KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
On Tuesday morning in Portland, Oregon, officials from Kodiak Electric Association signed off on the final agreement to purchase the Terror Lake Hydro-Electric facility, thus ending the Four Dam Pool and providing KEA the opportunity to meet its goal of 95-percent non-fossil fuel reliance.
KMXT’s Erik Wander has more.
KEA began working on the project to purchase the Terror Lake facility about three years ago and first presented a proposal to the Four Dam Pool Board about two-and-a-half years ago. KEA director Stosh Anderson said the purchase paves the way for the organization to pursue more alternative energy projects and for customers to enjoy more stable power rates.
— (Anderson 1 45 sec. "With the purchase … the whole community more stable.")
KEA’s president and CEO Darren Scott said that combined with the ongoing wind energy project, the power company is nearing its goal of 95-percent renewable energy and that the purchase of the hydro-power facility provides flexibility for future endeavors. He also said the hydro-power facility will continue to provide about the same amount of power to Kodiak that it has been.
— (Scott 1 50 sec. "Terror Lake’s going to … expanding the wind project.")
On Tuesday morning, Copper Valley, which will now own the Solomon Gulch facility, also divested itself from the Four Dam Pool, which will now become the Southeast Power Production Association. Anderson, who previously served on the Four Dam Pool board, said that all of the communities involved will benefit from the agreements.
— (Anderson 2 37 sec. "When I was on the board … for all of the people involved.")
Anderson said KEA will continue to explore non-petroleum-based energy sources and the 95-percent renewable energy goal is constantly being re-evaluated.
— (Anderson 3 33 sec. "95-percent is a moving target … to achieve those goals.")
The Wrangell Assembly voted in December to move forward with the Four Dam Pool divestiture plan, effectively paving the way for KEA to acquire Terror Lake Under the plan, the South East Alaska Power Association, or SEAPA, which includes the communities of Petersburg, Wrangell and Ketchikan, will continue to operate the Tyee Lake project near Wrangell and the Swan Lake project outside of Ketchikan.
I’m Erik Wander.
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