ANCHORAGE — All 11 wind turbines on Fire Island are now generating power for Southcentral Alaska. Officials at Cook Inlet Region Incorporated say they’ve been testing the turbines and transmission lines for nearly a month now. And Monday it became official - all of them are feeding into the grid.
If the wind is blowing, from now on when you look out across Cook Inlet from Anchorage, you might be able to see them spinning, all 11 of them. The wind turbines on Fire Island are providing the first source of renewable energy for Alaska’s largest city and surrounding areas.
Suzanne Gibson is Vice President of Fire Island Wind and the Senior Director of Energy Development for Cook Inlet Region Incorporated, the Native Corporation that built the wind farm. She says CIRI completed construction in mid-August but they’ve been tying up details since.
“So it’s sort of a check list of things that we’ve had to accomplish in order to reach this date and we felt like were there on Friday and so we submitted a certificate of commercial operation to Chugach on Friday, which makes today sort of the contractual affective date that we began commercial operations with our buyer,” Gibson told KSKA .
The buyer is Chugach Electric Association. At the beginning, the cost of the wind power will be slightly more expensive than gas they use to generate most of their power now. Chugach power costs, on average, 6 cents per kilowatt hour. At the start the wind power will be 3.7 cents more. The project has been in the works since the 90’s, when a study identified Fire Island as the best place in the area to capture the wind power. And during the recent windstorm, Gibson says nature proved her point a little too strongly.
“The wind speeds were so high over on Fire Island that the turbines actually cut out,” she said.
But Gibson says there was no damage to the turbines during the storm. The turbines are manufactured by General Electric. They tower a hundred feet taller than the Conoco Phillips building, the city’s tallest building. Chris Rose is with the Renewable Energy Alaska Project, or REAP, a non-profit whose mission is to facilitate the increased development of renewable energy in Alaska. He says with gas prices expected to rise, wind power will be a money saver.
“Wind power is a very mature resource around the world,” Rose said. “And for us to finally be getting it in the Anchorage area is a boon, because I think people understand now more that it is something that is happening other places, it’s not something that is going to happen in the future.”
It’s estimated the project will provide 4 percent of Chugach Electric Association’s power, or enough electricity to power about 4,000 homes along the rail belt. Rose points out that Iowa started out much the same way as Alaska, but now supplies about 20 percent of the state’s power via wind. Rose says he hopes Fire Island is just the beginning.
“I think this is the start of many other renewable energy projects that are going to be going into the rail belt grid,” Rose said.
The turbines start producing power when the wind reaches 8 miles per hour. CIRI officials say the entire project cost $65 million to build, but state and federal grants are helping pay the bills. CIRI has permits to build 22 more of the wind turbines.
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Information from: KSKA-FM, http://www.kska.org
Comments (20)
Add commentWrong
Anchorage has access through the grid to hydro-power from Bradley Lake as a renewable source of energy. In less you are using Obama federal definition that doesn't consider hydro renewable.
So this isn't the first source.
Great more subsidized expensive power.
Let's see how many birds die.
What about the birds?
@ Concerned "Great points"
Birds are an important component in flying insect control. The unsung truth is that bird populations all over the country where wind generation has been set up, are down, and illness such as West Nile are up.
Hydro power, the truest of renewable resources, is the most reliable and cost effective power generation on the planet. Lake tap technology is an awesome system being used everywhere these days and has proven to be more reliable than damns. The impact on the entire environment is non-existent when compared to damns and wind generation not to mention coal, gas or other fuels. Their life span, yet to be determined, promise many more years than damns.
The only real limitation to lake taps is of course the availability of small lakes in mountainous regions. Here in Alaska this is a viable and plentiful resource as we have the mountain lakes.
Seems to me that we should invest in lake tap infrastructure and send power to the lower 48 via Canada.
still wrong
@concerned - the definition of hydro not being renewable predates Obama. At least back to GWB, probably farther. But I agree, it's a stupid distinction.
Are you suggesting that billion$ in State funding for a NG line doesn't count as a subsidy? Or how about the Susitna Dam? Watch out for that black hole sucking up all available state energy funding.
@Justice - If lake tap hydro is such a great deal, why are our electric rates in Juneau, where nearly ALL of our power is from lake tap, higher than the national average? Shouldn't we be far lower?
And why are all of our hydro utilities running out of water if there are so many lakes than can be cheaply tapped?
Also, where is your documentation to support your claim that bird populations are down due to wind turbines?
