Fire Island Wind Project Set for July Transport

Officials with Cook Inlet Region Inc. say work is progressing on the Alaska Native regional corporation's Fire Island wind power project.
   
Project manager Pete Stewart says construction of roads and turbine foundations began in May on the island and transmission construction started in January. He says the 11 turbines are at the Port of Anchorage and set for July transport to the island, three miles offshore.
   
Stewart says CIRI expects the project to be fully operational by Sept. 30.
   
Last year, regulators approved a 25-year agreement for Chugach Electric Association to buy Fire Island wind power.
   
Stewart says the power supplied to Chugach will be enough to power a yearly average of 3,000 households.
   
Altogether, the 11 turbines will be able to produce a maximum of 17.6 megawatts of electricity.