February 15, 2007
Thursday PM

(SitNews) A group of six legislators traveled to Ketchikan today, to view the partially completed intertie project linking the Swan Lake Hydro plant with the Tyee Lake Hydro plant, according to a House Majority news release. A 9:00 helicopter tour was planned to take the legislators over the interie's right of way. This intertie is the first leg of a long awaited power grid for the communities in Southeast Alaska. The intertie could eventually be linked with another transmission line to allow power sales into the North American power grid.

This unused energy is vital to secure economic growth and new jobs in Southeast Alaska ~ Rep. Kyle Johansen   This intertie takes one major cost variable, energy, and stablizes its' availability and price for decades ~ Rep. Kyle Johansen

Connecting the two hydro plants built in the 1980's will allow the excess power capable of being generated at the Tyee Lake Hydro plant near Petersburg to be wheeled south to the Swan Lake Hydro plant and used in Ketchikan area. The Tyee Lake Hydro plant is producing at far below its capacity. Failing to fully utilize that capacity means the energy equivalent of 5 million barrels of No. 1 heating oil is being wasted each year.

"This unused energy is vital to secure economic growth and new jobs in Southeast Alaska" said Representative Kyle Johansen (R-Ketchikan). "Long-term access to cheap and clean renewable energy is critical to our economic future. To attract and retain commerce and jobs we must provide a stable investment atmosphere. This intertie takes one major cost variable, energy, and stablizes its' availability and price for decades"

"I was very encouraged when the Governor recognized the value of renewable energy in her State of the State speech and her comments in Ketchikan after the blueberry festival recognizing the value of the project to the entire Southeast region. I am also very thankful and encouraged by these legislators taking valuable time to view and become familiar with the project," said Johansen.

Currently, all permits needed for construction have been obtained, all but one mile of the right-of-way has been cleared, and roughly half of the foundations for the transmission lines have been installed. This work was funded by the federal government, the rate-payers of the Four-Dam Pool through program receipts, and the Ketchikan Borough. The project sponsors are seeking further funding from the state that would allow the project to be completed and delivering power by the end of 2009.

Scheduled to take part in Thursday's visit included Reps. Kyle Johansen (R-Ketchikan), Mike Kelly (R-Fairbanks), Bill Stoltze, (R-Chugiak/Mat-Su), Kevin Meyer (R-Anchorage), Mary Nelson (D-Bethel), and Sen. Bert Stedman (R-Sitka).

Source of News:

The House Majority
http://housemajority.org

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