Electrical Power for Valdez and the Copper River Basin-1981

Biomass-FiredAlthough of many forms, biomass, for current applications, assumes theburning of wood and wood residues in steamplants. The pulp mills inSoutheast Alaska burn mill waste as part of their process, but verylittle has been done to inventory biomass generation possibilitiesstatewide.Biomass-fired steamplants may be a possibility if wood is proved available.However, because of the limited state-of-the-art and lack oflocal studies, they are not, at this time, considered an alternative toAllison Creek.SolarThe state-of-the-art also eliminates solar as alternative to AllisonCreek hydro. The solar boiler technology for steamplant power is stillin the development stage. Also, sun incidence during high energy usageis low in the Valdez/Glennallen area.NuclearThe economics of nuclear steamplants preclude this as a possibility inthe ValdeZ/Glennallen area. Nuclear plants, apart from questionablesociability, require a minimum 200 MW to 400 MW for economic feasibility.This is too large for the area.Combustion or Gas TurbinesBecause of their relatively low capital costs, continued use of oilfiredcombustion turbines could be an alternative to Allison Creek.However, escalating fuel cost and national objectives for use of petroleumpreclude this option. Alternative cost comparisons are thereforenot pursued.DieselsOther than one small gas turbine installed in 1976, diesels now supplyall electric power and energy requirements in ValdeZ/Glennallen. Mostof these will most like.ly be on standby service when Solomon Gulch hydrocomes on line in the early 1980's.If oil conservation and high costs were not factors, bringing thesediesels off standby status and adding more would be a likely alternativeto Allison Creek. However, by the time additional capacity is needed,diesels are expected to be allowed only if no other alternative isavailable.Geothermal PowerplantsThe most promising geothermal sites in Southcentral Alaska occur in theWrangell Mountains near Glennallen. This may be a source of electricpower and energy for the ValdeZ/Glennallen area for the long-term.25