City of Unalaska Inks Power Purchase Agreement for Geothermal Power

The Ounalashka Corporation and Chena Power signed a thirty-year power purchase agreement with the City of Unalaska on August 31 for 30MW of geothermal produced electrical energy. In 2019, Ounalashka Corporation and Chena Power formed a Partnership, OCCP, specifically to establish a sustainable alternative geothermal energy project using the nearby Makushin Volcano.

 

Unalaska is located along the sea lanes of the great circle route connecting North America to Asia. As a result, its Bering Sea location is home to the International Port of Dutch Harbor, recognized also as the top fishing port in the United States.         

 

In 1981 exploration drilling confirmed a world class geothermal resource on the eastern slopes of Makushin Volcano approximately 13 miles from the City of Unalaska. After the discovery well, prospects looked good for a geothermal power plant for the City displacing fossil fuels. Nonetheless, since 1981 there have been five attempts to advance this project without success. “What makes this different is that we’ve put together a team of Alaskans with a common vision and proven local, national, and international business and technical leadership,” said Chris Salts, CEO of the Ounalashka Corporation. “We know this can be transformational for our community and our future role in the world, and we’re all pulling in the same direction to see it realized.”