Alaska utilities plan $200M Railbelt transmission system upgrades

The Alaska Energy Authority and five Railbelt utilities plan to invest $200 million to modernize Alaska's largest electric grid.

Enhancements at the over-40-year-old energy systems will improve delivery of power from the 120-MW Bradley Lake hydroelectric plant to consumers and allow integration of renewable energy projects, the companies said May 25. Bradley Lake generates 10% of the total annual energy used by Railbelt electric utilities.

Planned projects include upgrades to transmission lines between Bradley junction and Soldotna substation, between Soldotna and Sterling substations and between Sterling and Quartz Creek substations, as well as battery energy storage systems for grid stabilization, according to a news release.

Project funding will come from payments by the Railbelt utilities in excess of those required to retire the Bradley Lake project bonds. The Railbelt utilities are Chugach Electric Association Inc., Golden Valley Electric Association Inc., Homer Electric Association Inc., Matanuska Electric Association Inc. and Seward Electric System.

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