Pitka’s Point/Saint Mary’s Wind Energy Construction Project Award Number: DE-EE0000035 CX(s) Applied: A9 Office of Indian Energy Date: 7/14/2016 Location(s): AK Office(s): Golden Field Office
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
July 20, 2016
Estimated Read Time min
Pitka’s Point/Saint Mary’s Wind Energy Construction Project
Award Number: DE-EE0000035
CX(s) Applied: A9
Office of Indian Energy
Date: 7/14/2016
Location(s): AK
Office(s): Golden Field Office
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to provide funding to the Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AVEC) for the installation of a 900 kilowatt capacity direct-drive wind turbine with associated access road and wind turbine pad near Pitka’s Point, Alaska. The wind turbine would be located approximately 2.5 miles from St. Mary’s and one mile east of Pitka’s Point on Pitka’s Point Native Corporation lands. The turbine would connect to the existing diesel power generation system serving the communities of Pitka’s Point, St. Mary’s, and Mountain Village in Alaska. Connection to the existing power generation system would be by a future planned intertie that is being completed regardless of whether the wind turbine is installed. This NEPA Determination is only for Task 1 of the approved Statement of Project Objectives because this task is foreseeably necessary to define the remainder of the project.
Due to the height of the proposed turbine and the proximity to the St. Mary’s airport, AVEC submitted project information to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for an Obstruction Evaluation/Airport Airspace Analysis. The FAA completed an initial aeronautical study finding that the turbine is a presumed hazard until further study is completed. At this time, there is not enough information to complete a thorough review of the construction and surface disturbing activities associated with the installation of the wind turbine at the proposed location. Once the FAA has completed further aeronautical study and additional details of project design and siting are completed, another NEPA review will be required to assess potential impacts associated with the construction and surface disturbing activities of the wind turbine (Tasks 2 through 5).