The Ahtna region has documented and abundant renewable, alternative and fossil fuel energy resources that can be used to increase economic development, energy security and decrease energy prices.
The Ahtna region is endowed with a wide range of energy opportunities, including extensive and diverse biomass; hydro potential that ranges from run-of-river and low impact high-lead traditional massive dams; village scale micro, wind-hybrid turbines; in-stream hydro potential; and geothermal potential.
Ahtna, Incorporated would like to thank all of the stakeholders, sponsors, and participants of the 2012 Copper River Basin Regional Energy Conference, especially our organizing partners, the Alaska Energy Authority and Copper Valley Development Association.
This energy conference was held March 14-16 at the Glennallen High School in Glennallen. The event was planned to kick off the creation of a regional energy plan for the Copper Valley area, and as such, will involve all applicable stakeholders, including utilities, schools, private businesses, goverment agencies, etc.
Presentation topics during the conference included discussions on alternative energies such as solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, weatherization, and biomass, as well as project development, securing adequate financing and performance of reconnaissance and feasibility studies.
Pictured, left to right: Michelle Anderson, President of Ahtna, Inc.; Bob Walsh;
and Jason Hoke, Executive Director of CVDA
- Click on the links for the appropriate presentations.
› Day 1, March 14, Presentations
The below presentations were given on the first day of the conference and centered on Biomass, including discussion on the many types of biomass products, the actual process of creating energy and heat, supply availability within the region, effective methods of harvesting, and a number of other things:
› Day 2, March 15, Presentations
The below presentations were given on the 2nd day of the conference and were centered on Renewable Energies, such as available solar, hydro, geothermal, wind, etc. energy sources within the region and throughout Alaska:
› Day 3, March 16, Presentations
The below presentations were given on the last day of the conference and were centered on Project Development and Feasibility:
Pictured, left to right: Biomass Panel - Thomas Deerfield, Peter Crimp, Bill Wall,
and Glenn Holt
| Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) |
| Ahtna, Incorporated |
| Copper Valley Development Association (CVDA) |
| Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) |
| US Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory |
| Copper Valley Electric Association (CVEA) |
| Copper Valley Telephone |
| Wells Fargo Bank |
| Crowley |
| Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry |
Glennallen Improvement Corporation |
| Alaska Power & Telephone |
Glenn-Rich Fire and Rescue |
| Bureau of Land Management |
Gulkana Village Corporation (SVO) |
| Cantwell Village Corporation (SVO) |
Gulkana Village Council |
| Cheesh-Na Tribal Council |
Kenny Lake League |
| Chistochina Village Corporation (SVO) |
Kluti-Kaah Village Corporation (SVO) |
| Chitina Electric |
McCarthy Community Association |
| Chitina Native Corporation |
Mentasta Tribal Council |
| Chitina Village Council |
Mentasta Village Corporation (SVO) |
| Copper Center Community Association |
Mount Sanford Tribal Consortium |
| Copper River Basin Housing Authority |
National Park Service |
| Copper River Native Association |
Native Village of Cantwell |
| Copper River School District |
Native Village of Kluti-Kaah |
| Copper Valley Development Association |
Native Village of Tazlina |
| Copper Valley Electric Association |
Nelchina/Mendeltna Corporation |
| Gakona Village Corporation (SVO) |
Paxson Community Affairs |
| Gakona Village Council |
Slana Community Corporation |
| Gakona Volunteer Fire Department |
Tazlina Village Corporation (SVO) |
| Gateway School District |
Tolsona Community Corporation |
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources indicates that wood availability in the Ahtna region is high and is comprised of Open Spruce and Closed Mixed Forest including white and black spruce, paper birch, balsam poplar and quaking aspen. Estimates of available biomass within the region are approximately 3 million tons, which can replace all of the residences and businesses using fossil fuels in the region for 150 years on a sustainable basis.
A wind map of the Ahtna region generally indicates low probability of wind production on a commercial scale however; there are several areas with a high wind to power ratio which should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
There are currently several solar applications within the Ahtna region. An Alaska Energy Authority report describes the abundance of solar energy in the region due to the abundance of sunlight and concludes that photovoltaic systems and hot water systems are the most applicable to the region.
There are known geothermal resources in the Wrangell-St. Elias Mountains and in the Glennallen area. A geothermal map of the Ahtna region is at http://geothermal.inel.gov/maps/ak.pdf
A Division of Geological and Geophysical Survey Public-data File report 85-31 A Preliminary Report on the Investigation of Geothermal Energy Resource Potential of the Eastern Copper River Basin, Alaska concluded there were three areas of interest to be further reviewed: The Tolsona mud volcanoes; the Klawasi mud volcanoes- hot spring; and a third area near the confluence of the Tazlina and Copper Rivers. The third area is located on the highway system and the report recommended that it be the first area further explored.
After much anticipation Pan American drilled the first oil well in 1963 approximately 11-miles west of Glennallen. The well encountered several hundred gross feet lower Cretaceous-aged Nelchina sandstone, which yielded natural gas shows and high water flows indicating that the rock formation had the necessary porosity to hold fluid; the permeability to produce the fluids; and that the surrounding rock had high organic content that had undergone the necessary heat and pressure to generate hydrocarbons.
Several more attempts were made specifically for the location of natural gas from 2007-2009. The third attempt in 2009 located natural gas at approximately 4000 feet which tested at 94% methane. Unfortunately during the third attempt fractured rock was encountered and resulted in water from a shallower zone to flow into the well inhibiting any gas flow from the upper Nelchina sand interval.
More recently Ahtna reprocessed all the seismic data performed in the region using modern technology and identified large gas zones associated with the presence of thick Nelchina sandstone intervals.
A large coal field in the western Ahtna region contains low rank coal deposits in individual seams up to 30 feet thick at depths of 700 to 2,000 feet.
A smaller field located adjacent to the Parks Highway at milepost 192. This site was utilized by the Alaska Railroad in the mid-1920s and the preliminary reports indicate the coal in this area is similar in characteristics of the coal deposit near Healy.
Approximately 60% of the electricity produced in the Ahtna region is produced from hydro. Many large scale hydro projects have been assessed over the course of the previous 50 years. However; many projects were less than 2 megawatts. Hydro opportunities within the region need to be further identified and evaluated.
For more information or if you have any questions, please contact:
Joe Bovee, Land & Resource Manager
Ahtna, Inc.
P.O. Box 649
Glennallen, AK 99588
Phone: (907) 822-3476
Fax: (907) 822-3495
jbovee@ahtna-inc.com
