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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2- Kootznoowoo Resolutions E (11-04)KOOTZNOOWOO INCORPORATED RESOLUTION 11-04 AUTHORIZING APPLICATION TO THE STATE OF ALASKA ENERGY AUTHORITY RENEWABLE ENERGY GRANT FUNDS FOR POWERLINE AND GENERATION FACILITIES IN ANGOON, ALASKA WHEREAS, the State of Alaska and the Federal Government have over a number of years undertaken through their agencies, including the Alaska Energy Authority, extensive studies and commissioned reports on the Hydro -electric potential of Thayer Lake and other locations in and around Angoon, Alaska; and WHEREAS, Kootznoowoo Incorporated, owns the right to develop hydroelectric resources on Admiralty Island National Monument and the Kootznoowoo Wilderness within township 49 south, range 67 east, and township 50 south, range 67 east, Copper River Base and Meridian, subject to such conditions as the Secretary of Agriculture shall prescribe for the protection of water, fishery, wildlife, recreational, and scenic values of Admiralty Island, has requested that the USDA Forest Service prepare and complete a environment review of a plan of development prepared by HDR, Alaska dated March 2000 for the construction and operation of Thayer Lake Hydroelectric; and WHEREAS, on May 2009 Kootznoowoo Incorporated received a copy of the Forest Service final environmental impact statement which is available at the Tongass National Forest web site at the following site http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/projects/angoon hydro/index.shtml and which adds significant costs to the proposal submitted by Kootznoowoo by required buried transmission cable and a relocation of the power house resulting in a loss of head; and WHEREAS, Kootznoowoo Incorporated has received an award of approximately $1.1 million of matching funds from the U. S. Department of Energy Tribal Renewable Funds to finalize design and complete permitting requirements for a l+ mW hydroelectric project known as Thayer Lake Hydro approximately 6 miles north of Angoon, Alaska; and WHEREAS, Angoon, Alaska is a High Energy Cost Community as identified by the USDA Rural Utility Service and that the cost of electricity in Angoon is over 500% (5 times) the national average for a cost of a kilowatt hour of power; and WHEREAS, On June 1, 2009 representatives of the City of Angoon, Inside Passage Electrical Cooperative, the Southeast Conference, Angoon Community Association and the State of Alaska met with Kootznoowoo, Incorporated in Angoon, Alaska to discuss the current economic condition of the community, the cost of power and the availability of renewable energy grant funds from the State of Alaska for projects such as the overland power line described in the EIS and the power generating facility at Thayer Creek; and WHEREAS, On June 1, 2009 Kootznoowoo Incorporated was informed that the HDR. proposed project was the perfect type of project to meet the goals of the State of Alaska Renewable Energy Fund and that given the high cost of power Kootznoowoo should apply for $4,000,000 for construction of transmission line and an additional amount of $4,000,000 for the generating facility; and WHEREAS, there exists a region wide and community need for low cost power for municipal operations, residential use and much needed economic development particularly job creation which cannot occur at the current cost of power and Kootznoowoo's Thayer Creek project has received support from numerous sources including the City of Angoon, the Angoon Community Association, the Alaska Miners Association — Juneau Branch the City and Borough of Juneau, Southeast Conference; and others WHEREAS, a MOU has been entered by the City of Angoon, the Angoon Community Association and Kootznoowoo, Inc evidencing a desire to work collectively for the benefit of Angoon and the Thayer Creek project is considered the top priority with respect to economic development among the entities and there exists a need for low cost power for municipal operations, residential use and much needed economic development particularly job creation which cannot occur at the current cost of power; and WHEREAS, the USDA Forest Service has represented to Kootznoowoo that Thayer Creek Hydroelectric is the Number 1 project in the Tongass National Forest; and WHEREAS, the State of Alaska has grant funded $1,060,000 towards Thayer Creek in FY 2011-12's Capital Budget and is requesting that Kootznoowoo indicate what tax treatment it would like to receive for these funds which are designated as preconstruction and available for federal matching purposes; and NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Kootznoowoo is authorized to apply for the maximum available funding from the AEA (approximately $3,500,000 for construction of transmission line and an additional amount of $3,500,000 for the generating facility) and receive funds, appropriations, loan guarantees and make necessary financial arrangements including but not limited to meeting the requirement of the Alaska Energy Authority under the State of Alaska Renewable Energy Grant program Round V; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Manager is authorized to finalize the FY 2011 Grant from the AEA including accepting those funds as taxable to the corporation. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand as Secretary of KOOTZNOOWOO INCORPORATED and have affixed here to the official seal of said Corporation this day of 20 � KOOTZNOO WOO INCORPORATED By: Corporate Secretary