Renewable Energy Becomes the Wave of the Future for Alaska

The State of Alaska hopes 50 percent of Alaska's energy is renewable by 2025

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By Heather Hintze
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Story Created: Aug 10, 2012 at 8:01 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Aug 11, 2012 at 10:58 AM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - The State of Alaska hopes 50 percent of energy in our state will come from renewable resources by the year 2025. The Fire Island Wind Project is one step in that direction. Local businesses are also going green to cut costs.

At H2Oasis the energy it takes to heat 350,000 gallons of water, as well as the floors and indoor area, costs $30,000 a month. Owners said they had to find a way to cut costs.

“We're driven by the economics of the situation. We've got to keep our bills down and under control to have a viable water park here in Alaska. It only makes sense,” said co-owner Dennis Prendeville.

That’s why the company installed two large solar panels and 60 solar collectors on the roof, which heat the pool and shower water.

“On a nice sunny day it's like having a boiler running all day long,” said Prendeville.

Then there are the four Capstone micro turbines that not only produce energy, but heat as a byproduct. It produces so much heat the water park's old heaters have been shut down for months.

“I'm absolutely sold on it. It made a lot of sense and makes me feel good to have a more efficient water park operation,” said Prendeville.

Soon many Anchorage businesses will be saving money with renewable energy thanks to the Fire Island Wind Project. It will generate 4 percent of Chugach Electric’s energy and the Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP) executive director said it will be great for residents as well.

“They're going to see those turbines and understand wind is actually a mature, commercial resource. This is happening all over the world and until recently, Anchorage people have not had an opportunity to look at wind and see that it is a project and technology that is working around the world,” said Executive Director Chris Rose.

So whether it’s a wind farm to power a city or just a few micro turbines to heat a pool, renewable energy in Alaska is the wave of the future.
 

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douglas said on Wednesday, Aug 15 at 8:38 AM

funny you should say that Dirtbagger... the oil and gas industry also receives subsidies from "the backs of US taxpayers" yet i don't hear you complaining about them. how about you offer up your front yard to BP or Conoco to install an oil rig, to show your support of them?

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PalmerBill said on Monday, Aug 13 at 5:46 AM

...hauling coal to Newcastle.

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jbird said on Sunday, Aug 12 at 5:14 PM

How many millions of dollaers to build the farm on Fire Is. along with federal grants. Oh yeah, I'm buying on for my home next week. Renewable energy in mass quantity is decades away.

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John said on Sunday, Aug 12 at 4:42 PM

Even the playing field stop oil and gas subsidies as well? Im for Hydro power also still the cheapest energy in the state

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Dirtbagger said on Sunday, Aug 12 at 11:11 AM

Renewable energy would be great if it wasnt subsidized on the backs of US taxpayers by grants and government.We have enough natural gas on the Northslope to drive alaska and parts of the country for 50 years if envoromentalists would stop dragging everything through the courts.i believe we should take care of the only planet we have but not at the expense of our financial health.when they make a viable alternative to fossil fuels ill be the first one standing in line but untill then its the only way without gutting our financial system. If the eviromentalists,"green" politicains(Dems) and government would get out of the way of private enterprise and American ingenuity we would have all the energy we would ever need without putting the expense on the backs of taxpayers.

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cooljulie said on Sunday, Aug 12 at 12:42 AM

Problem with solar is storage. It's only usable when it's there. If we could store all the solar available in the summer, we'd have heat all winter. Solar water heating is very cheap and easy to do, and can be scaled to any size need. Every roof in the country should have a solar (water) collector. Here, it would work about 7-8 months out of the year. In warmer months, heated water can be stored underground, to a point, for later use, via tubing in an insulated mass of sand. In colder months it can be stored in an insulated tank, for immediate use. Wind generation of electricity is great (and far more economical than PV cells) if the wind blows, but again, storage is an issue, as batteries are impractical for a large scale demand. For off grid living, solar is very practical even in many parts of Alaska, and can supply 50-80% of a household's needs.

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Matthew said on Saturday, Aug 11 at 9:47 PM

Environmentalists tell us global warming is going to kill us all. Yet when we have the opportunity to generate 700 MW of renewable, non CO2 emitting hydropower energy, who fights tooth and nail to stop it from ever happening? Lesson learned? Environmentalists are all anti development wackos who should not be listened to... ever.

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Meera Kohler said on Saturday, Aug 11 at 11:52 AM

Only 20% of energy used by Alaskans is in the form of electricity. 50% of 20% equals 10% of our energy will come from "renewable" sources. Nothing meaningful is happening to make energy for all Alaskans affordable. On the other hand, our stranded natural gas on the North Slope could be used to generate low cost electricity to displace 80% of ALL energy used in the state. Greenhouse gases could be reduced by 50% or more.

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Jim Jones said on Saturday, Aug 11 at 3:20 AM

Simply laughable that one of the largest energy producing states in the world has to have alternative energy in order for people to afford energy.

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Brian Gundlach said on Saturday, Aug 11 at 2:49 AM

Supplemental, maybe. Wave of the future? Pretty small wave.

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