Homer Electric gets permits to study feasibility of wind energy partnership
Published Sunday, November 30, 2008
Digg
delicious
Facebook
Mixx
Reddit
Stumble It!KENAI, Alaska -- Homer Electric Association has been approved for permits to look into the feasibility of partnering with renewable energy company Wind Energy Alaska to bring low impact hydroelectric projects to the Kenai Peninsula.
Four sites are being evaluated. They are located in the Moose Pass/Seward area, Ptarmigan Lake, Falls Creek and Grant Lake.
"We're very excited to be moving forward with the project," said Joe Gallagher, HEA's public relations coordinator.
HEA has three years to evaluate the potential engineering, economic and environmental impact of the project on each site. Moving forward will depend on what each study reveals.
Each site is estimated to have a potential of producing five megawatts of power. According to Gallagher, HEA's total peak load for the peninsula is about 90 megawatts.
The project would produce electricity by using a stream's natural drop in elevation and diverting the water through a duct or pipe to generate electricity, said HEA's Melissa Carlin.
"The whole idea is to keep the impact (on the environment) as small as possible," said Steve Gilbert, manager of Alaska projects for enXco, a renewable energy company that co-owns Wind Energy Alaska.
The Friends of Cooper Landing, a nonprofit organization, is opposed to HEA's Crescent Lake project out of concerns for the area's Dolly Varden and grayling fisheries, as well as impacts on surrounding black bear and moose habitat.
Community Discussion
Newsminer.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full user's agreement.
The headline is misleading:" Homer Electric gets permits to study feasibility of wind energy partnership".
It would be more correct if, "wind energy" were capitalized since it's the name of the company, Wind Energy Alaska. Unless I'm confused, there is nothing about using wind as an energy source in the article. It's all about hydroelectric power.
This seems to be a great idea, but it's not enough. Five, 10 or 15 megawatts is a drop in the bucket. We need 500 MW or more to displace our fossil fuel electricity production.
Let's build the Susitna Dam project. Then we can heat our homes with clean renewable electric heat for pennies per kilowatt-hour.
It is alway good news to learn of interest by one of the railbelt utilities looking into production from re-newable resourses. Over all the rail belt utility boards and managers have not done a good job in this area. 90% of Alaskan's citizens are located within easy reach of several re-newable projects....Chakachuma and Sustnia Hydro projects should be number #1 and #2 on the list...
Post a comment
Commenting requires registration.