At National Hydropower Association’s (NHA) upcoming Alaska Regional Meeting in Anchorage (May 20-21), hosted by Chugach Electric Association, Inc., the exciting state of Alaskan water power development is on the agenda.

Hydropower is Alaska’s largest renewable, supplying more than 20% of the state’s electrical energy in an average water year. With fifty operating utility-scale hydroelectric projects in Alaska, the technology’s reliability is a cornerstone of the state’s energy mixture.

NHA’s Alaska regional meetings also offers an exclusive tour opportunity for attendees. This year, Chugach Electric Association, Inc. is providing a tour of the 40 MW Eklutna Hydroelectric Project, which provides power to almost 25,000 Alaskan homes each year!

Additionally, this year’s Alaska Regional Meeting is timed to coincide with the Alaska Governor’s Sustainable Energy Conference. The conference, designed to showcase Alaska’s energy potential, provides an opportunity for researchers, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs to join together to discuss the future of energy, with Alaska’s unparalleled beauty as the backdrop. NHA has coordinated directly with the Governor’s Office to ensure water power professionals can attend both events in one Anchorage trip!

Anchorage, Alaska’s skyline. (Photo Credit – Frank K. / Wikimedia)

EKLUTNA HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT

On Wednesday, May 20, from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM AST, attendees will have the opportunity to tour the Eklutna Hydroelectric Project, constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation, this project is located in Southcentral Alaska and has served as an essential energy resource since 1955.

In 1997, the project was sold to Chugach Electric Association, Matanuska Electric Association, and the Municipality of Anchorage following a federal purchase agreement. As part of a 1991 agreement, the project owners were required to assess and address the project’s impact on fish and wildlife every 35 years, balancing environmental concerns with community needs.

Eklutna Hydroelectric Project is an embankment dam that stands 26 ft high and 555 ft long, and it is powered by two 23.5 MW Francis turbine-generators; Chugach’s effective share is 64.3 percent, up to 25.7 MW. Additionally, the reservoir created by the dam, Eklutna Lake, covers 3,247 acres and is 7 miles long; the reservoir holds 182,000 acre feet of water.

Eklutna Power Plant located on Alaska’s Knik River. (Photo Credit – Chugach Electric Association)

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Alaska Regional Meeting attendees interested in signing up for the tour can learn more here.

If you have questions about the Alaska Regional Meeting, please reach out to Caroline Herman at [email protected].