(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - In a move aimed at expanding the market for Southeast Alaska's vast renewable hydro resource, Alaska Power & Telephone Company subsidiary Soule Hydro, LLC (Soule Hydro) has applied for a Presidential permit to construct and operate the first electric transmission line crossing the United States border delivering Alaska-based renewable electric energy into Canada.

"By working closely with regional business, industry partners and research organizations such as the Alaska Center for Energy and Power, AP&T shares a larger vision of what is possible for the future of Alaska's vast stranded renewable energy resources," states Robert Grimm, President of Alaska Power & Telephone Company. "We are convinced the development of a new renewable energy industry, coupled with a resurgence of Alaska's timber, mineral, fisheries and petroleum market segments, will greatly benefit those in need of these resources, while creating economic well-being for Alaskans."

On March 18, 2013, Soule Hydro filed an application with the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability of the Department of Energy (DOE) for a Presidential Permit as required by Executive Order (EO 10485) to allow for the construction of international electrical Transmission facilities between the U.S. and a foreign country.

Soule Hydro proposes to construct and operate a high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) hydroelectric transmission line that is to originate at the Soule River, on Portland Canal in Southeast Alaska, and continue to the BC Hydro Stewart Substation on the north side of Stewart, British Columbia. It would occupy federal land administered by the Ketchikan-Misty Fjords Ranger District of the U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) and would be capable of transmitting up to 77.4 megawatts (MW) of power.

The Alaska portion of the Project would be an 8-mile long, 138 kilovolt (kV) HVAC 3-phase submarine cable that would be laid on the floor of Portland Canal before crossing the International Boundary off the community of Hyder, Alaska, where it would extend another 2 miles to land at Stewart, B.C. Arrow Dock.

The transmission line would eventually transition to overhead and terminate at the BC Hydro Stewart Substation approximately 2.5 miles from the cable landing. Soule Hydro represents that the Project's precise final route would be subject to a number of factors, including resource issues, permitting, land acquisition, and stakeholder agreement. The approximately 8-mile-long portion of the project located within the United States as well as the approximately 4.5 miles of transmission infrastructure in Canada would be owned and operated by Soule Hydro. Soule Hydro is a limited liability corporation, organized and existing in the State of Delaware. Alaska Power & Telephone Company (AP&T) is the parent company and sole shareholder for Soule Hydro.

Any person may comment on or protest this application by filing such comment or protest at the address provided below in accordance with Rule 211 of FERC's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR385.211). Any person seeking to become a party to this proceeding must file a motion to intervene at the address provided below in accordance with Rule 214 of FERC's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.214).

Comments, protests, or motions to intervene must be submitted on or before August 29, 2013.

Additional copies of such comment, protest, or motion to intervene should also be filed directly with:

Mr. Robert S. Grimm
CEO/President, Soule Hydro, LLC
c/o Alaska Power & Telephone Company
193 Otto Street,
P.O. Box 3222,
Port Townsend, WA 98368

Comments, protests, or motions to intervene must be submitted on or before August 29, 2013. Comments, protests, or motions to intervene should be addressed as follows:

Brian Mills
Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE-20),
U.S. Department of Energy,
1000 Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20585

or via electronic mail at Brian.Mills@hq.doe.gov

or Katherine L. Konieczny (Attorney-Adviser)
via electronic mail at Katherine.Konieczny@hq.doe.gov

On the Web:

Federal Register July 30, 2013 Notices; Dept. of Energy [OE Docket No. PP-387]; Application for Presidential Permit - Soule River Hydroelectric Project

Edited By Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News: 

Alaska Power & Telephone Company
www.

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