Results: Calendar of Events
October 31, 2011
Anchorage Daily News: Southcentral Alaska residents reduced their energy consumption by 1 percent to 2 percent last Wednesday during an energy conservation drill, according to Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan’s office.
Last year during a similar test, residents in the region cut energy use by 2 percent to 4 percent. Residents in Anchorage, Mat-Su and the Kenai Peninsula were asked to lower consumption by turning down their thermostats to 65 degrees, shutting off unnecessary lights and electrical appliances, and postponing dish washing and clothes washing, among other ways. The test took place from 6 to 8 p.m.
Both natural gas and electrical utilities in Southcentral measured energy use.
Weather, daylight, and decisions by large energy uses affect the results, according to the mayor’s office.
Read more:
October 25, 2011
By Staff Reports of Fairbanks Daily News Miner
FAIRBANKS — The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Monday that would clear the way for a land exchange between the National Park Service and Doyon, Limited so the Fairbanks-based regional Native corporation can build a small hydroelectric plant to help power a backcountry lodge it owns in Denali National Park and Preserve.
The Kantishna Hills Renewable Energy Act of 2011 would authorize the secretary of the interior to issue permits for a hydroelectric project at the Kantishna Roadhouse, located at the end of the 92-mile Denali Park Road. The legislation would facilitate a 10-acre land exchange between the National Park Service and Doyon.
Alaska Sens. Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski introduced the same bill in the Senate more than a year ago. Rep. Don Young introduced the bill in the House of Representatives Monday, and it passed by a voice vote.
Doyon is proposing to build the hydro project on Eureka Creek, a small fishless creek near the roadhouse in the non-wilderness section of the 6 million-acre park. The project would include a 50-watt power plant, a small impoundment dam and a small pipeline to carry water.
Doyon currently uses a diesel generator to power the roadhouse, burning several thousand gallons of diesel each year for electricity at the lodge during the tourist season. The hydroelectric plant is expected to cut the amount of fuel Doyon uses to power the lodge almost in half.
“This is a win-win piece of legislation,” Young said. “Not only does my bill lower fossil fuel use in Denali, but it will also lower costs for lodge operators and visitors. Alaska has far too many resources to be burning diesel for electricity especially in a place where hydroelectricity can be developed.”
The power plant is expected to generate 40 to 50 kilowatts per hour.
Similar hydroelectric power plants are at the Eielson Visitor Center and Camp Denali, another backcountry lodge about 10 miles from the Kantishna Roadhouse.
Read more
October 25, 2011
Some good news from Golden Valley Electric Association. They’ve ordered the turbines for their Eva Creek wind farm near Healy. The utility plans to have the turbines up and running by 2012. The wind farm will be one of three on the Railbelt grid, which stretches from Homer to Fairbanks. In addition to the 24.6-megawatt Eva Creek project, there already is a 1-megawatt wind farm operated in Delta Junction by Alaska Environmental Power, and Chugach Electric Association and CIRI Inc. plan to have an 17.6-megawatt wind farm on Fire Island up and running by the end of 2012. Alaska currently has about 15 megawatts of installed wind power so these two new projects combined will more than triple the amount of installed wind power in Alaska. In addition, several other wind projects are ongoing in Alaska, including in Kotzebue where the utility is adding an additional 1.8 megawatts of power to its existing wind farm.
PRESS Release from REpower Systems REpower Systems: REPower has signed a contract with Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA) for the delivery of a total of 12 wind turbines. The turbines are destined for the Eva Creek Wind Project near the community of Ferry, for what will become the largest wind project in Alaska to date. The wind farm will generate a total output of 24.6 megawatts (MW). This will also be the first project with REpower turbines in Alaska.
The Eva Creek project will use 12 of REpower’s Cold Climate Version (CCV) MM92 turbines, each with a rated power of 2.05 megawatts (MW) and a hub height of 78.5 metres. They are specifically designed for the harsh Alaskan climate. Commissioning of the wind farm is scheduled for fall 2012.
