At just under 25-megawatts, Eva Creek is the largest wind project in Alaska and the first by any Railbelt utility. It is located 14 miles from Healy at the top of the 10-mile Ferry mining road.
Project Information- Total project costs: $93 million. Estimated cost of energy: $0.086/kWh. Completion late 2012. On the grid Jan-2013.
Turbines: 12 REPower turbines (MM92, Cold Climate Version Machines). Turbine Hub Height: 80 meters (262 feet). Rotor Diameter: 92.5 meters (303 feet). Height of turbine from base to blade tip: Approximately 410 feet.Minimum Wind Speed: 6.7 mph. Maximum Wind Speed: 53.7 mph.
The owner is the Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA). The Eva Creek wind farm produces about 20% of GVEA’s load. That’s enough electricity to power more than 9,450 average Interior homes (660 kWh per month) each year.
Due to gas and wind, GVEA burned about 20 million fewer gallons of oil in 2013 than 2012. The cost of this wind energy project $0.086/kWh is relatively cheap, due to state subsidies.
It must be said that the site chosen, Ferry, was thoroughly researched over a period of years, to ensure the wind generating capacity would be sufficient.