Unalaska, AK – The Unalaska City Council approved the purchase of about twelve thousand square feet of land for a proposed new powerhouse earlier this week. The land, which belongs to the Ounalashka Corporation, is located on Amaknak Island near the site of the current powerhouse.
The vote does not mean the land purchase is a done deal, or that a new diesel generator will be built. But increased utility use has strained the capacity of Unalaska's existing powerhouse, which is about 8 megawatts.
Still, the city government hasn't decided yet how best to meet growing energy needs. It's still exploring options such as geothermal power, which some council members see as increasingly attractive as gas prices continue to rise.
The purchase approval won't be final until mayor Shirley Marquardt signs off on it.