Andreas Nauen, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of REpower Systems SE, comments: “This project demonstrates REpower’s core competency in supplying extreme cold climate capable turbine technology. Our Cold Climate Version of the successful two-megawatt-series has been designed for sites with heavy temperature fluctuations and humid weather, and has already proven itself in projects in Québec, Canada and in Inner Mongolia, China. ”
Eva Creek is the first project between GVEA and the German-based wind turbine manufacturer. Steve Dayney, Managing Director of REpower USA, states: “We are happy to be working with the team of GVEA for the first time and proud to install our first REpower turbines in Alaska. Eva Creek once again showcases our powerful turbine plant technology is well suited for all climatic conditions in the United States.”
REpower USA Corp., headquartered in Denver, Colorado, has now installed or sold more than 400 wind turbines with a total power of more than 800 MW in the USA. Wind farms with REpower turbines have been constructed or installed in the states of Washington, Oregon, California, Michigan, Indiana, New York and now Alaska to a diverse group of customers.
Golden Valley Electric Association is a member-owned cooperative owning and operating five power plants that provide power to nearly 100,000 Interior residents. According to GVEA, the 24.6 megawatts project Eva Creek will meet its board’s renewable energy pledge of having 20 percent of the system’s peak load generated by renewable resources by 2014. Read more
October 24, 2011
Although Tim’s opinion piece below deals primarily with oil and gas development, I wanted to share it to show how the government is already involved in directing our energy development. Some argue that renewable energy should stand on its own, that if it’s such a good deal it should not need subsidies. The reality is that we have for a long time and currently do subsidize fossil fuel development to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars in the examples cited by Tim. I’m not saying this as a case against fossil fuel subsidies for Alaska’s small market. But to say that when we talk about what energy supplies we should use in the future, we need to talk honestly about how the market is operated and make fair apples-to-apples comparisons.
By TIM BRADNER in the Anchorage Daily News: It’s easy to be confused by all the gas pipelines being worked on. There’s a logic to the work being done, however. At this point it’s all about developing options, which is prudent. However, we’d better take a really deep breath before we decide to actually build something, if it involves public dollars.
One project is the big 1,700-mile, 48-inch pipeline from the North Slope to Alberta, which is in an engineering phase. TransCanada Corp. and Exxon Mobil Corp. are involved, both large, competent companies that know what they’re doing. However, with all the shale gas in the Lower 48, this project doesn’t look very good for now. But who knows what things will look like in 20 to 30 years?
If this is built, a smaller “spur” pipeline could branch off at Delta to bring gas 300 miles to Southcentral Alaska via Glennallen. The Alaska Natural Gas Development Corp., or ANGDA, a state authority, has done work on this.
If the big pipeline doesn’t go, engineering is under way on a fallback plan, a separate, stand-alone 24-inch pipeline from the slope to Southcentral Alaska, the so-called “bullet line.” This is being pursued by another state corporation, the Alaska Gas Development Corp., or AGDC. The bullet line would be 737 miles in length and would cost about $7.5 billion.
The people working on this are getting good marks for the work they’re doing. There is criticism that the political sideboards on the project, mainly a restriction on the amount of gas that can be shipped because of the state’s contract with TransCanada, could cripple its economics.
Finally, there is a 800-mile pipeline from the slope to Valdez, parallel to the trans-Alaska oil pipeline, that could serve a possible natural gas liquefaction, or LNG, plant. This is promoted by the Alaska Gasline Port Authority, or AGPA. The port authority was formed by municipalities and is not a state corporation. Substantial sums have been spent on this by Yukon Pacific Corp. and others.
With LNG prices in Asia at high levels, it is getting more attention.
Of all these, the only project being led by the private sector is the large 48-inch pipeline by TransCanada Corp. and Exxon Mobil Corp. The port authority has a relationship with Japan’s Mitsubishi Corp. and Sempra Energy, a U.S. firm, both interested in LNG, but the nature of these relationships is confidential.
The state has financed work on three of the four initiatives: the 48-inch pipeline to Alberta, the spur line via Glennallen and now the separate 24-inch pipeline from the slope to Southcentral. About a billion dollars will have been spent among all these.
Other ideas have been proposed. Gas-to-liquids (GTL) is being increasingly looked at as a fallback in case all of the pipeline projects fail, or even in addition to a pipeline. A gas-to-liquids plant on the North Slope would get more fluids moving through the trans-Alaska oil pipeline, which is badly needed. A GTL plant in Southcentral Alaska would be a big industrial customer for a spur line or bullet line, which is absolutely necessary for the bullet line and helpful to a spur line.
