HomeMy WebLinkAboutD3 Letter of support
TEL. 907-586-1432 www.ccthita.org TOLL FREE 800-344-1432
CENTRAL COUNCIL
Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
Office of the President
Andrew Hope Building
320 West Willoughby Avenue • Suite 300
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1726
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:
The Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Central Council) writes in support
of the IPEC geothermal grant application for the Hoonah and Tenakee geothermal project. The
Central Council is the federally recognized tribe of Tlingit and Haida Indians in Southeast Alaska
representing more than 26,000 tribal members. As the Tribe, we are concerned about the
continued extraordinary energy costs within our rural Southeast communities, including the
village of Hoonah. Inside Passage Electric Cooperative (IPEC) is the only utility in Hoonah.
IPEC’s electricity is entirely generated by diesel generators. Because the diesel prices have been
extremely expensive and unpredictable it has created an extreme burden on the Hoonah
community residents and businesses.
The Central Council supports IPEC’s AEA geothermal grant application and asks AEA to award
the geothermal grant to them. If proven to be a viable geothermal project, IPEC anticipates
serving both Hoonah and Tenakee with the reliable source of energy. The grant will enable the
parties to take the first step in ascertaining the viability of the geothermal site. IPEC’s geothermal
grant application should receive the AEA award to assist rural communities in their efforts to shift
from expensive diesel fuel dependency to renewable energy. If you have any questions please feel
free to contact me. Thank you very much for your consideration in assisting Hoonah and Tenakee
with renewable alternatives to diesel energy.
Sincerely,
William E. Martin
President