CIRI is partnering with Chugach Electric Association, Alaska's largest electric utility, to study the feasibility of wind-generated electricity on Fire Island. Fire Island is located approximately three miles west of Anchorage's Ted Stevens International Airport. It is about 4,000 acres in size and CIRI owns some 3,000 acres with the remainder held by the Federal Aviation Administration and the United States Coast Guard.

Wind testing on Fire Island

The project entails Chugach erecting two 40-meter towers and one 10-meter mast at different locations on the island. All of the structures are lightweight and temporary for the ease of mobility to study other locations on the island. Each structure electronically collects wind speed and direction and temperature 24 hours a day. The stored information is then sent daily to Chugach Electric headquarters where it is analyzed.

This project is an expansion of Chugach's recent efforts on Fire Island, and around Anchorage, to determine if conditions will support wind-generated electricity in the area. The utility has not determined if it will attempt to install wind turbines at any studied site.

"Wind generation is increasingly being looked at in the U.S. with many new projects in the development stages. It is growing at a rate of 25 percent each year. CIRI believes that there may be an opportunity to develop renewable resource on its land with Chugach as its partner," said Kirk McGee, CIRI vice president of real estate.

North Slope cranes

Peak Oilfield Service Co. recently purchased a new, million-dollar piece of equipment - a 150-ton Link-Belt crane - shipped to Prudhoe Bay in early September to replace an older crane the company had used for nearly 20 years. The new crane, shipped from a factory in Louisville, Ky., is a substantial equipment upgrade offering new and improved capabilities for Peak and the services they provide to clients on the North Slope. The crane will be used for rig moves for Doyon Drilling and Nabors Alaska Drilling, Inc. and is the first new crane since the 1980s for Peak. According to Peak President Mike O'Connor, a piece of equipment such as this requires a well-qualified and trained operator, mechanics and oilers.

Some 900 employees work for Peak Oilfield Service Co. Qualified Alaska Natives are always encouraged to apply for jobs with Peak through Alaska's People. Contact Alaska's People at 2600 Cordova Street, Suite 211, Anchorage, AK 99503-2745, call (907) 263-7013, toll-free (888) 553-1213, fax (907) 263-7083 or visit www.alaskaspeople.com. The Peak job hotline is (907) 263-7024.

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