Matanuska Power Plant

Matanuska Electric Association (MEA) is Alaska’s oldest and second-largest electric cooperative. MEA currently purchases electricity from Chugach Electric Association according to a contract that expires in 2014. The MEA board of directors had initially decided decided to build a 100 MW circulating fluidized bed coal plant; however, Sierra Club and Friends of Matsu began organizing opposition to the plant in April. MEA spent $160,000 on a campaign to convince member-owners to support the plant.

On Nov. 9, 2007, facing public opposition, MEA general manager Wayne Carmony sent a memo to board members, announcing plans by administrators to shelve plans for the Matanuska plant for at least five years; the board met on Dec. 11 to consider this proposal.

Project Details
Sponsor: Matanuska Electric Association Capacity: 100 MW Type: Circulating fluidized bed Projected in service: 2015 Status: Shelved (11/2007)

Citizen Groups

 * Utility Watch, info [at] utilitywatch.org
 * Friends of Mat-Su, foms [at] mtaonline.org
 * MEA Ratepayers Alliance, ratepayer [at] mearatepayers.org
 * Alaska Sierra Club, katherine [at] sierraclubalaska.org
 * Castle Mountain Coalition

Related SourceWatch Resources

 * Carbon Capture and Storage
 * Existing U.S. Coal Plants
 * US proposed coal plants (both active and cancelled)
 * Coal plants cancelled in 2007
 * Coal plants cancelled in 2008
 * Alaska and coal
 * Profiles of other states (or click on the map)