Denali Borough votes to study community solar feasibility
Loading...
Summary
The assembly approved Resolution 26-02 directing the mayor and staff to explore a borough-centered, subscription-style community solar project and to gather feasibility data, potentially using short-term tax incentives; members emphasized a study, public survey and coordination with Golden Valley Electric.
The Denali Borough Assembly voted Jan. 14 to direct the mayor and staff to study and gather community input on a potential borough-centered community solar project.
The approved resolution asks administration to evaluate what a subscription-based solar array would look like for the borough, estimate costs and benefits, solicit community interest and explore how available federal or state tax incentives could affect project economics. In discussion, the sponsoring assemblymember (speaker 6) described a model in which residents and nonprofits could subscribe to panels in a shared array and receive offsets on their utility bills.
Members raised several feasibility concerns: estimated cost ranges (rough industry estimates cited at about $3 million–$5 million per megawatt), siting and grid interconnection questions, how adding solar to the Golden Valley Electric grid would interact with dispatch of local coal-fired units, and the limited time window for certain tax credits. Multiple members said a public survey and an independent consultant study should precede any commitment of borough funds.
The resolution passed on a roll-call vote with affirmative votes recorded from attending members. Staff said the next steps would include drafting a scope for consultant work, issuing a community survey to measure interest and coordinating with Golden Valley Electric Association and regional partners.
