NOTN- The City and Borough of Juneau Planning Commission on Tuesday night heard public testimony and reviewed a Conditional Use Permit request from Juneau Hydropower, Inc. for a proposed hydroelectric project at Sweetheart Lake, south of Juneau.
The Juneau Borough Planning Commission has approved that conditional use permit.
Deputy Mayor Greg Smith confirmed Wednesday morning that the commission approved the project with two conditions: establishing a landform barrier to control sound and light emissions, and requiring a flood zone development permit before construction begins.
“The Planning Commission met to decide on a conditional use permit for the Sweetheart Lake hydropower project. The planning commission for the conditional use permit is a review to say, does this project meet adopted city plans? Does it meet land use and zoning code? and it did.” Said Smith, “They and the director make a recommendation, and they recommended approval with conditions.”
The hydropower project, targeting commercial operations by 2028, is not designed to provide direct consumer electricity choice but will serve specific industrial needs. Smith noted the project cannot power cruise ships docked in the area due to service area limitations.
The Sweetheart Lake Hydroelectric facility proposal calls for the construction of a 280-foot-wide, 111-foot-high dam and related infrastructure at the lake’s natural outlet. The project would also include extending transmission lines from the Lena Point Substation north to Cascade Point, Echo Cove, and the Kensington Mine in Berners Bay, to deliver hydroelectric power.
The Planning Commission evaluated the proposal for compliance with Juneau’s Land Use Code and took public comments from residents and stakeholders. The public comment period, which began Oct. 7, closed on Oct. 24, with all submitted testimony forwarded to commissioners for review ahead of the hearing.
Juneau Hydropower, Inc. was officially granted public utility status by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska in the summer.
According to Juneau Hydropower, Sweetheart Lake Hydroelectric Facility, is designed to produce 19.8 megawatts of renewable energy and generate an average of 116,000 megawatt-hours annually, a projected 25% increase over Juneau’s current electrical generation.
Juneau Hydropower says, the project is intended to help meet the city’s growing demand for electricity while reducing reliance on diesel-based generation. Hydropower, unlike fossil fuels, does not emit greenhouse gases during operation, and proponents argue that the facility will offer both economic and environmental benefits, including lower long-term energy costs and reduced pollution.
However there have been concerns about securing funds for the project before its construction, and building a reliable customer base.
Managing Director Duff Mitchell called the decision “a positive turning point for Juneau’s energy future,” as the project aims to replace diesel generation and expand sustainable power across the region.