Agenda alaska regional meeting

Alaska Energy Authority, Alaska Power Association & Southeast Conference

Centennial Hall

Sitka, Alaska

August 21 -23, 2012
MEETING OVERVIEW & HIGHLIGHTS
August 20 - Evening Informal Welcome Reception at the Raptor Center – 5:30 PM
August 21 - Full Day Meeting
August 21 - Networking Boat Tour – 6:00 PM
August 22 - Full Day Meeting
August 23 - 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Department of the Interior & FERC Small / Low Impact Hydro Workshop
August 23 - 1:30 PM through 4:00 PM – Tour of Sitka's Blue Lake Hydroelectric Project

AUGUST 20, 2012
5:30 – 6:30 PM Evening Informal Welcome Reception - Raptor Center

• 
  Facility Tour and Networking
  

• 
  City and Borough of Sitka – Cheryl Westover, Mayor
  
• 
  Senator Bert Stedman – Senate District: A - Sitka
  
• 
  Alaska Energy Authority – Sara Fisher-Goad, Executive Director
  
• 
  Alaska Power Association – Marilyn Leland, Executive Director
  
• 
  Southeast Conference – Robert Venables, Energy Coordinator
  

Take a virtual tour to see energy projects underway throughout Alaska from Metlakatla to

King Cove, to the Arctic.


11:45 – 1:00 PM Luncheon Keynote Panel – Staff from Sens. Murkowski, Begich, and Rep. Young


1:00 – 2:00 PM FERC Roundtable – Moderator, Chuck Sensiba, Van Ness Feldman

Understanding the FERC licensing process including the ILP, TLP and ALP and which one is right for your project. How to stay in compliance with your FERC license and what to do if FERC says you are not.

• 
  FERC – Jennifer Hill
  

• 
  MWH Global – Kirby Gilbert
  
• 
  Van Ness Feldman, P.C. – John Clements
  

Agency representatives share with participants their role in the pre-filing, license processing, and post-issuance long-term compliance activities associated with FERC-licensed projects. Discussions to include licensing challenges and ways developers can work more closely with them on discussions regarding agency proposed terms and conditions.

• 
  Alaska Department of Fish & Game [ADF&G] – Shawn Johnson
  
• 
  Alaska Department of Natural Resources [ADNR] - Water Rights - Kristina Plett
  
• 
  U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service - Alaska Field Office – Bill Hanson
  
• 
  U. S. Army Corps of Engineers - Linda Speerstra
  

There is a strong desire on the part of Alaska Native Corporations and Isolated Communities/Villages to develop renewable energy resources to displace current reliance on high-cost diesel-fired generation. This panel includes discussion of development of Regional Energy Plans, development of new hydropower projects, and need to reduce cost of power to retain economic development and provide jobs.

• 
  Alaska Village Electric Cooperative – Meera Kohler, CEO
  
• 
  CEC+EYAK - Shared Use of Access to Accomplish Win/Win Solution – Angela Arnold, EYAK Corporation, Lands Manager
  
• 
  Inside Passage Electric Cooperative, Inc. – Jodi Mitchell, CEO & General Manager
  
• 
  Nuvista Light & Electric Cooperative, Inc. – Calista AVCP Regional Energy Plan & Role of Proposed Chikuminuk Hydro Project – Elaine Brown, Executive Director
  

This discussion will focus on "lessons learned" during licensing that facilitate moving into final design and construction in a seamless fashion

• 
  Terror Lake Project - Kodiak Electric Association - Installation of a third generating unit in an existing powerhouse -  Joe Earsley, Hatch
  
• 
  Blue  Lake Project - Sitka Electric Department - Environmental & engineering challenges associated with a major dam raise and powerhouse modification -  Mike Prewitt, Consultant to Sitka
  
• 
  Kasidaya Project - Alaska Power & Telephone - Resolving issues and lessons learned– Bob Grimm, President and CEO
  
• 
  Humpback Creek Project - Cordova Electric Cooperative, Inc. - Successful Amendment to License proceeding through construction - Clay Koplin, CEO
  

• 
  Governor's Permitting Initiative – Tom Crafford,  Director,  Office of Project Management and Permitting, Alaska Dept. of Natural Resources
  
• 
  Implementing Demand Side Management while planning next increment of hydro - How does one calculate the increased cost of the alternative - primarily diesel generation? What does the planning horizon look like? – Clay Koplin, Cordova Electric Cooperative
  
• 
  The Promise of New Technology: HVDC - will it provide the "silver bullet" for Takatz – Mike Carson Arizona State
  

Addressing the challenge of lack of transmission infrastructure – electric utilities and communities coming together to shape the future

• 
  Overview from the Federal Perspective – Bill Holmes, Stoel Rives
  
• 
  Next Steps in the Southern Southeast Alaska Interconnections – Eric Wolfe, SEAPA
  
• 
  HVDC - PolarConsult - Denali Commission Grant - Golden Valley – Joel Groves, PolarConsult
  
• 
  Bringing Hydroelectric Power to Communities in “the Bush” – Christine Klein, Calista Corp
  

• 
  AEA Geothermal, Hydrokinetic, Emerging Energy Technologies – Alan Baldivieso, Program Manager
  
• 
  FERC Initiatives - Small Hydro Initiative – Shana Murray, FERC
  
• 
  FERC Exemption Process: Tazmina Project – George Hornberger, General Manager, Iliamna Newhalen, Nondalton Electric Cooperative
  

• 
  Overview of Project and Engineering Issues – Wayne Dyok, AEA
  
• 
  Overview of Environmental Studies – Betsy McGregor, AEA
  

• 
  Alaska Legislative Initiatives to Fund Energy Projects – Sen. Bert Stedman
  
• 
  Alaska's Implementation of Energy Policy & Programs – Sara Fisher-Goad, Executive Dir. AEA
  

Looking around the room we see that a large portion of people active in the hydro business are nearing retirement age. How, as an industry, do we capture the depth and wealth of knowledge and expertise and mentor a new hydro generation?

• 
  Alaska Energy Authority – Audrey Alstrom, Asst. Hydro Project Manager
  
• 
  City of Sitka – David Reid, Alaska Department of Labor
  
• 
  Alaska Electric Light & Power – Scott Willis, Vice President and Engineering Manager
  
• 
  McMillen, LLC - Catrin van Donkelaar – Manager, Canadian Operations
  
• 
  HDR Engineering, Inc. – Jenna Borovansky – Energy NextGen Program
  

• 
  Wrap-up of what was shared / learned in the Sitka meeting
  
• 
  Next year
  
• 
  Adjourn to Networking Opportunities & Tours Around Sitka
  

The purpose of this workshop is to share information with prospective developers on tools the Commission has recently made available on preparing small hydropower project applications.  Specifically, the workshop will walk participants through the licensing and exemption processes using the FERC Small/Low-Impact Hydropower program website.  Additionally, participants will learn how to get more information and assistance from FERC staff and ask questions.  The workshop will also include participation from the Department of the Interior and other entities regarding their involvement in the review of hydropower licenses and exemptions.