Snettisham hydroelectric power plant
The Snettisham hydroelectric power plant is a 78 MW power plant located 28 miles south of central Juneau, Alaska[1] and accessible only by boat or seaplane. The power plant is fed by two lakes that are tapped from below, negating the need for a traditional dam. As of December 2017 it supplies 78% of the electricity for Alaska Electric Light & Power.[2] It is connected to Juneau by a 44-mile transmission line.[1]
It was completed in 1973.[2]
Climate
| Climate data for Snettisham Power Plant, Alaska, 1991–2020 normals, 2003–2023 extremes: 29ft (9m) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 47 (8) | 49 (9) | 57 (14) | 66 (19) | 81 (27) | 88 (31) | 90 (32) | 87 (31) | 77 (25) | 65 (18) | 55 (13) | 51 (11) | 90 (32) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 41.7 (5.4) | 42.2 (5.7) | 48.1 (8.9) | 59.2 (15.1) | 72.6 (22.6) | 79.5 (26.4) | 78.7 (25.9) | 78.2 (25.7) | 69.3 (20.7) | 57.8 (14.3) | 45.7 (7.6) | 41.6 (5.3) | 83.4 (28.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 30.3 (−0.9) | 33.0 (0.6) | 38.0 (3.3) | 48.1 (8.9) | 57.5 (14.2) | 63.0 (17.2) | 63.4 (17.4) | 62.6 (17.0) | 55.8 (13.2) | 46.3 (7.9) | 36.2 (2.3) | 31.0 (−0.6) | 47.1 (8.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 26.1 (−3.3) | 28.0 (−2.2) | 31.7 (−0.2) | 40.1 (4.5) | 47.7 (8.7) | 54.4 (12.4) | 56.5 (13.6) | 56.0 (13.3) | 50.4 (10.2) | 41.7 (5.4) | 32.4 (0.2) | 27.3 (−2.6) | 41.0 (5.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 21.9 (−5.6) | 23.1 (−4.9) | 25.5 (−3.6) | 32.1 (0.1) | 37.9 (3.3) | 45.8 (7.7) | 49.6 (9.8) | 49.4 (9.7) | 44.9 (7.2) | 37.1 (2.8) | 28.6 (−1.9) | 23.5 (−4.7) | 35.0 (1.7) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 5.0 (−15.0) | 8.3 (−13.2) | 12.5 (−10.8) | 24.6 (−4.1) | 31.7 (−0.2) | 39.5 (4.2) | 44.4 (6.9) | 43.6 (6.4) | 36.8 (2.7) | 29.0 (−1.7) | 16.6 (−8.6) | 9.5 (−12.5) | 0.4 (−17.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −11 (−24) | −6 (−21) | −7 (−22) | 16 (−9) | 23 (−5) | 34 (1) | 40 (4) | 40 (4) | 33 (1) | 19 (−7) | 0 (−18) | −2 (−19) | −11 (−24) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 18.56 (471) | 14.88 (378) | 10.90 (277) | 8.99 (228) | 8.31 (211) | 6.85 (174) | 10.24 (260) | 13.99 (355) | 27.01 (686) | 28.90 (734) | 21.08 (535) | 19.98 (507) | 189.69 (4,816) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 50.2 (128) | 44.9 (114) | 35.9 (91) | 4.7 (12) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 2.6 (6.6) | 31.0 (79) | 47.8 (121) | 217.2 (551.85) |
| Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 48.9 (124) | 61.8 (157) | 65.4 (166) | 50.7 (129) | 23.4 (59) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 2.0 (5.1) | 16.5 (42) | 33.6 (85) | 71.8 (182) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 21.4 | 16.9 | 15.8 | 18.0 | 15.4 | 18.4 | 18.8 | 20.2 | 21.6 | 23.9 | 19.9 | 20.5 | 230.8 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 13 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 14 | 60 |
| Source 1: NOAA[3] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: XMACIS2 (extremes & 2003-2023 snow)[4] | |||||||||||||
References
- ^ a b McAllister, Kirk (17 April 1987). "For Sale: One hydroelectric project". Juneau Empire. Juneau, United States.
- ^ a b "Snettisham Hydroelectric Facility" (PDF). Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority. December 2017. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
- ^ "Snettisham Power Plant, Alaska 1991-2020 Monthly Normals". Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ^ "xmACIS". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
58°10′00″N 133°44′00″W / 58.16667°N 133.73333°W