Thanks! It looks like the driving factors are that it's a combined plant, and gas is too expensive on site. We did examine both the operating and fuel costs of

Thanks! It looks like the driving factors are that it's a combined plant, and gas is too expensive on site. We did examine both the operating and fuel costs of a gas option. It costs less to build a gas plant; however, gas is a more expensive fuel than coal. All our models are just that -- models -- because there is currently not a reliable source of gas. Using today's prices, our fuel costs with the new boiler would be about $5.3 million each year. Fuel costs at current gas prices would be about $20 million a year. Until a low-cost, reliable supply of gas becomes a reality in Fairbanks, a gas option is not viable.