HomeMy WebLinkAboutD1_Sealaska Letter of Support - AEA Geothermal Grant (11-10-09)%11
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November 10, 2009
Alaska Energy Authority (AEA)
813 West Northern Lights Blvd
Anchorage, Alaska 99503
Re: IPEC Geothermal Renewable Energy Fund Grant Application - Round 3
Dear Alaska Energy Authority:
Sealaska writes in support of the IPEC geothermal grant application for the
Tenakee and Hoonah geothermal project. Sealaska Corporation is the
Southeast Alaska Native regional corporation created and authorized by the
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) with a shareholder base
exceeding 20,000 tribal members. As the regional Native corporation, we are
concerned about many rural communities throughout the Southeast region
incurring extraordinary energy costs mainly due to the high cost of diesel fuel e.g.
Hoonah's electricity is entirely diesel generated and extremely expensive due to
the high and unpredictable price of diesel.
The high price of diesel energy is not only a direct hardship on the community
residents but also its businesses. As a consequence, many of the Southeast
rural communities have declining populations with little to no business
opportunities. In the community of Hoonah the Icy Strait Point tourism retail
shops are unable to keep the retail shops at a comfortable temperature. As a
consequence, the retail tourism businesses suffer economically.
The AEA geothermal grant would provide both the Hoonah and Tenakee area
with the possibility of securing a reliable source of energy, if proved viable.
Awarding the grant will enable the team to ascertain the viability of the site to be
developed for geothermal energy for the communities of Hoonah and Tenakee.
Sealaska Corporation supports the geothermal project and requests AEA award
the grant funding. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Richard P. Harris
Executive Vice President
• One Sealaska Plaza, Suite 400, Juneau, Alaska 99801-1276 • 907.586.1512 • 907.5862304