Cordova is windy, especially in winter. And winter is when Cordova needs more electrical power. The cheap, clean electricity produced by CEC's hydroelectric facilities shuts down during the winter and we depend on diesel generators for most of our electricity. NVE believes wind energy is one part of the solution, and has been pursuing a wind energy facility on tribal lands to help alleviate the high cost of energy in Cordova.

In 2007, NVE received a met tower (a device used to test wind speed, direction, turbulence, and air temperature) through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL) anemometer loan program. The anemometer was erected on Eyak Corporation lands at Pt. Whitshed. After 2 years of data were collected, NREL analyzed the results and classified the location as a Class 4 wind resource. Wind resources are numbered between 1 and 7, with Class 1 the lowest and Class 7 the highest. Class 4-5 wind resources are considered ideal for wind utility development in Alaska. Higher class wind resources tend to blow too much, forcing the turbines to stop spinning and reducing overall power generation. In addition, they risk damaging the turbines, which can lead to an expensive and lengthy repair process in rural Alaska.

Read the NREL report and economic analysis here.

In 2009, NVE recieved a grant from the Department of Energy to continue feasibility studies of a wind utility. The feasibility study will include using an anemometer to test alternative sites, testing potential impacts of a wind project on wildlife, project design and cost estimates, intertie issues with the existing electrical grid, and project permitting. We anticipate funding for the feasibility study will be released in fall 2010, and the project will move forward after the initial hire of a wind energy project manager. In the meantime, contact Clark Pearson at 424-7738 for more information.