Completion of the Southeast hydroelectric intertie is critical for Southeast Alaska. On March 2 Representative Thomas, with co-sponsors Johansen, Wilson, Kerttula, Austerman and Muñoz, introduced HB166: an Act relating to the Southeast Energy Fund. In order for the state to receive $320 million in authorized federal funds, a 20% state match is necessary. HB166 was referred to the Energy and Finance Committees.

The Kake-Petersburg portion of the intertie will receive $2,990,000 for planning and design from the Alaska Renewable Energy Fund.

http://www.akenergyauthority.org/RenewableEnergyFund/RE%20Fund%20Round%201%20Recommendation%20webpost.pdf

Rep. Muñoz has worked closely with community leaders, and the private and public proponents of a Southeast grid urging all the parties to work together to form a regional management entity. An intertie presentation is scheduled in the Energy Committee on March 10 at 3pm, and will be followed up with an additional hearing in the Community and Regional Affairs Committee.