The important thing about GTL is that it makes high-value liquid products, like diesel and jet fuel, and would sell into markets for these fuels, not LNG or natural gas markets.
To complicate things further, work is also starting on the large Watana hydro project. A $67 million commitment this year could lead to multibillion-dollar outlays by the state in just a few years. Read more
October 23, 2011
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy’s latest assessment of the states, released Thursday, showed California edged out of first place for the first time in the five years that the rankings have been conducted.
The council’s State Energy Efficiency Scorecard showed Massachusetts in the top spot, edging out California with a score of 45.5 out of a possible 50 points. California had 44 points, then there was a drop to New York in third with a score of 38, followed by Oregon (37.5). Washington, Vermont and Rhode Island were next with identical scores of 34.
The scores were based on weighted criteria that gave more credit to states that offered utility and public benefits funds and also had the best efficiency programs and policies (20 points possible). That was followed in importance by transportation, building energy codes and state government initiatives.
California finished first or second in every category including the one gauging appliance efficiency standards, where it tied for first.
ACEEE representatives said the report card showed that many states were taking the problem of energy efficiency seriously in spite of a sour economy and severe budget constraints.
“Energy efficiency is America’s abundant, untapped energy resource and the states continue to press forward to reap its economic and environmental benefits,” said ACEEE Executive Director Steven Nadel.
“The message here is that energy efficiency is a pragmatic, bipartisan solution that political leaders from both sides of the aisle can support. As they have over the past decades, states continue to provide the leadership needed to forge an energy-efficient economy, which reduces energy costs, spurs job growth, and benefits the environment,” Nadel added. Read more
2011 ACEEE Scorecard Report (.pdf)
October 23, 2011
By Shane Iverson of KYUK
Once operational these low power turbines in Kwigillingok will be the first step towards energy stability for three coastal villages.
The Caniinuq Wind Group is among the largest award recipients at the Alaska Marketplace competition. The energy cooperative emerging in Kwigillingok, Kongiganak and Kipnuk won $25,000 for their business plan to haul freight over the tundra in winter months. Several other Bethel area upstarts are also in the money. The results were announced Thursday at Alaska Federation of Natives annual convention. Hear more
October 17, 2011
By Erik Kirschbaum of Reuters:
ROSTOCK, GERMANY — Renewable energy has created a gold rush atmosphere in northeastern Germany, the country’s poorhouse, giving the region good jobs and great promise.
The natural resources attracting investors and industry are of a simple variety: wind, sunshine, agricultural products and farm waste like liquid manure.
The rush to tap green resources in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is reminiscent of the frenzies that came with gold or oil discoveries in past centuries. The buzz can be felt in towns and sparkling new factories across the state, which is on the shores of the Baltic.
“Renewable energy has become extremely valuable for our state,” its premier, Erwin Sellering, said during an interview. “It’s just a great opportunity — producing renewable energy and creating manufacturing jobs.”
“From an industrial point of view, we’d been one of Germany’s weaker areas,” he continued. “But the country is abandoning nuclear power. That will work only if there’s a corresponding — and substantial — increase in renewables. It’ll be one of Germany’s most important sectors in the future. We want to be up there leading the way.”
The national government did an about-face on nuclear power after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex in Japan, set off by the earthquake and tsunami on March 11. Germany shut eight nuclear plants and plans to close the remaining nine by 2022.
The country is a world leader in renewable energy and wants an even larger share of the $211 billion global market. A fifth of its electricity comes from renewables, up from 6 percent in 2000, and it aims to increase that to 35 percent in 2020.
There are some clouds on the horizon. State-mandated incentives, which fueled a private investment boom, have been cut, squeezing profit margins in sectors like solar energy.
There have also been delays in expanding and improving the national grid of high-voltage transmission lines from sparsely populated coastal regions like Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania to areas where the power is needed, in the west and south. The German government is working to remove infrastructure bottlenecks, but if the grid is not expanded soon, there could be problems later, when more power from offshore wind starts being produced.
Renewable energies, especially wind energy, are injecting new optimism into Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, reflected in a word that often comes up in conversations with business and political leaders: reindustrialization.
