Alaska Power & Telephone was selected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to receive $3M in grant funds through the High Energy Cost Grant Program to construct a 1.8-MW wind farm in interior Alaska.
The 7-Mile Wind project is expected to offset over a quarter million gallons of diesel fuel per year. Annual carbon savings are more than 66,650 metric tons.
The 7-Mile Wind project will be a 1.8-MW wind farm, located in a Class-4 Wind area adjacent the Glenn Highway, near the community of Tok, Alaska.
The 7-Mile Wind project will assist the communities of Tok, Tetlin, Dot Lake, and Tanacross by providing a locally-available source of cleaner, more affordable renewable energy. At present, these four communities have been 100% dependent upon diesel-based generation of electricity, and experience energy costs. Approximately 1,500 residents live within the communities will benefit from the 7-Mile Wind project.
The project is anticipated to produce over 3.7 million kilowatt hours of home-sourced renewable energy per year. For perspective, the U.S. EIA reports that the average US household consumes 911 kWh per month. The project is estimated to offset over a quarter million gallons of diesel fuel per year. Annual carbon savings are more than 66,650 metric tons.
The total cost of the project is estimated at $10 million. AP&T will be working to complete the project’s financing plan in the coming months, anticipating that remaining construction dollars will be predominantly comprised of private investment and loan funds. AP&T has a target of completing the project by the end of 2018, although the project’s timeline is dependent upon weather and other factors.
The 7-Mile wind project is one effort in a multi-technology approach to converting its rural service areas from diesel-based generation to other sources of energy. The company is also working to develop the 1.5-MW Yerrick Creek hydropower project near Tanacross.
Alaska Power & Telephone
www.aptalaska.com
Filed Under: News, Projects