Let's ask T. Boone Pickens
Let's ask T. Boone Pickens how that wind turbine power generation stuff worked out for him!
Then we can take a look at Spain and their wind power money pit.
No matter how much the greenies spin the truth to promote this type of energy - it isn't economically feasible, at present.
Just look at the wording in this story - "If the wind is blowing, might be able to see them spinning, it’s estimated the project will provide 4 percent of Chugach Electric Association’s power, I think this is the start...".
Pipe dreams.
And does anyone ever wonder why all the power companies in the state are involved in renewables - because they pretty much have to be, it's the law. But guess who's paying for it? Yup, the rate payers and then they get to pay again with their federal tax dollars. It's a win-win - not.
Alaska HB 306: House Omnibus Energy Bill
• Establishes a statewide energy policy that focuses on how Alaskans will get their energy in the future
• Sets a goal for Alaska to have 50% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2025
• Sets a goal to reduce per capita electricity use in the state by 15% by 2020
So no whining about electric rates when you're promoting this type of energy production. It ain't gonna come cheap.
calypso,
There is no justification for your comment that "No matter how much the greenies spin the truth to promote this type of energy - it isn't economically feasible, at present."
This comment is truly stupid. Not only are wind farms economically feasible (obviously, otherwise they wouldn't be one of the most common expansions for utilities around the country and the world), they are pushed by non-partisan organizations everywhere.
Wind power's in fact incredibly attractive as the cost for running is minimal in comparison to fossil fuels. Wind is free. Maintenance is the cost to keep them running. No fuel. Wind power is being installed across Alaska and the world. Fossil fuels are incredibly expensive. If the utility is lucky enough to use natural gas it still generally has to be piped in.
Wind power is not a liberal greenie idea. It's taking an energy source and converting it to electrical energy we call use. If you limit yourself to pre-conceived "conservative" ideas and disregard "liberal" ideas, you only speed up the process to which you and others like you become completely irrelevant.
@puff - don't call my
@puff - don't call my statements "stupid".
This comment of yours is what's "truly stupid" - "Wind power's in fact incredibly attractive as the cost for running is minimal in comparison to fossil fuels. Wind is free. Maintenance is the cost to keep them running. No fuel."
OMG - do you even know that diesel is used as back-up to keep those blades spinning because wind is so unreliable?
Wind power is incredibly expensive. Federal subsidies in 2011 were around $5B.
Please respond to my comments on Spain and T. Boone Pickens rather than ignoring them.
And we can add the Danish company Vestas as further proof that wind power doesn't work on a large scale.
You do the research since you're evidently not open to facts. Find some leftist spin sites to prop up your fairy tale ideas on wind power and off you go to lala land. Sleep tight!!!
Frenchie
I don't think Cheesy was actually calling your comments stupid. He was really calling YOU stupid. A judgment that have to second. Especially given your previous post.
@lat - atleast you never
@lat - atleast you never disappoint us with your inane comments.
Now, do you have anything to add to the conversation or are you going to just act like a progressive and throw out personal attacks?
calypso,
wind power is not expensive. Here's a website for you to take a ganders at:
http://cleantechnica.com/2011/06/20/wind-power-subsidies-dont-compare-to...
And yes, your comment was stupid. I already explained why. The above website will further prove your ignorance on the matter.
The federal subsidies are essential to any energy utility expansion. And it's beneficial. We can't let our utilities get further outdated and affordable power has always relied on federal subsidies, whether fossil fuel or renewable.
Your comment regarding diesel used to keep blades spinning makes no sense. I'm quite certain you have no idea what a wind turbine actually is.
Reliable backup generation (diesel, natural gas, coal) is required for any utility, whether hydro is the primary source or wind, or whatever. If the primary source is a reliable source then no backup is necessary. Hydro is generally not considered reliable, just as wind, solar, geothermal, etc. Water levels fluctuate and the customer requires energy regardless of that fact. AEL&P is a good example of requiring reliable sources like diesel.
As far as Pickens is concerned, he's currently in the process of funding a 377 MW windfarm in Texas. Obviously he's changed his mind on wind energy.
Spain's the largest wind energy producer in the world. They've been killing birds and bats for a long time. Over 18,000 wind turbines in Spain. The average birds/bats killed per turbine over there is 333-1000 per year. Compared to turbines in America claiming 2-4 per year, I'd say Spain is a bit of an outlier.
