Continued Support for the Reynolds Creek Hydropower Project

March 23, 2015

 

Regulatory Commission of Alaska
701 West 8th Ave., Ste. 300
Anchorage, Alaska   99501

The purpose of this letter is to express the Greater Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce’s support for the Reynolds Creek hydropower project and to urge your approval of Haida Energy’s application to your organization, preferably by their desired date of June 1, 2015.

Our Chamber works hard to promote economic diversity, regional growth, a climate that is good for business, a lifestyle that attracts year-round residents, and a stable, productive workforce. The economies of Ketchikan and Prince of Wales are highly interdependent, and the area bound to benefit from Reynolds Creek coming online is closely linked to Ketchikan economically, socially, and culturally. Travel between the two communities is frequent, and residents of both communities purchase goods and services from each other.  Many Ketchikan businesses conduct commercial activities on Prince of Wales Island.

Without a doubt, each aspect of our Chamber’s mission is supported and made possible by affordable rates and the foundation cheap power provides for sustainable economic growth. We are confident that the Reynolds Creek hydropower project will provide Prince of Wales with more of the affordable renewable energy needed to catalyze economic expansion and support the further development of key industries such as mining and the marine sector that promise to create a future for Southeast Alaskans.

We urge you to please support the Reynolds Creek hydropower project – and southeast Alaska’s interdependent economies – by issuing approval of Haida Energy’s application to your organization.

Thank you for your time and consideration of this very important matter.

Sincerely,

 

Chelsea Goucher, Executive Director
Greater Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce
P: (907) 225-3184
C: (907) 220-2133
E: chelsea@ketchikanchamber.com