Unalaska awarded nearly $1M grant to develop geothermal power 

September 11, 2009

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, recently posted this release that included news about a $951,500 grant awarded to the City of Unalaska for geothermal work. The U.S. Department of Energy grant is directed at finding an accessible commercial grade geothermal resource at Makushin and developing a 10 to 12 MW geothermal power plant (with the ability to expand to 20MW) for the City of Unalasaka Electrical Utility. The Dutch Harbor Fisherman also posted this report recently that details some of the exploration work. The story notes the city currently relies heavily on diesel and pays about 32 cents a kilowatt hour for power, or about three times what Anchorage residents pay.

Selawik agrees to pay $250,000 utility debt 

June 24, 2009

Alaska Village Electric Cooperative won’t cut the power in the village of Selawik June 15th, as they had threatened.

The city government in the Northwest Alaska community of 850 owes the utility $250,000.

But the two sides have worked out an agreement.

The city will pay $80,000 up front and has spelled out a plan to pay off the remaining debt, said Meera Kohler, president and CEO of AVEC, which provides power in 53 rural communities. 

Read more.