Link would give Alaskans access to North American Power Grid - Vancouver Sun, January 13

Link would give Alaskans access to North American Power Grid - Vancouver Sun, January 13
British Columbia's plan for a $400-million high voltage power line into the northwest has Alaskans buzzing about the project's potential to spark green power development in their state.

Southeast Alaska has more than 3,000 megawatts of potential electricity generation at 80-plus sites, including hydro, wind and tidal power.

But with a population of 70,000 people scattered across a 650-kilometre area, the geographically isolated southeast market is too small to absorb even a fraction of that electricity. It's not economical unless it can be exported.

The northwest line would give Alaska access, for purposes of electricity sales, to the entire western North America electricity market.

Alaska-Canada Energy Coalition spokesman Paul Southland was in contact last week with BC Transmission Corp., which is responsible for construction of the 287-kilovolt line, and has a face-to-face meeting with BCTC officials later this month.

Connection would give Southeast Alaska access to North American Grid

Ketchikan supplements with diesel generation - KRBD Ketchikan, Alaska -

KRBD - Public Radio in Ketchikan, Alaska - Local News
Deanna Garrison
KETCHIKAN, ALASKA (2010-01-07) Beginning Friday, Ketchikan Public Utilities will start operating diesel generators at a cost of $36,000 a day. KPU says a surge in electricity usage and dry weather last year is causing the utility to rely on costly diesel power.

Terrace Standard - Big push for Alaska-B.C. power line

Terrace Standard - Big push for Alaska-B.C. power line
PROPONENTS of a power line connecting Southeast Alaska with B.C. providing access to the North American electricity market say they need their governor to speak to B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell.

They’re convinced a groundswell of support in southeastern Alaska can now be transformed into action on a senior political level, says Paul Southland, a Wrangell, Alaska resident and key backer of the ACEcoaltion with ACE standing for Alaska Canada Energy. The key now, says Southland, is the planned Northwest Transmission Line which would run north of Terrace up to a place called Bob Quinn on Hwy37 North.

BC Iconoclast: The strong need - to build a powerline to Alaska and Yukon

BC Iconoclast: The strong need - to build a powerline to Alaska and Yukon
Currently the plans are to build a new transmission line part way up Highway #37, this line is proposed to be a 287kV line. The power line is very important for the development of numerous projects in Northwest BC, but it could have a much more important role if it were built all the way to Alaska and much larger.

BC can play a very important role in North America by making it possible for northern power to be wheeled to the south. The northwest of BC along highway #37, Alaska and Yukon all have very high potentials for sustainable energy production. About 1/3 of the untapped hydroelectric generation potential in the US lies in Alaska.

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner -Alaska Railroad gets federal OK to extend tracks to Delta

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - The voice of Interior Alaska since 1903
A federal board has cleared the state railroad’s plan to extend track to Delta Junction.

The decision follows months of review by the Surface Transportation Board, which considered public testimony on the plan and a slate of potential environmental issues.

The three-member board said in a statement Tuesday it was satisfied the plan, which includes drawings for a half-mile bridge near Salcha across the Tanana River, would provide safe and reliable year-round freight options and access to vast military training grounds.

Happy 2010! May this be a prosperous and wonderful New Year!