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The debate over whether to build a wind farm on Anchorage's Fire Island has raged since the 1990s. In 2000, Chugach approached CIRI about developing a Fire Island wind project. CIRI owns 3,600 of Fire Island's 4,000 acres on the six-mile-long island.
The wind farm was a viable option for the land because it wouldn't involve having to put in any permanent infrastructure, such as a causeway or bridge. The wind farm is one of Alaska's largest, but not the biggest. Golden Valley Electric Association's Eva Creek project will be a larger, with 16 turbines generating 24.6 megawatts.
Now, in September 2012, Fire Island's 11 wind turbines will soon supplement Anchorage's power supply.