FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2014
Contact: Mindy O’Neall
mindy@www.interiorgas.com
907-374-4474
Fairbanks, AK – The Interior Gas Utility (IGU) announced MWH Americas, Inc. as the management team advancing the natural gas distribution project for the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
IGU awarded the management contract to MWH on January 18, 2014 after the Regulatory Commission of Alaska granted IGU a service area on December 20, 2013.
“MWH has demonstrated a high level of commitment and competency in energy projects around the world, and we are excited to partner with them,” said IGU General Manager Steve Haagenson. “Lots of hard work from many people has gotten us to this point, and we are eager to develop an inclusive plan for energy relief.”
MWH will provide IGU with the staff and technical support to achieve IGU’s goals of delivering the lowest cost gas to the most people in the shortest time possible. IGU is temporarily operating in the KeyBank Building at 100 Cushman Street, Suite 402 in downtown Fairbanks. The IGU phone number is 907-374-4474.
“We realize the nature of this project is to move quickly in the best interest of the community,” said David Prusak, project manager. “Our first mission is to transition from a visionary plan to a working project with community input.”
IGU has already started developing its plan to build a Borough-wide public gas utility over the next six years with initial construction expected to begin in 2015 in the North Pole area. This area was chosen by IGU to address the highest concentrated PM 2.5 particulate levels in the Borough and to reduce local energy costs. In the next several weeks, IGU plans to release its financial plan to deliver low-cost natural gas in the Borough. The IGU welcome public input as the project advances toward supply of gas in the service area.
The Borough created the IGU in November 2012 after the Cities of Fairbanks and North Pole transferred legal authority to the Borough to create a public utility in the best interest of the community. Since then, the seven-member board of directors has established the IGU brand, created a working project for state approval, secured financing and proven fit, willing and able to operate as a natural gas utility for the Interior. The Board meets every first and third Tuesday for a formal board meeting and every second and fourth Tuesday for a work session. Both meetings are open to the public. IGU posts schedules and minutes on the FNSB website, www.fnsb.us.
For the latest documentation and progress of the IGU, visit www.interiorgas.com.
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