Chugach to launch community solar project; members can subscribe

Kay Cashman

Petroleum News

Installation is underway on two solar panel projects on Chugach Electric's two largest power plants. One is located at Chugach's Southcentral Power Project ON Chugach's South Campus on Electron Drive. The second is a ground-mount project located at the George M. Sullivan Power Plant on the Glenn Highway.

Each project has a name plate capacity of 85 kilowatts and are expected to be in commercial operation by the end of October.

"Our solar panel projects are relatively small yet will contribute to our overall goals of carbon reduction," said Chugach CEO Arthur Miller. "Putting solar panels on our power plants increases the efficiency of the plants and helps offset the use of natural gas."

The Chugach Board of Directors set a goal of reducing the utility's carbon intensity by at least 35% by 2030 and at least 50% by 2040, using 2012 as a baseline year without a negative material impact on members' rates or reliability.

As part of Chugach's goal to add renewable projects to its generation, solar panels are planned as part of the construction of its new Field Operations and Engineering Building on Chugach's South Campus, which will add approximately 200 kilowatts of solar capacity to the system. That project is expected to be complete by the end of 2025.

In addition to the solar panel projects on Chugach facilities, the cooperative is preparing to launch Alaska's first community solar project that will allow members to voluntarily subscribe and receive solar energy from the project. The plan is for a 500-kilowatt, four-acre community solar project with about 1,200 panels to be built next to Chugach's Retherford Substation on E. 94th Avenue, about a half mile south of the Dimond Center.

Members will be able to voluntarily subscribe to pay for 1 to 20 panels and have the energy from those panels credited to their bill.

Chugach is currently solicitating proposals for design and construction of the solar facility, with the goal of having the project complete by next summer.

To receive project updates and information on when enrollment begins, members can sign up on the Chugach website at https://www.chugachelectric.com/energy-solutions/community-solar-project.