Kotzebue Electric Association is a Generation and Distribution Electric Cooperative in Kotzebue, Alaska.  We serve a community of 3,100 residents located on the northwest coast of Alaska, 31 miles above the Arctic Circle.  Kotzebue, Qikiktagruk in Inupiaq, is an islanded community with no roads or transmission lines coming in or out.  We operate an islanded microgrid consisting of 70% diesel energy and 30% renewable energy (wind, solar, battery storage) sources annually.  More information on our cooperative is available at: www.kea.coop .

We are seeking a Generation and Distribution Engineer to support our operations and interact with staff to operate, maintain, and continue to develop new methods of electrical generation that support our mission of offering reliable, affordable, electricity to our members.  Our goal is to continue to increase our renewable energy and decrease our consumption of diesel fuel.

Our preferred candidate would be an Electrical Engineer, but we would consider a Mechanical Engineer willing to learn how to support our electrical operations, maintenance and new projects.

Requirements

• Position will be located in Kotzebue, Alaska
• A valid, or the ability to obtain, a valid Alaska Driver’s License is required
• Must be able to perform field work in extreme environments
• A minimum of a bachelor's degree in electrical or mechanical engineering with preferred previous experience in the electric utility industry
• An EIT certification is required however a professional Alaska Engineer License is preferred

Key Tasks

• Provides engineering and technical support to the Power Distribution and Power Generation departments.
• Provides engineering services required to operate, maintain, and perform capital

improvements on generation, transmission, substation, and distribution systems

• Establishes and maintains proper maintenance schedules and records on all major

electrical generation and substation equipment

• Coordinates with the Distribution Operations and Power Generation departments to develop and maintain multi-year work plans
• Provides training on basic power generation and distribution principles
• Coordinates maintenance of KEA SCADA for power generation and distribution operations
• Assist line department with customer meter installation, maintenance and repairs.

About Kotzebue Electric Association

Kotzebue Electric Association (KEA) is a non-profit, electric cooperative located in Kotzebue, Alaska Approximately 875 members KEA is governed by a 9-member board of directors Board members are elected by the cooperative membership The KEA Board of Directors establishes the goals and priorities of the cooperative The Board of Directors has been instrumental in KEA’s adoption of renewable energy sources Our Home Kotzebue is the largest of 12 communities in Northwest Alaska Situated along the Chukchi Sea above the Bering Strait, it is home to many of the lnupiaq people Northwest Alaska is about the size of Indiana There are no roads or transmission lines connecting Kotzebue to other communities or the rest of Alaska The Kotzebue Sound is frozen for about 9 months of the year and wind chill can fall to minus 120º Fahrenheit Fuel is delivered annually by barge during the summer months Electricity in Kotzebue Like most remote communities, Kotzebue originally relied exclusively on diesel generation to produce electricity Producing electricity using diesel generation is expensive Electricity in Alaska’s villages often costs more than 4 times the national average In Kotze...bue it now costs only twice the national average Our Mission To provide reliable and affordable electricity to our members KEA is committed to lowering the cost of electricity by developing renewable energy from: Our wind farm Integrating the use of solar energy Initiating energy efficiency programs The use of wind and solar energy helps stabilize and reduce energy costs in our community Wind Energy Kotzebue is a Class 3 wind resource The average annual wind speed at the wind farm is 14.1 miles per hour The flat tundra allows the wind to blow close to its full force, without obstruction by trees or mountains All of these factors make Kotzebue an ideal location for the use of wind energy Solar Energy During the summer months the sun shines 24 hours per day Even in the winter solar energy is feasible as an energy source

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Connections working at Kotzebue Electric Association