Pitka’s Point/Saint Mary’s Wind Energy Construction Project Award Number: DE-EE0000035 CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.6 Office of Indian Energy Date: 11/17/2016 Location(s): AK Office(s): Golden Field Officer
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
November 30, 2016
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Pitka’s Point/Saint Mary’s Wind Energy Construction Project
Award Number: DE-EE0000035
CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.6
Office of Indian Energy
Date: 11/17/2016
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. A previous NEPA Determination (GFO-0000035-001; A9; 07/14/16) was completed for Task 1 activities. This NEPA Determination is for all remaining tasks of the project.
Due to the height of the proposed turbine (259 feet) and the proximity to the St. Mary’s airport (approximately two miles), AVEC submitted project information to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for an Obstruction Evaluation/Airport Airspace Analysis. The FAA completed an aeronautical study of the wind turbine at the project location and found that the structure would not be a hazard to air navigation with the installation of lighting that meets FAA standards and issued a Determination of No Hazard (2016-WTW-4350-OE) on October 6, 2016.