Yes, the state is broke and getting more brokerer by the day and yet somehow the Susitna Hydro project lives on.

Things like schools, troopers, and other essential public services are taking a major hit while the Alaska Energy Authority is authorized to spend up to $97,000 a day to push this project forward. To me it seems as though the State has fallen into the "commitment" heuristic trap with this project, a classic error in reasoning where one is disinclined to give up on a bad idea/plan because they have "come so far" already.

The pause button has been pushed to some degree after heavy criticism of the "science" prompted a federal and state review of the studies that have been done so far. These reviews are due to conclude by June of this year at which point some plan of action will be put together either calling for new/better studies or accepting/approving what has been done.

The Susitna River Coalition is still targeting the legislature and governor Walker's office with public comment's in support of shutting the thing down once and for all. A big part of succeeding in that would be for this scientific review to conclude that the majority of the studies completed so far have generated little of value or use. Spending hundreds of millions more to re-do that work wouldn't sit well with anyone involved and would hopefully serve as the nail in the coffin.

There was some fodder in the news a year ago about incorrectly identifying salmon smolt, which is just the beginning of the flaws outlined by many.

http://www.adn.com/article/20141009/states-angry-letter-defends-susitna-dam-salmon-science

In a nut shell, the state has tried to put a rush job on this process from the beginning and has had no interest in "good science" in connection with the project and instead they've been going through the motions trying to move forward as quickly as possible. A unified effort has called them to task on that but whether or not anything will become of that effort, only time will tell.


http://susitnarivercoalition.org/wp/2015...ite-moratorium/


The story of the Super Salmon is a remarkable one and the film is worth catching if you get the chance.

http://susitnarivercoalition.org/wp/