CVEA Power Plants
- Cogeneration Project
- Glennallen Diesel Plant
- Valdez Diesel Plant
- Solomon Gulch Hydroelectric Facility
- Transmission Line
- Plant Tours
Cogeneration Project
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| Cogeneration Project |
The CVEA Cogeneration Plant is a state-of-the-art facility located at the Petro Star Valdez Refinery. It is a five-megawatt Solar turbine unit that utilizes "light straight run" as its fuel source and provides exhaust heat to the attached crude heater, for use in the refining process. The plant was completed in the spring of 2000 and is remotely controlled from the Solomon Gulch hydroelectric facility.
Glennallen Diesel Plant
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| Glennallen Diesel Plant |
The Glennallen Diesel Plant is the oldest of our three thermal plants. It has expanded over the years to meet the needs of our customers. The available generation capacity of the plant is 7.9 megawatts. It houses a total of eight diesel engines; two Fairbanks Morse 31A8 1/2 units; three Fairbanks Morse 38D8 1/8 opposed piston units, two Enterprise DSR 46 units, and one Caterpillar 3516B. The three largest units are remotely controlled from the Solomon Gulch hydroelectric facility.
Valdez Diesel Plant
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| Valdez Diesel Plant |
The Valdez Diesel Plant was constructed after the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake that caused the City of Valdez to relocate to its present location. The plant houses three Fairbanks Morse 38D8 1/8 opposed piston units, three Enterprise DSR 46 units, and a trailer-mounted Solar Centaur turbine unit. The available generation capacity of this plant is 9.25 megawatts. The three largest units are remotely controlled from the Solomon Gulch hydroelectric facility.On May 11, 1996, the substation connected to the Valdez Diesel Plant was dedicated to Don Raymond Smith, a 20-year CVEA Lineman who passed away. The substation is now named the Don Smith Substation, a sign, plaque, and Don's climbing hooks and hardhat were bronzed and mounted to the plaque in memory of Don.
Solomon Gulch Hydroelectric Facility
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| Solomon Gulch Hydroelectric Facility |
Currently owned by the Four Dam Pool Power Agency (FDPPA) and operated by CVEA, the 13-megawatt hydroelectric facility is located on Dayville Road in Valdez. Power is generated by two Fuji Francis water turbines. The facility began providing power to CVEA customers in 1982. CVEA operates its dispatch center from this facility. The plant is manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Plant operators are responsible for the operation of up to four generation plants at one time via remote control operations. From the hydro plant, operators can start and stop units in any or all of CVEA's three generation facilities: Glennallen diesel, Valdez diesel, or the cogeneration plant, as well as the hydro project.
Transmission Line
CVEA's service areas are tied together with a 106-mile, 138-kilovolt transmission line that is owned by the Four Dam Pool Power Agency (FDPPA) and operated by CVEA. The transmission line provides the link to all four generating plants. Power can flow from any of the generating facilities to end consumers. Historically, power flows from the Solomon Gulch hydro plant to the Copper Basin district during the summer months.The transmission line traverses severe terrain between the two districts and parts of it, in the Thompson Pass area, are in potential avalanche danger. The transmission line was last damaged by an avalanche in 2006.