Tag Archives: Renewable

A Push for Action on Renewables

From The New York Times, Wednesday, July 28, 2010:

With a cap on carbon dioxide an apparent nonstarter in the Senate these days, some clean energy and climate advocates have shifted their sights to a scaled-back but still ambitious goal: passage of a national renewable electricity standard.

Such a law would require utility companies to produce a set amount of electricity from renewable sources by a certain date, spurring the development of clean sources like wind and solar and probably lowering overall emissions nationally. Perhaps most important, some argue that with a strong push by the president, such a measure could actually clear the high bar for passage of 60 votes in the Senate this fall.

Continue reading: A Push for Action on Renewables

Kodiak plant to tout sustainable energy tie

From The Associated Press, Thursday, July 22, 2010:

Salmon processed at a Kodiak plant will be getting a new tag.

Island Seafoods plans to tout the plant’s connection with sustainable energy on a new label.

General manager John Whiddon tells the Kodiak Daily Mirror it may say, “sustainable fish produced by clean, sustainable wind turbine energy.”

Island Seafoods uses power that’s produced in part by Kodiak Electric Association’s Pillar Mountain wind turbines.

The utility began using the three 1.5 megawatt turbines last summer. They have saved the utility more than 900,000 gallons of diesel fuel.

The utility’s president, Darron Scott, suggested the joint marketing agreement with Island Seafoods.

Alaska Airlines joins biofuels study

From Alaska Dispatch:

According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Alaska Airlines is joining Boeing, a few northwest regional airports and Washington State University to study the feasibility of using biomass fuels in commercial aviation. The program, known as “Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest,”  is to investigate the creation of an aviation biofuel industry as one way for the industry to reduce its carbon footprint. The effort will start in July and continue for six months. Read much more focused on Boeing, here. And for a report focused on the academic side of the partnership, read Biomass Magazine’s post, here.

Geothermal test project near King Salmon

From The Associated Press, Friday, June 9, 2010:

The Naknek Electric Association is drilling a well near King Salmon to test the potential for geothermal energy.

Association General Manager Donna Vukich told KTUU-TV the search for renewable energy from underground heat has been a 10-year, $20 million project. If successful it could serve villages across Bristol Bay. The project requires a second test well to be drilled in September.

Naknek Electric currently relies on diesel to generate electricity.

Hydroelectric project millions over budget

From The Associated Press, Sunday, July 4, 2010:

A Southeast Alaska hydroelectric project has come in millions over budget, but is expected to bring Juneau plenty of power for years to come.

Alaska Electric Light & Power now is trying to persuade the Regulatory Commission of Alaska to let it raise its rates.

The utility is trying to show that it deserves to collect an extra $15.8 million or more in additional revenue after finishing the project. The utility says it wants $12.6 million at first and the rest can come later.

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Govs consider alternative energy, climate change

From The Associated Press, Sunday, June 27, 2010:

New transmission lines are critical to developing the alternative electricity production needed to meet demand in the coming years, governors of states in the West said Monday.

The need for new energy development and dangers of climate change topped the agenda at the annual meeting of the Western Governors Association, where participants recognized that more renewable energy is a priority that will require considerable private investment.

About half of the governors in the West are participating in the event.

The governors want to find a way to fast-track the construction of expensive, lengthy transmission lines to carry wind and solar power from rural to large urban areas.

Continue reading:  Govs consider alternative energy, climate change

$25M veto cuts into Alaska clean energy plans

From The Associated Press, Thursday, June 23, 2010:

Renewable energy development in Alaska is getting about half the funding lawmakers had approved after Gov. Sean Parnell decided to veto $25 million for projects he said can still be considered.

The Legislature had approved $50 million for the Alaska Renewable Energy Grant Fund, but Parnell cut it in half just before the 2010 Business of Clean Energy in Alaska conference last week.

The conference was organized by the Renewable Energy Alaska Project to show Alaska’s leaders how to build a more sustainable energy future for the state and tap into the worldwide $155-billion-a-year clean energy market.

The Alaska Journal of Commerce reported the veto could delay 46 projects around the state unless other funds are found.

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Wind farm could produce cheaper power, GVEA says

From The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Wednesday, June 23, 2010:

A wind farm near Healy would likely produce cheaper power than the wholesale prices Golden Valley Electric Association pays, Kate Lamal, a vice president for the utility, said Tuesday. 

Lamal said that if projections hold true, that would prevent customer rates from increasing if the utility finishes the $93 million project. 

Golden Valley is readying Eva Creek following an early June change to borrowing rules. The wind farm, near Healy, would be the largest in the state. 

The farm could produce power for a full cent less than Golden Valley’s current wholesale price, which is about 10.6 cents per kilowatt-hour, Lamal said at a presentation on wind energy Tuesday night. She compared that to projections of 14 cent power that preceded a recent change to reimbursement plans under a federal clean energy subsidy program. 

Lamal said the change means Eva Creek — which based on wind patterns at the site is projected to deliver 9 megawatts of power, a fraction of Golden Valley’s portfolio — won’t increase customer’s bills. 

“We think we’ve found a very elegant solution” to the diverging interests between members willing to pay extra for green power and those more interested in lowering rates, Lamal said. “That was the biggest factor, the (interest rate) that we can get to build this project.” 

Lamal said the utility is addressing the project’s other big variables: Years of data on wind patterns are strong enough to secure loans and a $2 million renewable-energy grant from the state has paid for studies of road access, bird migration patterns and integration with Golden Valley’s existing energy portfolio. She said the utility plans to solicit bids to present to the board of directors this fall. A supportive nod from directors would let engineering advance this winter, road and foundation construction occur next summer and turbine installation in 2012, she said. 

Waste Anchorage grease turned into biodiesel

From The Associated Press, Friday, June 18, 2010:

The Anchorage area’s private trash hauler, Alaska Waste, is picking up used food-frying oil and has started turning it into biodiesel to power its trucks.

The company showed off its new $3 million plant Thursday in south Anchorage where it turned out its first batch of biodiesel last week.

Alaska Waste is collecting oil from 240 restaurants, groceries, hotels and hospitals from Girdwood to Wasilla.

The Anchorage Daily News reports that previously most of the food grease from Anchorage had been dumped in landfills or barged to the Lower 48.

Alaska Waste built the plant to capitalize on a useful product, reduce air pollution and keep grease out of the landfill, said Jeff Riley, Alaska Waste’s chief operating officer. In the future, the company might team up with local fuel distributors to enable Anchorage residents to purchase some of the biodiesel. It creates fewer greenhouse gas emissions than regular diesel, he said.