(More information on dams proposed on Grant lake and Falls Creek, Fourth of July hydro proposal on this page soon)
Like everywhere else in the world, Seward should examine its energy use and alternatives. The City has not yet made a thorough assessment of what's possible. Instead, the City dismisses alternatives and focuses on energy sources with a proven track record - like coal and nuclear.
Seward’s awareness amped up in 2006 when an Anchorage developer proposed building a 20MW coal-fired power plant. Seldom has a single issue united so many diverse interests in a community. Ultimately the plant proposal collapsed on its own dumb weight. The previous winter, avalanches toppled part of our transmission lines and Seward's electrical demand was met by two inefficient, outdated and expensive diesel generators for a month at a cost of one million dollars.
As a result of the these events, community dialog rerouted toward replacements for our generators (especially now (6/08) with diesel fuel at $4.90/gallon).
Before us are many options: hydro, wind, solar, heat exchange, tidal, wave, natural gas, rerouting excess power from Homer, and even nuclear. While each offers promise, each holds a battery of advantages and disadvantages. We know that wind is sustainable, but we may not have the right specific site location. Solar could help but only seasonally. Tidal current may provide an option when technology advances to reduce transmission costs and accomodate our abundant but apparently slow ocean flow. And recently, the former City of Galena city manager promoted nuclear power for Seward.
The proposed experimental nuclear power plant exploits the same vulnerability that brought the coal-fired power plant idea three years ago. We felt desparate then. Now we cringe at the gas pump. Now some may actually give credence to nuclear.
Seward lacks a comprehensive study of all alternatives. In lieu of an analysis with a transparent and defensible suite of assumptions, we are left to decide using insufficient information.
With the recently established state renewable energy fund, the City should comprehensively assess its potential energy resources, not just respond to opportunistic energy developers.
It could be enormously costly to make the wrong decisions.
RBCA believes that our energy security starts with conservation and a voluntary commitment to decreased energy usage. We can also add to the supply side with a 4MW hydro project in Lowell Canyon which can accomodate nearly half of our town’s 10MW usage.
One of the benefits of hydro power generation is a
contribution to flood control from Lowell Canyon.
A hydro penstock would divert some of a flood event water.
This photo shows flood water in 2007.