Connelly Lake Meeting: Did the Assembly Hear the Community's Hopes and Concerns?

I think the Assembly did hear and did respond to both the hopes and to the concerns expressed during the November 29 meeting.

The meeting was convened so that the Assembly could consider submitting a comment to the Federal Energy Management Commission (FERC) pertaining to Goat Lake Hydro’s application for a FERC preliminary permit to investigate the feasibility of creating a hydroelectric project utilizing Connelly Lake.

The evening began with a presentation via telephone by Bob Grimm, president of Alaska Power & Telephone, the parent company for Goat Lake Hydro. Mr. Grimm used approximately 10 minutes to describe the application process and the application itself. The Assembly asked Mr. Grimm a few questions.

Following Mr. Grimm, many residents expressed their views about the risks and benefits of the project.

When the topic was returned to the Assembly, the Assembly worked to craft a motion that both supported the application for a preliminary permit (thus addressing the hopes for additional hydropower) and recommended additional studies.

The additional studies recommended seem to be a direct response to the concerns voiced by public testimony. The Assembly agreed that the dam needed more studies; alternate routes that would be less impactful to the anadromous fish streams running through the watershed need to be studied; the effect of the project on the pre-project water quality needs to be assessed; the financial feasibility needs to be considered in light of levels of sales or lack of sale of power to cruise ships; the possibility of insuring the watershed against a catastrophe needs to be studied.

The preliminary permit does not grant a license to construct. It just allows Goat Lake Hydro exclusivity with respect to pursuing studies to determine the feasibility of applying for a license to construct. As one member of the public said, and I paraphrase, “There really isn’t any reason to fear additional information.” And the Assembly took the opportunity to try to tailor some studies toward the information the community desires. I think they did a good job.