Electrical Power for Valdez and the Copper River Basin-1981

area due to a high incidence of cloud cover. The Glennallen area mayhold more promise, out it will also De limited due to reduced sunlight inthe winter. Therefore, additional study of this alternative has not beenundertaken.Wind:Research and development proposals for wind generators should improvefuture capaoilities of wind-powered electrical generating systems. Withincreased diesel fuel costs, wind-generated electrical power is a possiolea lternat i ve power source for remote areas of the State with sma 11loads. However, wind is not currently felt to De a viable alternativefor the study area. Wind is very difficult to adapt to present energydemands because it is unpredictable and erratic. To effectively utilizewind energy, winds must De of sufficient speed and long duration. Asfurther developments are made in wind power, it may prove feasiole tofeed electricity into a grid system displacing other expensive forms ofenergy; however, standoy capacity would still be required for calmperiods.Tidal:The Port of Valdez might be developed for tidal energy. The meanlower low water elevation is 0.00 feet and the mean higher high water is12.00 feet, which would provide a total gross head of 12 feet. However,such an installation would require a low dam spanning the width of theValdez Narrows (a massive cost item in itself) as well as a deep draftlock system to allow supertankers into the Port of Valdez. The dam wouldchange the entire flow regime of the Port of Valdez with a significantpotential for extensive adverse effects on major ecosystems. Furtherstudy of this alternative is not deemed justified for this report.Wood:Wood fuel, as an energy source for the load center, is limited bylocal availaoility, transportation costs, and environmental considerations.The region surrounding both Glennallen and Valdez is forested;however, in terms of ooard feet and sustained yield this resource isnoncommercial. Furthermore, the legal status of much of this land iseither unresolved or prohioited to logging. Realistically, the forestreserves of southeast Alaska would have to be utilized if wood were tomake a significant contribution to the region's power load. But likecoal, the primary oostacle ;s the cost of transportation to theValdez-Glennallen area. Other prohioitive factors include strongcompetition to maintain this resource in higher uses such as lumber,pulp, paper, and environmental concerns associated with the large scaleharvesting, and incineration of timoer. At best, it is concluded thatwood can make a modest energy contrioution to the community, most likelythrough increasing private suostitution of wood heat for oil heat. Suchfactors are considered in the discussion on conservation and the AlaskaPower Administration's marketaoility analysis.24