Cook Inlet Region Inc announced last month that they have begun the second phase of their Fire Island wind project. This news came out as the native corporation had just completed its first year of operations on the island.

According to CIRI, work has begun, crews have begun building access roads and clearing pads for an additional 11 wind turbines.

The addition of 11 wind turbines will effectively double the capacity of the project that has already produced 51,800 megawatt hours of electricity for the South-Central region. That power production number is above the project’s goal of production of 50,000 megawatt hours. The energy produced at the island is sold to Chugach Electric Association, which is paying CIRI $97 per megawatt hour in a 25-year contract. Although $97 per megatt hour is roughly $30 more a megawatt hour than the costs of generating power with natural gas, natural gas prices are predicted to meet and exceed that number in the future.

The clock is ticking for the corporation to take advantage of an investment tax credit that is due to expire at the end of the year. With the initiation of the project now, CIRI will be able to take advantage of the credit that will translate into a savings of $15 million.

Suzanne Gibson, vice president of Fire Island Wind, LLC, states that the project is “exactly in line with our expectations.” The project has produced enough energy thus far to supply power to 6,000 homes in the South-Central region.