In a state with a seafaring heritage, there are now more jobs in renewable energy than in shipyards: 6,000 jobs at 704 companies, a number expected to reach 22,000 by 2020.
Companies are building, designing, maintaining and operating wind turbines and photovoltaic plants, as well as biomass plants, for which farmers are growing crops and collecting animal waste. There are more than 1,200 wind turbines on land, and a new push into offshore wind energy in the Baltic will further fuel that growth.
Read more
October 14, 2011
Alex DeMarban of Alaska Dispatch: A state regulatory agency has essentially given the green light for a large-scale wind power project on Fire Island.
Three of the five commissioners with the Regulatory Commission of Alaska — Paul Lisanskie, Robert Pickett and Jan Wilson — issued a ruling late Monday saying the state’s largest electric utility, Chugach Electric Association Inc., can purchase power from Fire Island Wind Inc., a subsidiary of a regional Native corporation.
Under the deal blessed by the RCA, Chugach will purchase 48,500 megawatt hours of electricity from 11 turbines to be built by Fire Island Wind, at a 25-year fixed cost of 9.7 cents a kilowatt hour. The $65 million project in Turnagain Arm, three miles west of Anchorage, will provide about 4 percent of Chugach’s power, enough to power 6,000 homes, and reduce its reliance on natural gas.
Fire Island Wind parent company Cook Inlet Region Inc. had argued that the deal would die if it didn’t get a favorable decision this week, because it needs to build the wind turbines’ gravel pads as soon as possible in order to secure $19 million in federal funding and make the project economically viable.
Construction, with concrete bases and turbines set to rise next summer, will employ dozens of workers, said CIRI spokesman Jim Jager. Chugach has estimated the project would save the company nearly $3 million over 25 years, or about $20 a ratepayer. It currently has more than 60,000 customers.
Read more
October 14, 2011
By Tim Bradner of the Alaska Journal of Commerce: The Regulatory Commission of Alaska has approved an agreement for Chugach Electric Assoc. to purchase wind power from Fire Island Wind LLC, a subsidiary of Cook Inlet Region, Inc. in a decision issued late Oct. 10.
It’s not a done deal yet, however.
Under the contract Chugach would purchase 48,500 megawatt hours of electricity per year at a cost of 9.7 cents per kilowatt hour with a 25-year, fixed-price contract.
Fire Island Wind would spend $65 million to initially install 11 wind turbines on Fire Island, which is in Cook Inlet near Anchorage. Eventually the project is to be expanded, said Jim Jager, spokesman for Cook Inlet Region, an Alaska Native regional corporation that is Fire Island Wind’s parent company and which owns most of the land on Fire Island.
The contract was opposed by another Southcentral Alaska utility, Anchroage’s city-owned Municipal Power and Light, which argued it would cost Chugach $12.9 million more over 25 years than if Chugach were to continue with its present fuel sources, mainly natural gas but including some hydro.
The decision also requires Chugach to repay other utilities in the region for the cost of integrating wind power into their systems. Chugach spokesman Phil Steyer said the utility to studying the RCA order. The utility’s board will meet Wednesday to decide whether to accept the terms ordered by the regulatory commission. Read more
October 10, 2011
What a neat project! A friend at Nature Conservancy told me about this project. In far flung places in the Sudan, they have trouble with access to power for medical facilities. That means they might not be able to run equipment needed for surgery or might not have lights to operate at night, or might be in the middle of surgery and lose power. These solar suitcases give them enough power to run equipment and keep lights on so they can treat patients
ANCHORAGE (Oct. 11) — Members of the East High Solar Club on Wednesday, Oct. 12, will donate the first of two solar suitcases to the Alaska Sudan Medical Project. The portable equipment, built by students, can be used as stand-alone systems to power lights, communications equipment, computers, or to charge batteries.
This is an innovative project that gives Alaska students an opportunity to learn about physics while providing hands-on lessons about the globally important issues of alternative energy and humanitarian aid.
You are invited to attend the presentation of the suitcases to Bret Burroughs of the Alaska Sudan Medical Project at 3 p.m. in Room NW1 at East High School. Students from the East High Solar Club will be present to explain how they build the suitcases and demonstrate how they work.
More information is available from Solar Club advisor Russell Hood at (907) 382-4049, or for hood_russell@asdk12.org.
