Planned Natural Gas Plant at Eklutna

MEA is working to build our own power generation facilities. We are very pleased to announce that we have made a critical step toward achieving that goal by an agreement that will allow us to build a natural gas power plant at Eklutna.

MEA is a not-for-profit cooperative, owned by you and your neighbors. Building a natural gas power plant at Eklutna will allow MEA to fulfill our mission of bringing reliable, affordable power to you.

In 2009, MEA acquired about 70 acres of land located northeast of the Eklutna Interchange of the Glenn Highway.

The 70 acres are divided into parcels that are re-zoned as I-3 (industrial 3, rural industrial district).

MEA's plans, include up to a 180 megawatt natural gas generation plant and related facilities. The size of the power plant may change as our research and planning progress.

The Eklutna area has been used as a power plant site in the past. In 1928, the Anchorage Light & Power Company began construction of what has become known as the "Eklutna Power Plant." It is now defunct.

A photograph showing the boundary lines as well as the Eklutna interchange.

• January 2008 MEA & Eklutna, Inc., Renew Talks On Land Availability
• March 2008 Phase I Site Assessment
• June 2008 Phase II Site Assessment
• June 2008 MEA & Eklutna, Inc., Post Joint Press Release
• July 2008 Front Page Article On Project In MEA’s Newsletter, Power Lines
• Fall 2008 MEA & Eklutna, Inc., Present Plans To Community Council Meetings For
  Chugiak, Birchwood, Eklutna Valley
• November 19, 2008 MEA & Eklutna, Inc., Discuss Plans With Eklutna Village Elders
• February 2, 2009, at 6:30 p.m., Public Hearings On Re-Zoning At Municipality Of Anchorage Planning and Zoning Commission
• 2009 Public Hearing At Anchorage Municipal Assembly
• February 4, 2009 MEA Discusses Plans At Chugiak/Eagle River Chamber of Commerce
• February 25, 2009 MEA Discusses Plans With Palmer Chamber of Commerce
• October 2009 MEA Solicits Bids For Contract To Build Plant
• February 2010 MEA receives bids on Power Plant
• March 2011 MEA Board Unanimously Approves Limited Notice to Proceed Phase
• April 2012 Target Date: Start Construction
• October 2014 Target Date: Power Plant Ready For Testing
• December 31, 2014 MEA Contract With Chugach Electric Ends
• January 1, 2015 MEA Begins Generating Our Own Power

What type of electrical power generator is MEA proposing to build?
A natural gas power plant.

Where will the proposed natural gas plant be located?
Northeast of the Eklutna Interchange on the Glenn Highway, adjacent to the Reed Substation and old (defunct) Eklutna Power Plant.

How much land is MEA planning to purchase for the natural gas plant?
Approximately 70 acres.

Who owns the land currently?
MEA owns the 70 acre site.

Eklutna Inc., currently owns the surrounding land.

When would the plant be built?
Construction is proposed to begin 2012-2013.

Will we be able to hear the plant?
A recent noise impact study determined that traffic from the Glenn highway will be more noticeable than this natural gas plant.

For Questions & Information Contact:

Lydia Lindsey
Matanuska Electric Association, Inc.,
907.761.9395