Electrical Power for Valdez and the Copper River Basin-1981

increases. Municipal construction has been perhaps the major vehicle ofeconomic stability in the last two years. Three municipal buildings,port and airport improvements, and the start of Solomon Gulch hydroprojecthave been the major activities. Along with "gearing-up" for the proposedALPETCO refinery, the city is working towards re-establishing its preearthquakestatus as a significant port for more than oil tankers. Noindications point towards a future economic downturn for Valdez.Glennallen and its neighboring towns are crossroad and tourist dependentplaces. Interior Alaska government functions also contribute to theeconomy. The pipeline activity had a definite influence but not assevere as in Valdez. No definite activities appear in the offing toalter the area economy. The proposed gas pipeline in the Alaska highwaycorridor is not within commuting distance of Glennallen; so its impactis expected to be minimal to negligible. Recent oil exploration activitynear the area appears now to be small and uncertain. The Glennallenarea will expand with the state tourism industry.Population and EmploymentAvailable demographic statistics do not separate Valdez and Glennallen.Statewide data is disaggregated into census divisions and both placesare included in the Valdez-Chitina-Whittier census division.Table 111-1 shows annual historic values of population, employment, andhousing starts, which come from Alaska Department of Labor and Departmentof Housing and Urban Development publications (see bibliography items 2,7,14,16).The peak of Valdez pipeline terminal construction, the dip at the end ofconstruction, and the increase with recent construction activity clearlyshow in the employment statistics. Preliminary 1979 data indicatespopulation decline has leveled off. Housing starts also indicate anincrease, from 14 starts in 1978 to 29 starts in 1979.Overall, it appears the pipeline boom-bust cycle left Valdez on a somewhathigher economic plane than before the pipeline. The future outlook iscontinuing moderate (compared to pipeline construction years) growthuntil the ALPETCO installation is completed, then steady but smallergrowth at least to the year 2000. The Environmental Protection AgencyEnvironmental Impact Statement of December 1979 estimates 2,800 employeesmay be needed at ALPETCO construction peak and 1,200 for operations.9