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Released July 21, 2014 | SUGAR LAND
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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Alaska is one of nine states involved in a lawsuit opposing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean Power Plan. Industrial Info is looking at these states in more detail.
For more information, see July 10, 2014, article - Nine States Join Lawsuit Opposing EPA Carbon Rules.
Alaska has five active plants that use coal as their primary fuel, directly employing about 300 people. Four of these plants are power plants, including a facility at the University of Alaska. The fifth is a coal mine owned by Usibelli Coal Mine Incorporated (Fairbanks, Alaska). Click the on links below to view profiles of the first three plants, including units, boilers and project information:
Alaska Power's plants are an average 58 years old. This is same as the average age for plants that were retired in 2010, and higher than the average age of those retired in 2012 (51 years).
With so few coal-fired power plants, one may wonder why is Alaska part of the suit against the EPA's Clean Power Plan. It is unlikely to be about any economic impact from power plant closures. In contrast with Alabama, which was highlighted in the previous article in this series, Alaska's population is less than 1 million, while Alabama's is close to 5 million. This explains the difference in the number of plants needed: Alabama has 15 active coal-fired plants, generating more than 13,000 MW and supporting thousands of jobs, while Alaska's coal-fired plants generate a combined 103 MW and support less than 500 jobs.
Alaska's opposition to the Clean Power Plan likely comes from the coal-mining industry. According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, the combined measured, indicated, inferred and hypothetical coal resources in Alaska are estimated to be 5,526 billion short tons (5,012 billion metric tons), which is 40% more than the total for the continental U.S. If the majority of coal-fired power plants in the continental U.S. shut down, Alaska's coal-mining industry will no longer have access to a major market.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, three offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.
For more information, see July 10, 2014, article - Nine States Join Lawsuit Opposing EPA Carbon Rules.
Alaska has five active plants that use coal as their primary fuel, directly employing about 300 people. Four of these plants are power plants, including a facility at the University of Alaska. The fifth is a coal mine owned by Usibelli Coal Mine Incorporated (Fairbanks, Alaska). Click the on links below to view profiles of the first three plants, including units, boilers and project information:
- Chena Cogeneration; owned by Aurora Energy LLC; 53.5-MW capacity; first operational in 1951.
- Fort Wainwright Cogeneration; owned by Doyon Utilities LLC; 22.5-MW capacity; first operational in 1955.
- Healy Power Station; owned by Golden Valley Electric Association Incorporated; 28-MW capacity; first operational in 1967.
Alaska Power's plants are an average 58 years old. This is same as the average age for plants that were retired in 2010, and higher than the average age of those retired in 2012 (51 years).
With so few coal-fired power plants, one may wonder why is Alaska part of the suit against the EPA's Clean Power Plan. It is unlikely to be about any economic impact from power plant closures. In contrast with Alabama, which was highlighted in the previous article in this series, Alaska's population is less than 1 million, while Alabama's is close to 5 million. This explains the difference in the number of plants needed: Alabama has 15 active coal-fired plants, generating more than 13,000 MW and supporting thousands of jobs, while Alaska's coal-fired plants generate a combined 103 MW and support less than 500 jobs.
Alaska's opposition to the Clean Power Plan likely comes from the coal-mining industry. According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, the combined measured, indicated, inferred and hypothetical coal resources in Alaska are estimated to be 5,526 billion short tons (5,012 billion metric tons), which is 40% more than the total for the continental U.S. If the majority of coal-fired power plants in the continental U.S. shut down, Alaska's coal-mining industry will no longer have access to a major market.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, three offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.
