The availability and price of fuel for their current naphtha- and diesel-fired facility are at the top of Copper Valley's concerns.
"Copper Valley Electric Association is considering a nuclear microreactor similar to the one scheduled to begin operating on Eielson Air Force Base by 2027.
Right now, the utility relies on inexpensive hydro power during the warmer months of the year but switches in the winter to more costly oil-fired power generation.
Copper Valley chief executive Travis Million says the utility has been trying for years to find a cheaper and greener alternative to its diesel- and naphtha-fueled generators.
'There’s no predictability of the cost,' he said. 'Just this year alone, between December and January, we saw a 44% price increase for the diesel fuel that we use.'"