AEA files revised study plan for Susitna

The Alaska Energy Authority said Dec. 17 that it has filed a revised study plan for Susitna-Watana Hydro with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which is responsible for licensing non-federal hydroelectric projects.

Fifty-eight studies — the environmental fieldwork for the next two years — are outlined in the plan.

AEA Executive Director Sara Fisher-Goad said the revised study plan “is the culmination of nearly a year’s worth of work.” She said the study effort moves AEA closer to filing for a FERC license in 2015 “and helps provide the balance between the need for long-term power and environmental concerns.”

The revised study plan triggered a FERC public comment period, which runs through Jan. 18. AEA said comments are accepted online at www.FERC.gov for docket number P-14241. The budget released by Gov. Sean Parnell Dec. 14 included $95 million for Susitna-Watana Hydro. AEA said the funding would be used for environmental field work, geotechnical investigations and engineering design through fiscal year 2014.

AEA filed a proposed study plan with FERC in July covering nearly 186,000 acres surrounding the project site. A decision on the study plan is expected by spring and AEA said it hopes to begin conducting the studies in 2013.

Parnell announced start of work on the $4.5 billion, 600-megawatt hydroelectric power plant at Watana on the upper Susitna River in July 2011, following authorization by the Legislature earlier that year for AEA to pursue the project and allocation of $66 million for initial project work.

—Petroleum News