While the oil and gas industry is central to the Alaskan economy, an 8.5 MW solar project—the largest in the state—was recently completed in Alaska by Renewable IPP, and it involved some unique challenges.
By Paul MacDonald
Houston, Texas may be synonymous with the oil and gas industry, but there is another Houston in the U.S., and it has lately become known for renewable energy— in fact, it is now home to the largest solar power farm in Alaska.
This fall, CleanCapital, a diversified clean energy company, announced the addition of an 8.5 megawatt (MW) solar project in Houston, Alaska, to its operating portfolio, with a ceremony marking its interconnection to the local utility grid.
The Houston Solar Farm—the largest ever built in the state—was developed and built by Renewable Independent Power Producers (RIPP), an Alaska-based solar developer. As an investor focused on emerging developers, CleanCapital provided resources and funding to build the Houston Solar Farm, and is fostering future solar power opportunities for RIPP.
The Houston Solar Farm, located in south-central Alaska about 60 miles from Anchorage, was designed to minimize disturbances to the soil and vegetation. Its unique features include a focus on land preservation and an engineering approach to handle Alaska’s extreme weather conditions. Affordable Wire Management (AWM) implemented an above-ground wire strategy, with rugged metal cable hangers engineered
to withstand corrosive environments and intense ice and snow loads.
Local utility Matanuska Electric Association (MEA) is purchasing cost-competitive power from the project, which was also supported by a loan from the Alaska Energy Authority.
“Since its inception, CleanCapital has been driven by a mission to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy,” said Thomas Byrne, CEO of CleanCapital. “I cannot imagine a better illustration of the importance of that mission than bringing solar to an oil and gas-centric state where the impacts of climate change are so vividly felt.
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