A local developer has applied for a conditional use permit to build a $4-$7 million hydroelectric plant at Walker Lake, about 30 miles northwest of Haines.
According to the conditional use permit application submitted by Southern Energy Inc. last month, the hydro project is estimated to produce about 3,600 megwatt-hours annually. That’s about 13 percent of the annual consumption of Haines and Skagway combined, according to figures provided by Alaska Power and Telephone power manager Darren Belisle.
Southern Energy is owned by Haines resident John Floreske. Floreske’s spokesperson Darrell Maple submitted the conditional use permit application.
“The provision of additional hydroelectric power will be a benefit (to) the Haines residents by decreasing reliance on diesel generation and (by providing) supplemental lower-cost hydro,” Maple wrote.
Belisle said Southern Energy hasn’t reached out to Alaska Power and Telephone about selling Walker Lake’s generated power to the company. “I believe he is looking to sell to Klukwan or if the mine goes through up there.”
Floreske did not respond to calls for comment.
The project would build two, 15-foot wide rock-filled dams, 250 feet and 325 feet in length, and increase the area of the lake from 160 to 180 acres. The lake lies eight miles west of Wells Bridge and drains into the Little Salmon River.
The Haines Borough Planning Commission will take up the permit application at its Thursday, Feb. 11, meeting.
Southern Energy has secured an Army Corps of Engineers permit for the Walker Lake project, which is effective through Jan. 31, 2018.
Floreske battled Tlingit and Haida Regional Electric Authority for years over which entity should get a preliminary permit from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the Walker Lake project.