Spinach Creek Road solar project takes shape
Published Monday, June 9, 2008
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Stumble It!A neighborhood solar power effort is moving ahead north of Fairbanks, where public officials have proposed leasing the organizers’ land.
The neighbor-initiated project, Solar North Cooperative, has proposed building what organizers say would be one of the largest solar-power spreads in the state. The facility would sit near Spinach Creek Road approximately 10 miles northwest of town.
Area resident Franciska Kohl said the member-owned solar array could start off producing around eight or 10 kilowatts with room to expand to 25 kilowatts or more.
Kohl said a handful of neighbors first started talking about harnessing solar power in the Spinach Creek area while planning a “green” subdivision on nearby property. The original idea — where homeowners would incorporate individual systems of solar panels in their respective properties — eventually morphed into plans for a commonly owned system, she said.
“The neighborhood has a lot of people who are great supporters of green ideas,” Kohl said.
When built, the system’s power will feed the electric grid via Golden Valley Electric Association’s Sustainable Natural Alternative Power, or SNAP, program. The electric cooperative formed SNAP almost three years ago to support small-scale renewable-energy projects.
The group is proposing to build the solar panels and an adjoining building to house electricity inverters on public land near the undeveloped Sunrise Mountain Subdivision. Neighbors formed a corporation last year and bought the land — in a project linked to, but legally separate from, Solar North Cooperative — but felt the nearby hillside offered a natural plateau better suited to collect sunlight.
The Fairbanks North Star Borough has proposed leasing the group one acre of land near the subdivision for up to 30 years. Borough officials, in a memo to the Borough Assembly, note soaring energy prices make the alternative energy project “timely.”
The Borough Assembly is tentatively slated to consider the proposed lease Thursday.
Contact staff writer Christopher Eshleman at 459-7582.
Community Discussion
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Great Job!
Solar is great during the summer and dismal during the winter. I power my remote cabin the same way, although a small 1000W generator is perfect to augment the loss of light during the colder months.
Feed the grid!
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