The Fire Island wind energy project has taken a step forward. Anchorage-based Chugach Electric Association’s board has approved a set of terms and conditions for the project to supply the electric utility with power from the wind farm. The board took the action at a special meeting last week.
Under the terms, Chugach will purchase power from Fire Island Wind, a subsidiary of Cook Inlet Region Inc.
The proposal calls for Chugach to take up to 17.6 megawatts of power at a flat net price of $97 per megawatt-hour for 25 years, beginning Jan. 1, 2013. Fire Island Wind estimates of the energy output of the project puts production at approximately 48,500 megawatt-hours per year.
Chugach spokesman Phil Steyer says Chugach’s board meets again later Wednesday for a final vote on approval of the contract.
The deal is the conclusion of negotiations between Chugach and CIRI which began in 2010. Steyer says a power purchase agreement needs to be approved by both organizations and by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska.
Download Audio (MP3)
APTI Reporter-Producer Ellen Lockyer started her radio career in the late 1980s, after a stint at bush Alaska weekly newspapers, the Copper Valley Views and the Cordova Times. When the Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound, Valdez Public Radio station KCHU needed a reporter, and Ellen picked up the microphone.
Since then, she has literally traveled the length of the state, from Attu to Eagle and from Barrow to Juneau, covering Alaska stories on the ground for the AK show, Alaska News Nightly, the Alaska Morning News and for Anchorage public radio station, KSKA
elockyer (at) alaskapublic (dot) org | 907.550.8446 | About Ellen
