CIRI, partner will build Southcentral wind-energy facility.

• Author: Pounds, Nancy
• Position: ENERGY

Cook Inlet Region Inc. has partnered with a wind-energy operations company, enXco Development Corp., to build and operate a wind farm on Fire Island. Wind Energy Alaska LLC will be the state's largest wind energy project. Several Railbelt utilities also are cooperating with the new project.

CIRI officials cited industry statistics on costs, saying wind generation facilities typically cost $1.5 million to $2 million per megawatt to build. Phase one could be online in 2010, generating 30 to 50 megawatts of energy.

Fire Island is located in Cook Inlet, near Anchorage. CIRI, which owns 3,200 acres on Fire Island, was involved in a wind project feasibility study with Chugach Electric Association, Municipal Light & Power, Golden Valley Electric...