HomeMy WebLinkAboutPolarconsult Alaska Inc Support Letter 2008polarconsult alaska, mincl
yYENGINEERS - SURVEYORS - ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
September 20, 2008
Native Village of Cantwell
907-768-2591 Office
907-768-1111 Fax
hallvc@mtaonline.net
Dear Mr. Arnel Hemadez
Doug Ott, Alaska Power Authority and I made a field trip this summer and looked at the
Jack River Project. Based on our field trip and analysis of stream flows from nearby
basins I have come to the following conclusions.
1. The Jack River Hydro project appears to have merit. The stream is large and the area
where a dam would be built appears to be stable sound material and relatively narrow.
The location has the substantial advantage of being close to the Anchorage -Fairbanks
intertie and a substation.
2. GVEA is planning to install wind.turbines in the hills north of Healy. This hydro with
a short penstock and potential storage could help stabilize these turbines.
3. The negatives are that a mine mouth coal plant may be able in the short run to deliver
energy for less money. Also building a dam can entail significant costs and this is the
only apparent way this project will be of real value.
I believe the Jack River project merits a feasibility study and recommend funding for the
study and that you make a grant request from the Alaska Renewable Energy Fund. As a
result of the dam requirements, the minimum fund request should be in excess of 100,000
dollars and it would be better if it were higher say from 150,000 to 200,000 dollars.
Mapping; and geologic work has to be done to arrive at reasonably accurate costs of this
project. Project costs are needed to do an economic analysis. Further, stream gaging is
needed. This is a larger stream and will need robust gear to do a good job of it, and it may
require specialized equipment to develop a good rating curve.
Since ely yours;
Earle Ausman, PE
President and Chief Energy Engineer
CC: Doug Ott