Wind Power News: Alaska
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Public comment sought for proposed wind farm land lease
The lease for a proposed wind turbine farm at Shovel Creek has been released for public comment by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, with testimony due by 5 p.m. Jan. 29. The applicant, Alaska Renewables, wants to lease up to 450 acres within an overall 3,800-acre project footprint over a 40-year period. Co-founded by engineers Andrew McDonnell and Matt Perkins, Alaska Renewables is one of a handful of companies that responded to a request for qualifications from Golden Valley . . . Complete story »
Developers are planning a wind-power project west of Alaska’s ‘Sleeping Lady’
A Fairbanks green-energy company is planning a wind farm on Little Mount Susitna, northwest of Anchorage, with plans to feed some of the power needs of Alaska’s largest city. Alaska Renewables LLC, owned by Matthew Perkins and Andrew McDonnell, has filed planning documents with the state of Alaska, seeking a wind-farm lease and the ability to construct meteorological towers that are typically used to measure wind speeds ahead of construction at wind power plants. According to a public notice published . . . Complete story »
As city study continues, data show Pyramid Valley as potential wind farm location
Engineers have taken down one of Unalaska’s four meteorological (MET) towers after it was damaged in a fall storm. Its loss isn’t expected to compromise the city’s ongoing energy study testing the feasibility of a local wind farm. On Hog Island, workers have been preparing a MET tower for winter, anchoring it deeper into the ground. That way, when high winds blow and heavy rain falls, it’ll stand up to the elements and avoid damage. Doug Vaught is a consultant . . . Complete story »
Wind turbines are ugly
The photograph shown in ADN as the “April Photo of the Month” depicts exactly what I have said to myself for years now as I run and bike on the Coastal Trail. That thought is: Those responsible for placing the wind turbines on Fire Island could not have picked a more perfect spot to destroy what was once the most iconic and stunning view of the Alaska Range from Anchorage on a beautiful day. We now get to look at . . . Complete story »
Unalaska City Council mulls windmills
Two gigantic windmills with blades the length of a football field, and maybe a field goal to boot, are in the planning stages for Unalaska, according to a local contractor and a former city engineer, who described the project to the Unalaska City Council last month. The plan for two 3-megawatt turbines was described by gravel quarry owner Bill Shaishnikoff and engineer Keith Pedwell, of Bering Shai-Pedwell Energy Inc. They hope to generate an average of 19 million kilowatt hours . . . Complete story »
Alaska regulators rule in GVEA’s favor in dispute with Delta Wind Farm
FAIRBANKS—The Regulatory Commission of Alaska has again ruled against Delta Junction wind turbine operator Mike Kraft, this time concluding that the Golden Valley Electric Association doesn’t have to buy power from his proposed 13.5 megawatt Delta Wind Farm because it would cost Golden Valley ratepayers. Kraft is a homebuilder who’s been in the wind energy business for about 10 years, much of it mired in conflicts with Golden Valley. He seeks to sell power under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies . . . Complete story »
Wind-power developer takes GVEA to court in 4-year quest to sell more renewable energy
Fairbanks wind-power developer Mike Craft took Golden Valley Electric Association to court this week, claiming the utility is violating state and federal law by refusing to buy more electricity generated by a Delta Junction-area wind farm. Craft turned to the courts after four years of fighting with Golden Valley and working with state regulators to adopt federal policies intended to promote greater use of renewable energy. Anchorage Superior Court Judge Erin Marston is deliberating over arguments presented Tuesday by lawyers . . . Complete story »
AVEC looking for a new wind turbine site after FAA scraps utility’s plans
Just because you held a public meeting about it doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. That’s what AVEC, the Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, found out Friday when the Federal Aviation Administration called and said their plan to build a wind turbine off Bethel’s BIA road was a no-go. In an email to KYUK, AVEC wrote that the non-profit utility will not be allowed to erect a 350-foot wind turbine off of BIA road because of “navigational air space conditions.” Their . . . Complete story »
Wind-farm developer assails GVEA’s refusal to buy more power
Lawyers representing the Delta Wind Farm are asking state regulators to deny a tariff filed by Golden Valley Electric Association that argues the utility should not be required to buy more power from the wind farm. GVEA said it should be exempt from state and federal regulations intended to promote use of renewable energy, because it can’t integrate more wind power now without incurring costs that would be passed along to ratepayers. GVEA President and CEO Cory Borgeson said the . . . Complete story »
The hidden costs of wind power
Most people assume wind power is the cheapest, greenest power Golden Valley Electric Association generates. But if wind power is not carefully balanced with other power sources, it can drive up your electric bill – as well as greenhouse gas emissions. GVEA’s board has been very cautious about adding more wind. Here’s an anecdote that explains why more wind could lead to higher emissions and higher bills. Let’s suppose it’s a nice, windy day north of Healy, and the Eva Creek . . . Complete story »