HomeMy WebLinkAboutSouthForkSupportLetterSOUTH ♦ FORK ♦ HYDRO ♦ LLC
P.O. Box 770567, Eagle River, Alaska 99577-0567
Phone: (907) 694-4351
Fax: (907) 694-1122
September 17, 2012
MR. DAVID BRAILEY
Ram Valley, LLC
3527 North Point Drive
Anchorage, AK 99502
Subject: Support for Study of Juniper Creek Hydroelectric Project
Dear Mr. Brailey:
I am writing this letter in support of your application for a hydropower feasibility study grant for Juniper
Creek in the Eagle River Valley. I looked at Juniper Creek many years ago, and thought that it could be
developed as an environmentally benign and economic small hydro project for Eagle River and the
railbelt.
I applaud your efforts to develop a small hydro project. Based on my experience studying these projects
since the 1960s and owning and operating a small hydro for over 20 years, I know that these projects can
be more economic over the long term than other energy options available to the railbelt.
As you know, the 1.2 MW South Fork Hydro is currently under construction, and will be operational in
2013. The combined potential of Juniper, South Fork, and other economic small hydro resources in our
region likely exceeds 50 MW, with annual generation potential in excess of 200,000 MWh. This is
approximately 5 times the annual energy production at Cooper Lake, or 1/2 the annual production of
Bradley Lake.
Repr4s,
Earle Ausman, PE
South Fork Hydro, LLC