Assembly Votes to Affirm Assembly Approval of Municipal Interests in Eklutna Hydropower Program

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During a Special Assembly Meeting yesterday, the Anchorage Assembly took action to protect public interests in the Eklutna Hydropower Project and in the Municipality's rights to water, wind, solar and mineral resources.

The Assembly approved (9-3) AO 2024-28, As Amended, an ordinance to clarify the Assembly's Charter-bound duty to steward municipal resources by requiring Assembly approval for acquisitions and disposals related to public mineral, wind, solar and water rights. The ordinance also requires Assembly approval of the Eklutna Hydropower Final Fish & Wildlife Program before it is transmitted to the Governor.

"To put it plainly, the Municipality is one of three owners of the Eklutna Hydropower Project," said Assembly Chair Christopher Constant after the meeting. "The other two are private utilities. In the final stages of the Eklutna Hydropower Fish & Wildlife Program drafting process, we learned that our seat at the owners' table has been vacant for years. So when you look at the draft program and see that it increases property taxes, know that it was left in the hands of private utilities with no accountability to the public."

"By amending code to bring this issue into compliance with the Charter, we hope to bring the Municipality back into the conversation and open direct negotiations between the owners group, the Native Village of Eklutna, and the Municipality," Assembly Vice Chair Meg Zaletel added. "As stewards of taxpayer dollars, it seems obvious to me that the Assembly should have had a seat at the table, but I guess we had to spell it out."

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CONTACT

​Christopher Constant | Assembly Chair
District 1, North Anchorage
[email protected]

Meg Zaletel | Assembly Vice Chair
District 4, Midtown Anchorage
[email protected]

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