Homer Electric risks Kenai River's health

The Kenai River watershed is placed at great risk by the Homer Electric Association proposal to build a seasonal Grant Lake and Creek hydroelectric project on the northern Kenai Peninsula.

Grant Lake will provide a precedent to pursue earlier closely clustered, seasonal proposals involving Crescent Lake, Falls Creek, Ptarmigan Lake and Creek, and Victor Creek. Multiple projects threaten to industrialize the headwaters of the Kenai River with dams, diversions, roads, intakes, tunnels, pipelines, powerhouses, and transmission lines.

The Kenai River watershed is a natural economic engine and one of the most valuable public resources in Alaska. Local and regional economies are totally dependent upon the Kenai River and its setting.

It is scientifically unsound to believe that changing natural flows in the headwaters of a river will not result in cumulative changes downstream, to water chemistry, temperature, and sediment loads, and to overall ecology and hydrology. This risk is irresponsible, regardless of the current poor economy and uncertain fisheries. Renewable energy projects must be responsibly evaluated for unacceptable impacts.

These proposals outside the Homer Electric Association service area would not directly serve utility members. The Grant Lake Project is designed to sell a minor amount of energy to another utility, improving the Homer Electric bottom line. However, net income is highly questionable due to inflated energy and economic claims.

The Homer Electric board is obligating millions of membership dollars, apparently to appear progressive about being involved with renewable energy. The integrity of the Kenai River cannot be compromised for reckless renewable energy public relations credit.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has responsibility for licensing hydroelectric projects on public land. National advice reveals that FERC basically functions with a rubber stamp, similar to the Division of Motor Vehicles.

Negative impacts may be mitigated to some degree. Public input is a "good will check-off." Those who have fought the Kenai hydro proposals for nearly three years observe that FERC is functioning here in the same manner.

In a process that assumes issuance of hydropower licenses, state and federal resource agencies responsible for protecting public resources are involuntarily placed in the position of negotiating compromises to reduce impacts. They cannot just say no.

Strong public concern is being ignored, along with decades of protective Kenai River planning. The current pre-licensing process is only a run-up to issuance of a license. The public must not let itself be deceived, because taking no action is not part of this game.

Deception and manipulation of public processes by Homer Electric and its contractors has exceeded tolerance.

Insider consultants have helped Homer Electric take advantage of the favorable federal licensing process, while minimizing studies and downplaying impacts. Homer Electric has already blown through more than $1 million of free state grant money, and the Homer Electric board recently approved an additional $2 million.

This open-ended threat to the well- being of the Kenai River and its watershed is much greater than previously believed, and there is no public accountability. Homer Electric has violated and lost the public's trust.

Homer Electric is unwilling to recognize the inviolate, traditional public value of the Kenai River. Placing the Kenai River at risk is simply out of bounds. Arguments about hydroelectric licensing are known to have gone on for more than 10 years, while FERC attempts to compromise the unacceptable. It is apparent the people driving this proposal don't understand Alaska values. If saving the Kenai River requires 10 years, 10 years it will be.

The Kenai River Watershed Foundation will focus public protection for the Kenai River and its watershed. A wide range of initiatives will be advanced, including protective legislation. Objective, unbiased public information and communications will soon become available on a website, SavetheKenai.org. A Kenai River watershed defense fund is also being established.

The foundation will act to insure a secure future for one of Alaska's and the nation's most valuable rivers.

Bob Baldwin, a longtime resident, is president of the Kenai River Watershed Foundation, Inc.. E-mail, kenailake@arctic.net.