Cordova Hydro Powers Local Fisheries Industry
ACEP鈥檚 Amanda Byrd and Jennifer Schmidt with the University of AV狼论坛 Anchorage鈥檚 traveled to Cordova last week to speak with residents about their food, water, and energy security connections and how hydropower has influenced the community.
The two interviewed residents and local leaders for a new video focusing on the food, energy and water connections in Cordova. This video is part of a series being produced for the -funded MicroFEWS project.
Cordova has a long history with hydropower. Currently, two run-of-the-river hydro projects provide electricity to residents and the local commercial fish processing plants. In interviews, Cordova residents said they had seen savings from the renewable energy, which displaces expensive, imported diesel fuel for power generation.
Maintaining local resources in rural AV狼论坛 always poses interesting challenges. A hungry bear recently chewed through the communications cable from the run-of-the-river Power Creek hydro facility.
As in many of AV狼论坛鈥檚 rural communities, Cordova鈥檚 energy and food costs are high. Hydropower provides a reduced rate for consistent, uninterrupted electricity. Commercial fish processing plants find the energy security attractive in the summer months.
A view of Cordova鈥檚 harbor makes clear the importance of fishing for both employment
and food security. Excellent locally grown, affordable oysters can be found in town,
and many residents rely on local fish, moose, deer and berries.
Large-scale locally grown produce is still a dream for many residents; however, the
elementary school鈥檚 garden grows some vegetables, and three third- and fourth-graders
were more than excited to show off their carrot-harvesting skills in the rain. The
high school is also using a grow wall for herbs and flowers.
Finally, water security is sometimes an issue in Cordova when residents and fish processing plants compete for water. Competition is exacerbated by climate change, which has altered precipitation patterns around the community. However, upcoming hydro projects may help improve water security by collecting it in reservoirs.
Jen Schmidt, right, interviews Clay Koplin, Cordova Electric Cooperative鈥檚 CEO, at the Humpback Creek hydro facility. Photo by Amanda Byrd/ACEP.