The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has decided to move forward with a revised schedule to allow the Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project to proceed with study work this summer.

Last month, FERC officials sent a letter to the Alaska Energy Authority. In that letter, FERC stated their intentions to push back the deadlines for approval of environmental studies that were needed to move ahead wth dam.

The Alaska Energy Authority appealed the decision by FERC saying that the moving of the deadlines would put the project another year behind schedule and would eventually cost the project $143 million.

FERC revised their study plan to provide for a balance between the need for power and environmental resources. The revised plan should provide suffient information to file for a FERC license in 2015.

A Statewide poll completed in 2012 showed that the majority of Alaskans supported the Susitna-Watana Hydro project.

The Hydro project would provide price stability and reliable power for the next 100+ years according to the Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation, and will provide up to 50% of the power demand for the railbelt. The project will also generate power for 80% of the state’s population.

It is also pointed out by FEDC that the project will off-set 1.3 million tons of CO2 annually. This is the equivalent of removing 50% of the vehicles from the state’s road systems.

The project is slated to be online by 2024.