GVEA Sets Goal to Reduce Carbon Emissions
On January 21, 2019, the Board of Directors adopted the Carbon Reduction Goal to reduce Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA)’s carbon output by 26% by the year 2030.
- This resolution is the third in a series of “green goals” set by the GVEA board
- The 26% reduction is measured against GVEA’s 2012 emission levels
- The resolution gives management a variety of ways to achieve the reductions including:
- Renewable energy
- Waste-heat recovery
- Demand-side management
- Alternative fuels
- Energy storage
- The co-op may also reach its goal via carbon off-sets
The resolution promises to achieve the goal without adverse long-term effects on rates or reliability and requires management to consider carbon emissions when evaluating fuel contracts and future projects. The board has requested semi-annual updates on the co-op’s carbon emission performance.
GVEA’s Renewable Energy Pledges
GVEA’s fuel mix is diverse.
- In addition to our fuel supply of coal, oil and natural gas-fired power, renewable power generation is also utilized.
- In 2005, GVEA’s Board adopted a Renewable Energy Pledge calling for 10% of system peak load to come from renewable energy by the end of 2007
GVEA met the 2007 goal through a combination of:
- Energy conservation
- Hydroelectric power
- Power contributed by SNAP renewable energy producers
After achieving that goal, the board raised the target to 20%.
- GVEA hit that mark in 2013 with the addition of the Eva Creek Wind Farm near Healy
- The Eva Creek Wind project helped achieve this goal without negatively impacting members’ rates
- GVEA also purchases all of the wind power generated by Alaska Environmental Power (AEP), located outside of Delta Junction, under the 2-MW Experimental Power Sales Agreement
- In the fall of 2018, GVEA added another 0.5 MW of generation capacity with the Solar Farm, located in Fairbanks, north of Van Horn Road
Additional Information: