There’s a cooling system leak at the Bethel Power Plant, and officials are shutting down the system in order to repair it. Bethel residents will experience a power outage tonight, from midnight until 3 a.m.
Lenny Welch, Bethel Operations Manager at Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, said that the plant’s engines could overheat if the leak isn't fixed. That could create an unplanned power outage.
“It’s just one of those things we’re trying to avoid,” said Welch.
Welch apologized for the short notice, but said that the repairs are necessary.
“It is a 40-plus year old power plant,” he said. “We’re trying to do some upgrades, but it’s still an aging power plant.”
Welch says that they will try to keep the power outage as short as possible.