alaskarenewableenergy.org » electricity

Hydro power agency to look at raising dam

stephanie — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:11:26 +0000

By Joe Viechnicki of KFSK Radio: PETERSBURG, AK. The agency that sells hydro-electric power to the Southeast communities of Ketchikan, Wrangell and Petersburg is going to look into the possibility of raising one of its hydro dams. The Southeast Alaska Power Agency is trying to make up for a shortage of cheap hydro electricity from an increasing wintertime demand. SEAPA officials say adding new hydro plants to the southern Southeast power grid may not be answer. The SEAPA board met in Petersburg this month and voted to investigate the potential for raising the dam at Swan Lake near Ketchikan, and will hold off on applying for a new project near Wrangell.
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Adak fights to keep the lights on

stephanie — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:30:27 +0000

From Joshua Saul at Alaska Dispatch: Far out on the Aleutian chain, on windy Adak Island, a world-class Nautilus gym sits dark and cold because the city of Adak can’t afford the electricity to light and heat it. The gym is an artifact left over from when the island was a naval base, home to 6,000 military personnel. Today Adak has about 200 residents who are struggling to find a way to make their remote lifestyle sustainable. Read more

Anchorage mayor working on energy plan

stephanie — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:21:03 +0000

APRN is among the news outlets reporting on efforts by Anchorage to have a plan in place to handle a potential energy crisis this winter in Southcentral Alaska. In each of the past two winters, the Railbelt has come close to having too little pressure in the natural gas pipelines, which could result in a loss of heat and electricity for residents.

To hear the story, go here

Alaska’s Utilities Meet to Discuss Energy Resources

caren — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:36:03 +0000

Alaska’s six Railbelt utilities are tapping into renewable resources — but a lot of energy is still going to waste because of duplicated services and facilities. So the utilities companies are developing a plan to connect their resources, from Homer to Fairbanks.

The idea is to save energy by sharing energy resources — so Alaska’s utility services could all hook into the same grid. But the six utilities — Municipal Light & Power, Chugach Electric, Golden Valley Electric, Matanuska Electric, Seward and Homer Electric — have six different ideas on how to roll together.

Selawik agrees to pay $250,000 utility debt

caren — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:58:21 +0000

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.