And have you forgotten the impact hydro dams have had on our wildlife? Research Grand Coulee and Columbia King Salmon. Far larger than the Kenai king but 5 years after Grand Coulee was built, no more 100 lb king salmon. We have to be responsible in our endeavors. Your assertion that wind energy is a liberal black magic trick is stupid. I hope you begin to realize this.
Subsidies
When considering fossil fuel subsidies, keep in mind that NOT taking an oil company's money is not a subsidy. The feds can nominally raise oil company tax rates even further -100%! - and not take that either and the "subsidies" would then be astronomical! If not taking your money is a subsidy then not taking all Cheesy's income means the feds are subsidizing him to the tune of what, $40,000, $50,000 per year? We can't afford nation-wide Cheesy subsidies, costs the govt gazillions per year!
We're doomed!
I'm backing up slowly, with
I'm backing up slowly, with my arms in the air. I give up...!!
One word for you, puff - clueless...
Quote for the day from T. Boone -
“I’ve lost my a--” to wind-energy investments, he conceded."
Proof Wind Generators Kill Birds
@ Lat58
Check these out. If you need more proof do a "Googe" search: wind generator bird kills
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/wind-farms-under-f...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/feb/27/wind-energy-myths-turb...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/feb/27/wind-energy-myths-turb...
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405297020478180457726711429483832...
I am no greenie, although I admit that sometimes I sound like one, but I am a person of common sense and birds and bats are important to all as they consume mass quantities of flying insects.
And Lat58, if you need documentation on this do a search on your own. I am not going to be able to do all you rebuttal research as I do have a life and need to back to it.
Oh, and as to your comments about electricity cost here in Juneau and the expanded use of lake taps, it's the market, it is always the market and it will always be the market.
@AKJustice
Did you read the articles?
"Wind farms currently kill far fewer birds than the estimated 100 million that fly into glass buildings, or up to 500 million killed yearly by cats. Power lines kill an estimated 10 million, and nearly 11 million are hit by automobiles, according to studies."
"“The reality is that everything we do as human beings has an impact on the natural environment,” said John Anderson, director of siting policy for the wind-energy association."
"According to the CSE, for every bird killed by a turbine, 5,820, on average, are killed striking buildings, typically glass windows."
@calypso & rough cut
yoiu two often say that if you criticize something you have to give it up.
since you are criticizing renewable energy, you have to stop using electricity from Snettisham.
Looks like
the latest "newsletter" just came out....
louskannen,
look at that web site again. If you fail to comprehend what you read don't try to pin it on me. It's not my fault you missed the part where it distinguished between tax breaks and actual defined fossil fuel subsidies. It even did so with a bar graph so those who need pictures can still get the point.
Calypso, is that your way of saying I was right the whole time? I'll take it as such. Clueless doesn't begin to describe your past comments on here.
And Perkins may have lost his ass in wind farms, but he's still investing in them, and he's invested more in alternative energy than anyone else. You name a major investor who hasn't lost money on his/her investments. Then try to make a biased argument against an entire industry and see if it sticks.
@puff - no way are you right.
@puff - no way are you right. I just don't have the patience to make 2+2=4 with you.
Look up the Heritage article explaining what the left likes to call "oil subsidies". Words are funny things!
Perkins, you say? How 'bout Pickens?!
Still the truth
@el-Boorba
Just guessing but... I would guess that there are likely some 10,000 plus buildings for every wind generator. Even if building do kill more birds than wind generators, the fact still remains that wind generators DO KILL BIRDS and BATS.
Can you dispute this?
calypso,
you don't have time to back up your frail arguments? It's because you can't. The best you got is:
"@puff - no way are you right."
Strong argument. You usually have time to waste everyone else's on here. Why don't you have time to finally introduce a reasonable argument? If indeed such things exist in your head.
It's not about interpretating what a subsidy is. You can spin it however you want. There are oil subsidies and there are subsidies for oil through tax breaks. Pick and choose however you want to. You're ignoring the facts due to your own bias. This makes you ignorant, in case you were wondering.
Perkins, pickens, my mistake. Doesn't change the fact that T Boone Pickens is currently funding a massive wind farm in Texas. Obviously he thinks it's a good investment. You can quote him however you want just like you can spin it whichever way you'd like. I don't care. Just don't try to argue that wind energy is a greenie money pit. Chugach Electric is not a greenie organization. Texas is far from a greenie state. Alaska is far from a greenie state.
Yet here we are investing in wind energy. Wind energy is a great supplemental source. It's cost effective. It's simple to install relative to other sources. It's got drawbacks. What doesn't?