Fire Island Wind Project
Fire Island Wind
After more than a decade of planning, development, and negotiations the Fire Island Wind Project is set to provide 17.6 megawatts of electrical generating capacity to Chugach Electric Association by late 2012 in its first phase of planned development. That is enough electricity to power more than 5,000 homes and offset demand for 500,000 BCF of southcentral Alaska’s dwindling- and ever more expensive- natural gas.
Success for Fire Island Wind will create a new precedent for energy development in Alaska and create a new opportunity for private developers of renewable energy to succeed in Alaska and help reduce the environmental impacts of our electrical energy production.
One final approval is needed to make Fire Island a reality: the approval of the negotiated contract for power sales by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA). Show your support for Fire Island to the RCA! Read on below:
Key Talking Points
- NOW IS THE TIME to invest in wind energy, which is stably-priced and will SAVE CONSUMERS MONEY over the life of the project.
- Unlike volatile, steeply climbing fossil fuel prices, the Fire Island Wind Project will provide STABLY-PRICED energy over the 25 year life of the project and is a sound investment.
- It is important that the Commission act on this matter quickly to ensure the eligibility of the Fire Island project for federal grant funding that will benefit rate payers.
- The project is a solid step toward a more DIVERSE and SUSTAINABLE electrical supply
- The project will bring Alaska CLOSER TO ITS GOAL of producing 50% of its electricity through renewable sources by 2025
-The project will create LONG-TERM, LOCAL JOBS, thus positively contributing to the local economy
Additional Talking Points:
- The “Long Term Gas Supply Work Group” reported that the Southcentral region will need to import LNG in 2014 as the only reliable near-term solution to the looming energy shortage. However, the group does not know where the LNG will come from, how it will be delivered, where it will be stored or how much it will cost.
-Alaska can and should be producing clean electricity here at home, rather than IMPORTING natural gas.
- Approval of the Fire Island PPA could offset demand for 500 MCF of natural gas.
- Continued reliance on natural gas for 90% of electricity needs is short-sighted and increasingly expensive.
-The success of this project marks the first time an Independent Power Producer (IPP) has entered the Alaska market with such a substantial amount of renewable energy and has the potential to bring additional renewable energy projects to Alaska.
- The wind blows most consistently during the winter time when Southcentral Alaska is most likely to experience gas shortages.
Submitting Comments to the RCA on the Fire Island Power Purchase Agreement:
1) To submit comments to RCA on the Fire Island Wind Project, matter number: TA335-8 click HERE.
2) Click on the far right tab labeled “Public Notices & Comments”
2) Click on the “Submit Comments” link in the far right hand column of the table.
3) Leave Filing Type at the default: “Public Comments.” Click “Submit”
4) Fill in your contact information. Click “Submit”
5) Enter your comments in the “Comment Synopsis” box or upload files and documents with your comments at this page. Click “Submit”
6) The next page will give you a confirmation that your submission is finished. To complete, click “Finished” at the bottom of the page.
7) Please reference TA335-8 in the subject line of your comments and include a statement that you have filed a copy of the comments with Chugach at its address given above or at info@chugachelectric.com.
8) You are done! Thank you for your support for the Fire Island Wind Project!
