Tuesday, June 29, 2004

Web posted Monday, June 28, 2004

Wind, fuel cells could power future

By Patricia Liles
For the Journal

Alternative energy sources currently provide 15 percent of Alaska's electric power to the state's Railbelt population, a percentage that could grow with the addition of a large-scale wind power project near Anchorage proposed by the state's largest electric provider.

Chugach Electric Association is working to advance the Fire Island wind power project, located on the southern portion of a 4,000-acre island about two miles offshore from Anchorage in Cook Inlet.

"The economic model is for 50 megawatts of power, but it could support over 100 megawatts," said Steve Gilbert, manager of energy projects development, operation and maintenance at Chugach. "It would be a very valuable resource for the Railbelt."

Currently, three hydroelectric projects provide up to 180 megawatts of power to the railbelt, an interconnected electric grid that stretches from Homer and Seward in the south, through Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna area, up to Fairbanks and Delta Junction. Natural gas, coal and fuel oil generators provide the remaining railbelt power, which totals about 1,374 megawatts.

Chugach, the largest of the six electric utilities on the railbelt, has been...(Full Story)

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