Homer Electric Association has extended their contract to purchase natural gas from Enstar for an additional six years, a Jan. 10 press release announced. This agreement “creates a more secure source of natural gas” for HEA during the extended period.

HEA also plans to reduce its annual consumption of natural gas by approximately 21% over the next three years, according to the release, by incorporating 30 megawatts of solar energy and replacing a less efficient natural gas generation unit with a more efficient model.

Bradley Janorschke, general manager for HEA, said in the release that the agreement to extend their contract with Enstar “ensures that HEA has adequate fuel supply, but fuel availability remains the single biggest challenge impacting Alaska utilities today.”

HEA plans to continue investing in clean energy to diversify its generation and fuel portfolio while simultaneously taking “aggressive steps” to use natural gas more efficiently in order to address fuel availability challenges.

HEA’s board of directors adopted a strategic plan last year that focused on diversifying fuel, generation assets and implementing upgrades for more efficient use of natural gas.

“Enstar has been a great partner to HEA,” Janorschke said in the release. “Natural gas will remain a key part of HEA’s strategy for both generation and fuel use since it is a lower cost fuel source that is also clean burning. Additionally, HEA remains focused on its long-term goals of using natural gas more efficiently while diversifying our generation portfolio at the lowest price for our members.”

Find more information about the contract extension agreement at www.homerelectric.com/news/current-news/.