harming wildlife.

Nicole Bulgarino, President of Federal Solutions and Utility Infrastructure at Ameresco, emphasized the project’s importance to regional energy stability and long-term growth. “This is a major milestone for Alaska, Juneau Power and Ameresco. It aligns with the Alaska Executive Order to unleash the state’s resource potential and meets critical energy needs responsibly,” she said.

Ameresco, founded in 2000 and headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts, offers comprehensive clean energy solutions to clients across government, utility, education, healthcare, and commercial sectors. With more than 1,500 employees and a presence across North America and Europe, the company is focused on accelerating the transition to net-zero emissions while enhancing energy resilience and reliability.