HomeMy WebLinkAboutLETTER OF SUPPORT - CookInletRegionalCitizensAdvisoryCouncil_12222022"The mission of the Council is to represent the citizens of Cook Inlet in promoting environmentally
safe marine transportation and oil facility operations in Cook Inlet. "
R C A C
December 22, 2022
Members
Mr. Curtis Thayer
Alaska Energy Authority
Tourism
813 W. Northern Lights Blvd
Group
Anchorage, AK 99503
Alaska Native
Group
RE: Support for HEA's Application for Offshore Wind Exploration at Hilcorp's
Platforms in Middle Ground Shoal
Environmental
Group
Mr. Thayer,
Recreation
We are writing in support of the Homer Electric Association, Inc. (HEA) grant
Group
application to the Alaska Energy Authority's Renewable Energy Fund for studying the
potential for locating an offshore wind turbine at a Middle Ground Shoal (MGS)
Aquaculture
platform.
Associations
Cook Inlet RCAC is a nonprofit organization formed under the Oil Pollution Act of
Commercial
1990 (OPA 90) to provide citizen oversight of oil industry operations in Cook Inlet.
Fishing
Group
This project has great promise to confirm the potential for lower energy costs from a
sustainable source. We see other notable public benefits that also align with CIRCAC's
mission and work in Cook Inlet. One specific example is the ice monitoring cameras
City of Kodiak
currently installed on three Cook Inlet platforms, including two cameras on one MGS
platform. These cameras provide streaming, high -definition images of ice concentrations
City of Kenai
and movement to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Ice Analyst
to aid navigational safety.
City of Seldovia
We see immense value in continued investment in this infrastructure, thereby sustaining
the support industry, also a valuable job producer. This project will also provide
City of Homer
offshore infrastructure for other renewable energy opportunities like tidal power and the
collection of valuable information for further potential -use studies extending to other
platforms and infrastructure here and elsewhere. In addition to new data that researchers
Kodiak Island
can use to better understand Cook Inlet's dynamic marine environment, platform
Borough
infrastructure may facilitate an expanded communications network through additional
locations and support infrastructure for cellular or microwave towers. These possibilities
Kenai Peninsula
bring the potential for additional jobs to the Kenai Peninsula and Alaska.
Borough
Furthermore, investing in projects that prolong the useful life of these platforms means
Municipality of
continued navigational safety for ships transiting Cook Inlet during the ice season by
Anchorage
providing stationary ice breakers.
Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council * 8195 Kenai Spur Hwy, Kenai, AK 99611-8033
Phone: (907) 283-7222 * Fax (907) 283-6102
www.eireac.org
"The mission of the Council is to represent the citizens of Cook Inlet in promoting environmentally
safe marine transportation and oil facility operations in Cook Inlet."
For decades, Cook Inlet's oil platforms have performed their intended and unintended
duties admirably. Therefore, we support this effort to maintain the beneficial use of
Cook Inlet's offshore platforms, to ensure the safety and public benefit they provide.
Regards,
7b�
Michael Munger,
Executive Director
Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council * 8195 Kenai Spur Hwy, Kenai, AK 99611-8033
Phone: (907) 283-7222 * Fax (907) 283-6102
www. circac.ore