a power plant for the valley

The federal government just put $89 million behind a plan to build a massive power plant near Big Lake.

A private energy company wants to build a major new power generating facility in the river valley just north of Big Lake.

The plant would run on a mix of coal and biomass, with carbon capture built into the design to manage emissions.

The Department of Energy awarded an $89 million grant to move the development study forward.

This is still a study and planning phase, not shovels in the ground.

But an $89 million federal study is how projects this size get serious.

The plant would generate 400 megawatts of power.

That's a significant addition to Southcentral Alaska's grid.

The goal is to give military bases near Anchorage, regional industry, and the growing Mat-Su market a more reliable energy source.

For the Valley specifically, this hits close to home.

Big Lake and the surrounding communities are growing faster than the power grid was built for.

A facility this size nearby could mean steadier, and potentially more affordable, power as we keep adding homes and businesses.

The proposal has local supporters and environmental opponents, and it'll go through years of review before anything gets decided.

But with federal money now behind it, this is moving from a concept into something more serious.

The study will determine whether it actually makes sense to build, and that process is now underway.