Assembly pushes back vote on power ordinance

July 20, 2007

By Russell Stigall/Frontiersman

MAT-SU - The Mat-Su Borough Assembly needs more time and information before voting on a proposed electrical generation ordinance.

Assembly members Robert Wells and Bill Allen argued Tuesday that the ordinance had moved too fast through the process and more time is needed to research and understand the implications of regulating future construction of power plants. They also want time to bring in help from outside experts.

Assembly members voted 5-2 to postpone the ordinance, with Michelle Church and Cindy Bettine opposing. The ordinance will come before the assembly again for a vote on Aug. 28. A special work session and public hearing is scheduled for Aug. 22.

The ordinance requires builders of electric generation facilities 20 megawatts or larger in size to document their impacts on the land, air, water, wildlife, culture and population.

The ordinance was requested by Borough Assembly members Tom Kluberton and Bill Allen, and drafted by Borough Manager John Duffy. Kluberton has said he requested the ordinance as a response to residents' concerns about local electric cooperative Matanuska Electric Association's plans to build a coal-fired electric generator within the Mat-Su Valley.

Matanuska Electric Association plans to build 200 megawatts of new electric generation by 2015. MEA now purchases most of its power from Chugach Electric Association. At the end of 2014, MEA will end its wholesale power contract with Chugach.

MEA spokesperson Lorali Carter has said that the co-op must break from Chugach Electric to provide inexpensive, reliable power to MEA member owners. MEA bases its message on findings by engineering consultant CH2M Hill that power generation built near the end users provides better reliability. It is also based on allegations by Matanuska Electric that Chugach Electric is in financial trouble.

The co-op has selected as the preferred site for its 100-megawatt coal-fired plant and 100-megawatt gas-fired plant the gravel pit south of the Glenn Highway at Mile 37.

About 40 people spoke during Tuesday's public hearing. Three quarters of those spoke in favor of the ordinance. Those in favor say the ordinance would protect Borough residents from the environmental, financial, and democratic and social harm that MEA's project could cause.

Opponents of the ordinance say it would cost MEA too much to meet the regulatory requirements, that the ordinance is mostly redundant to federal and state regulations, that the Borough is stepping outside its bounds and that by being based on an ordinance from California, the Borough's version is ill-suited for the Valley.

Borough Manager John Duffy said the ordinance also draws upon legislation from Chicago, Florida, Denali North Star Borough, Anchorage and Washington.

Contact Russell Stigall at 352-2267 or russell.stigall@frontiersman.com.